Upgrades in the Entry: How to Paint an Interior Door
*A huge thank you to Behr for providing the paint for this transformation! My favorable opinion of gorgeous, high-quality paint is 100% my own. 
For more information, see my disclosures here.*
Hey, hey friends! I am so excited to share the first actual project I’ve completed since my surgery today (well, I completed part of it since my surgery anyway 😉 )! Woot! I still have a few more guest posts lined up this week, but starting next week I’m back full time, and I’ll be sharing a little more about how the surgery went and how recovery has been. Thank you so much for bearing with me during this crazy time. I hope you’ve enjoyed the fabulous guest posters so far– I know I have! But anyway, on to today’s project!
Depending on how long you’ve been following my blog, you may or may not know that our entire house used to be painted a dark-ish tan color that I detested and couldn’t wait to get rid of. 🙂 Recently, we’ve started lightening and brightening our spaces one by one using Behr’s beautiful Marquee paint. The first space we tackled was our large main living area:
Hooray! Attached to this space is our small-ish entry, which was also painted that same murky tan:
{And don’t even try to talk to me about the green paint in the kitchen. Actually let’s not talk about the kitchen at all. It needs some serious help, but that’s a story for another day. 😉 }
Since we loved the color we used in the living room so much (Behr Marquee’s Gray Shimmer), we decided to continue the color into the entry, so right before my surgery, we painted!
Whew! So much better! It was still in need of a little “something,” though. I have been holding a secret grudge against my homeowner’s association for a while now because each townhome in our plan is assigned an EXACT color that the exterior door needs to be painted. Not “pick your favorite out of these three or four choices,” just “here is your one option and if you don’t like it, too bad.” What is up with that?! 😉 ANYWAY, I figured that if I couldn’t paint the outside of the door, I could certainly paint the inside a pretty color, so that is what I set about to do this past Friday while my in-laws took the Cs to the county fair. I even asked some of my very favorite friends (you!) on Facebook and Instagram what color you thought I was painting it. Many of you said teal, which would have been beautiful albeit predictable for me, but {surprise!} it’s not teal. It is probably the second most predictable color in my house, though– navy, or Behr Marquee’s Compass Blue to be exact.
I was completely smitten with this color the second I saw it on the color card. So smitten, in fact, that I ordered a gallon of it without even testing a sample first, which is completely unheard of for an uber-planner, overly type-A personality like myself. 🙂 I just knew I would love it, though, and {spoiler alert!} I was right!
The first thing I did was wipe down the door with water and a mild soap to prepare the surface. I then proceeded to tape off everything. Yes, I’m a taper. I thought I was being all smart by using the trick we’ve all seen on Pinterest where you wrap the door knob (and in my case, the lock as well) in aluminum foil to keep them from being painted.
Now, I totally could have done this wrong, but the whole foil thing was a big fat fail. It kind of got in the way and I couldn’t get close enough to the door knob to make a nice crisp line. It also moved around a lot, so I ended up getting paint on the door knob anyway. Eventually I gave up and reverted back to tape, which worked much better.
After I got my foil fail all sorted out, it was smooth sailing! I used a brush to get inso some of the smaller crevices on the door details, but for the most part I used a mini roller and was pleased with how smoothly the paint rolled on. I did end up doing two coats of paint, but I was super impressed that it didn’t take more considering the glossy, much lighter surface I was covering. Doors are tricky, and I’ve definitely done three or four coats to get full coverage using other paints.
The thing I love about paint is that in not much time, you can get a beautiful transformation, and this project was no exception. I love, love, love our new blue door!
I love how the lighter colored walls really make the blue pop– drama! It still surprises me sometimes when I walk out to the entry and am met with the darker burst of color. So fun!
I thought about changing out the knob and lock, but once the Compass Blue went on, I was kind of digging the gold against it, so we’re leaving it… for now. 😉
I have even more changes planned for the rest of this entry space, so stick around to see how it all comes together! For now, though, I’ll leave you with this “before and after:”
Have I mentioned I’m loving it? Just a few times? 😉 I want to know what beautiful colors you’ve painted your interior doors, so be sure to let me know in the comments! Have a wonderful week, friends!
