One question I get asked a great deal is how to paint a front door without removing it.  So today I am sharing how to paint a front door along with some suggestions on paint finish and color.

HOW TO PAINT A FRONT DOOR WITHOUT REMOVING IT

To begin this simple and easy project on the best way to paint a door we need to start with a few prep details like selecting a paint color and finish and pre-paint cleaning.

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PICKING A PAINT COLOR AND FINISH

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is how to pick a paint color and finish.  A great place to start is this modern front door colors post. Another great option is popular Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors. These two posts will get your creative juices flowing. But another place to look for ideas is my home exterior Pinterest board.

PINTEREST

Begin by looking for houses similar to yours as regarding finish and color.

For example, my house is a red brick so I will look for red brick houses.  Then I will narrow my search down to the house with the doors that  I like the most.

PAINT COLOR

Now go to my “Selecting Exterior Paint colors” post or popular modern front door colors and see if there is a door color similar to the one in your Pinterest post.

There are so many options ranging from the Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore, which is the color of my front door, to the Repose Gray, Pure White, and Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams. 

The options are endless!

What kind of paint do you use on a front door?

The best paint for front doors is semi-gloss exterior latex to give it a nice shine plus it is much easier to clean.  But some people like their front door to have a matte finish.  If you want a matte finish then the best paint for doors is eggshell or satin.  Remember you need a finish that is washable and these have a nice washable finish.

How do you prepare a front door for painting?

To get your door ready for paint begin by cleaning the door.  I like to take a broom and give it a good dusting off especially if there are some spider webs.

Next, you have two options.  If you want to start painting your door right away take a wet washcloth and wipe it down.  But if you are just cleaning today and painting later, then go ahead and pull out the water hose and wash the door down and wipe it off again.

DROP CLOTH

It is always a good idea to place something under the door like a towel or drop cloth.  This will keep any splatters or drips from getting on your floor.

REMOVE ITEMS

Now simply remove door knockers, kick plates, or anything that can be easily removed.  It is a hundred times easier to remove items and paint under them than to paint around them.  But if you decide to not remove these items consider using painters tape.

Now that the prep work is done let's move on to how to paint a door.

PAINTERS TAPE

This step depends on how steady your hand is.   I have been painting for many years so I skip this step, but if you are a beginner and have less experience,  you might want to proceed as follows:

Begin with taping around the doorknob and lock (if they are separate) and inside the window panes if you have a window.  Make sure to score the edge up against where you will paint.  If you skip this step the paint to leak under the tape.

PAINT BY NUMBER

Now, remember those fun paint by numbers projects when you were growing up?  Well, this time you get to do it with your front door!  Simply follow the numbers on this chart of my door and it will show you where to begin and what direction to follow.

Now you see there are wood grains on a door.  If your door is a metal or fiberglass this is still a great way to paint.

My door is metal so my demonstration is how to paint a metal door but I am teaching you the steps on how to paint a wood door too.

You always want to follow the grain when painting.  Move left and right and up and down according to the grain.

It is super easy!  Just follow the numbers in this photo.

REPEAT PAINT BY NUMBER

Okay, so congratulations you have one coat.  Repeat the paint by number steps until you have a good solid finish.  In other words, you want the paint color to be pure with nothing showing through it.

REMOVE TAPE

Last, let me encourage you to remove the tape while it is still damp.  If you let the paint dry completely before you pull the tape it may remove some of the paint on the door.

CONCLUSION

Now you know how to paint a front door without removing it – along with some other tips like how to pick a front door paint color and finish.  Here is a quick step by step list to help you successfully complete this simple and easy project!

• Select your paint color by searching Pinterest for inspiration
• Selecting your paint finish
• Clean your front door thoroughly
• Tape your window and hardware with painters tape if needed
• Brush paint on the door in the direction of the grain (paint by number)
• Repeat painting the door until you have a good solid finish
• Remove tape before it drys

Yay!  Now you know how to paint a front door without taking it off.  It really is that easy and quick.

Here is a after shot of my front door along small front porch decorating ideas.

If you need something to lift your spirits give this project a try.  It does make you feel good to have a new paint color on your door!

Happy Decorating!