What are your best tips for how to paint an interior door?
I link up at these fun parties!
*A huge thank you to Behr for providing the paint for this transformation! My favorable opinion of gorgeous, high-quality paint is 100% my own. For more information, see my disclosures here.*
It looks fantastic!! Love that color blue. Hope you’re feeling well!!!
Thank you, Amy! I’m feeling better and better! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I love it even though I was a vote for teal! So glad to see you’re getting back into the swing of things!
~ Meaghan from DIYfaerie
Thank you so much, Meaghan! I may have plans for a splash of teal in this space yet. 😉 We shall see!
~Abby =)
Loving the navy door, Abby! Its such a gorgeous color and you’re right, the light walls ust make it pop all the more!
I’m happy to hear you are recovering so well 🙂
Thank you so much, Selene! I’m feeling better and better! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
That is such a great color! I love the foil fail. Lol
Lol… I don’t make it through many projects without a fail! I thought I’d help save others from this one! Hope you’re having a great week, Margaret Anne!
~Abby =)
Oooh, that blue is GORGEOUS!! Absolutely stunning! So glad you’re feeling well enough to tackle a project – that is the best news, Abby! xo
Thank you, Karen! Yes, I’m feeling better and better! Hope you’re having a wonderful week, friend!
~Abby =)
Very pretty! Great color choice. You can’t go wrong with navy. I hope you’re feeling better.
Thank you, friend! Yes, I’m feeling better each day! Hope you are doing well!
~Abby =)
Our home owner’s association is similar to yours; only ALL of the colors are UGLY! I think I might paint the interior now; I hadn’t thought about doing that before. Thanks for the inspiration!
Who is on these committees that pick these awful colors? Seriously! 😉 We need to get on the HOA board and change them– beautiful doors for everybody! Lol. Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Emily!
~Abby =)
Hi, Abby! Love your new door color! I’d love to paint the interior of my front door, too! I am debating between a sunny yellow, spring green or sky blue — it’s so hard to decide! Now I just have to convince my hubby that the door would look better if it weren’t white! Hope you are feeling better!
Oooh I don’t think you could go wrong with any of those colors, Lauren! Sounds beautiful! I can’t wait to see what you choose!
~Abby =)
Beautiful color! I’ve been wanting to paint the outside of our front door, but I never thought of doing the inside! Great job. 🙂
Thanks, friend! This was my first time painting an interior door, and I may be addicted! 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week!
~Abby =)
Love it! I think a pretty black and white striped rug would look great in front of it!
Oooh love that idea! Thanks so much, Kristina! Have a great day!
~Abby =)
Abby, I love the blue! Thanks for trying out the foil method for all of us so we know NOT to use it! =] I cannot wait to buy my first home with my soon-to-be husband so we can come back and use all your tips and ideas!
Glad you’re recovering well from surgery!
Ashleigh, <3
Always glad to mess everything up so no one else has to, lol! 🙂 Have fun decorating your first home!!
~Abby =)
LOVE the way this turned out! The blue looks great and really pops against your wall color.
Thank you, Ericka! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Wow love that color. I desperately need to paint my front door. Better yet, I just need a new front door. The 1953 black door with lime green insert panels just really isn’t cutting it anymore. Maybe I should at least paint it until I can save up enough for a new door. Thanks for sharing!
-Shonee
http://www.hawthorneandmain.com
I love paint because it’s an easy, inexpensive fix, even if it’s just temporary! Hope you’re having a great week, Shonee!
~Abby =)
This is the next project on my list as well, thanks for the great tips. I love the color that you chose, it looks very fresh and clean now!
Fun! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out, Jillian!
~Abby =)
Really love it! It totally transforms your entry way… My thoughts on how to paint your door are leave the markers and finger paint unattended… but your plan works well too lol
Ooh I should have tried that plan! It definitely would have been unique! 😉
~Abby =)
Your whole makeover is lovely! It’s so light and bright and updated. Love the blue door!
Thank you, Sarah! You are the sweetest!
~Abby =)
I love it! It turned out beautiful!
I love love love the color. It’s the perfect pop of blue for your entry.
I also had to laugh at the aluminum foil trick. Darn that Pinterest for tricking you.
(Also, I’m convinced you and I are meant to be buddies. I just painted our exterior barn door a really similar shade of blue. And I love it, too.)
Yeah, I thought everything I saw on Pinterest was a sure thing! 😉
And I just popped over to check out your door on the barn, and I LOVE it! We are definitely meant to be buddies. 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Kim!
~Abby =)
Beautiful color! So glad you are healing and feeling stronger!
Thank you so much, Kimm! I’m feeling better and better! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I love the colour you chose! What a great transformation!
Wow! I really love that shade of blue with the wall color. They work well together! 🙂
I love the fun pop of color that the door adds to the entry! I also painted the back of my front door navy. I’ve been kinda on a navy kick lately and would probably paint everything navy if I could 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you do to the rest of the space!
Yay! Navy on everything, I say! 😉 And you know what they say…great minds think alike! 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week, Katie!
~Abby =)
looks great, abby! i love painted interior doors! and the navy is dynamite.
Thank you, friend! I always love your style, so that is a huge compliment! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Saw your post on how to paint a front door and I love the blue by the way! I just painted my front door also, but I went with red! The part with the door knob is what I wanted to comment on…rather than taping the door knobs or dead bolt lock it is much easier to simply take them off when you paint! That way you don’t have to worry about getting paint on anything!!
Hi Abby! What a great idea to paint the inside since you can’t choose the outside color. I love it! I might have to do the same! We’re thinking of using the gray shimmer you have on the walls for our baby’s room that will be all gray and green. Does this paint color have a purplish tone to it? I read online that it does but it doesn’t look like it in your pictures. Hope you’re continuing to recover well!
Hi, Caroline! Congrats on your new little addition! I’ve never noticed the Gray Shimmer looking purple-ish, but it can have a blue-ish tone to it in some light. We really love the color! (Obviously, since we’ve used it in tons of rooms!) Some other grays we’ve used and love are Behr Marquee Silver City (https://justagirlandherblog.com/diy-master-bathroom/) and Behr Premium Plus Ultra Gentle Rain (https://justagirlandherblog.com/home-office-makeover-reveal/). Hope this helps!!
~Abby =)
Beautiful door! I’ve recently discovered your blog and love it. I wondered if your door was metal or wood. I have a generic metal door and have been thinking of painting it dark gray, to match the baseboard in the entry (the walls are a silver gray). It all looks very elegant (if I say so myself) but the white door just doesn’t cut it. Should I sand it first or apply a primer or both? Keep up the great work!
Hi, Chantal! Our door is metal too. If it hasn’t ever been painted, I would sand it a little bit and definitely use primer. I’m sure it’ll look beautiful!
~Abby =)
My husband is out of town, and I was touch up painting some chairs.
I had a ton of paint left over and looked at my drab door.
I googled “paint interior door” and found your blog!!
Long story short, an hour later, I have a blue door!!
Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Love This! I was so inspired I did something very similar in my home! https://www.lianaterry.com/an-unexpected-pop-of-color-painting-the-interior-front-door/
I love your mint door, Liana! It looks fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing. Hope you’re having a great weekend!
~Abby =)
This is almost the exact color I chose for my front door! It looks so nice! Great choice!
You too, Nicole! 🙂
~Abby =)
Of you don’t mind, what color and brand did you use for the door? I know it says “Navy” but what brand did you find was the best and was their another name associated for it? Thank you! It looks beautiful!!
Hi, Tiffany! We used Behr Marquee’s Compass Blue. I love Behr paint. Thanks! 🙂
~Abby =)