Deciding on a Door Color

Q: What is the best door color?

Once you have decided to paint your doors, you get to pick the best paint for the space. Different interior styles call for different color palates, so we will explore some of the guidelines for a variety of different spaces.

Q: Should I Paint the Door and Wall the Same Color?

If you are working in a small room, yes. You can make the space feel bigger with same-colored doors and walls. In general, choosing neutral tones such as white, off-white or cream helps these spaces seem larger.

Q: Should I Paint the Entire Door or Just One Side?

No rule dictates that you must paint a door only one color or that you should paint it two colors. It comes down to your preference.

Q: Do All Interior Doors Need to Be the Same Color?

For a cohesive look that blends with varying designs, you could keep the door colors in the same color family. Keep in mind that no one will see all the interior doors at the same time, so different door colors may not stick out unless you want them to.

Q: What Is the Best Type of Finish for Interior Doors?

Generally, you want to use the most sheer finish possible for your door. This will prevent the door from having an overly-shiny or fabricated appearance.

Q: What Is the Best Type of Hardware for a Door?

The hardware you choose will depend on the door and the overall style of the room. The doorknob color you select should contrast the door so it visually stands out. A dark, aged-bronze handle on a dark, wooden door may blend in and become hidden as the colors match too closely.

Q: Do I Match the Trim Color to the Door Color?

If you are looking for a subtle door paint idea, you can paint the trim to match the door. Alternatively, contrasting colors for the trim and door could make the door pop against the wall if that is the look you want.

Close your eyes and envision an interior space. You see the furniture and the artwork. You see the arrangements and the negative space. You imagine all the little elements that give a room its unique character. Now, what do people notice first when they enter the room? The portal to this interior haven — the door.

A well-designed door can be its own standout focal point. Carefully selected interior door colors can personalize a door and bring new character to the entire room.

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Benefits of Painting Interior Doors

The decision to paint your doors can open up a world of possibilities for the interior space. You can make the room seem larger and tie the entrance to the room's motif.

Here are a few benefits of painting your door:

Easier maintenance: By choosing paint with a gloss finish, you ensure a better shine and a surface that cleans more easily than an unfinished door. Doors are one of the most touched and used surfaces of an interior space, so giving them an exterior that will not show scuffs as easily can make maintenance easier for the occupants.
Enhance design opportunities: You can alter the appearance of a room with your door's paint and the color combos you choose for the space. You get more creative control over the aesthetics when you can choose your door's color.
Improve aesthetics: You can make the door a cohesive part of the space by painting it a color that matches the room's style. Deep reds have a classic feel, while neutrals add a modern feel and a sense of minimalism.
Accentuate door details: If you have an ornate door with particular features you want to draw attention to, adding a careful paint job could enhance those intricate details.

However, there are times when there may be better choices for the space than painting your door.

Painting your doors is a practical interior design element with the power to transform a space — when you implement it wisely. Some doors are better left as is:

Exotic or luxury wood: You likely do not want to paint an expensive, high-end door made from exotic or luxury wood. While in some instances you could use a wood stain, some doors are meant to be appreciated in their original form. Much of the appeal of a unique wooden door may come from its natural state.
Material that cannot be painted: Research your type of door before you commit to painting. For example, a natural timber wood door will warp if painted. And a door with a laminate finish can only be stained with proper preparation.
Busy wallpaper: You might decide not to paint the door if it would be in stark contrast to a prominent wallpaper.

To Paint or Not to Paint?

Tips for Painting Your Interior Doors:

Consider these tips for making the process as smooth and sleek as a good coat of paint:

Examine existing features and aesthetics: A room's current features are a good starting place for choosing a new door color. You can take inspiration from window accents, the furniture, the floors, carpets and the color of the walls. Let the color you choose for the door enhance the existing aesthetic. You can also choose a darker shade of the color of the existing elements in the room.
Create the mood: Color affects our emotions and can transform the environment. Envision the atmosphere you want the room to inspire, and choose the door's color to match. Do you want a warm, inviting space? Yellows, oranges and browns can create a welcoming palette. Would you like the room to have a quirky, playful character? Vivid primary colors may do the trick!
Consider the room's use: Are you painting an office door or the door for an entertainment area? A toddler's playroom or your own bedroom? The room's primary use is worth considering before you select your door colors. A playroom can be as bright and colorful as you desire, while an office space may require a less distracting and more sophisticated color.

What Is the Best Color for Your Space?

Different interior styles call for different color palettes. When it comes to interior door colors, the possibilities are endless. You can use color to make the room seem larger and tie the entrance to its motif or shrink it with bold contrasts. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind for various spaces.

Vintage

Vintage is becoming increasingly popular, and if your space follows this style, there are several ways you can play with color on your door to amplify the vintage theme.

Depending on the vintage era you are trying to replicate, there are several colors you could use. If you want to evoke the shabby-chic style of 80s and 90s, pastel yellow, pale aqua and mint green could do the trick. if you would like tones that were prevalent in the Victorian era, then opt for richer shades like dark greens, deep purples and reds. Working with muted pastels could give you the options you need to round out the room's look.

You could also get creative and have professional paint detailed designs on the door to add to the artistic vision of the room. Add a vintage stencil design to draw subtle attention to multiple colors on the doors.

Historic

Doors used in historic spaces often feature intricate details and equally impressive panels and trims. A coat of paint could help accentuate these details. Before you decide to paint, examine the door to see if it is an antique. An antique door's state — original, restored or repaired — will impact how you proceed with the paint project.

Historic buildings tend to be painted based on color trends from when they were built. Choose modern adaptations of historic colors to bridge the gap between the historic and the current. For example, instead of a cream, opt for a greige. This warm neutral color will give you the freedom to dress a room up or down according to your clients' preferences. When considering historic doors, also think about the hardware. An antique, brass doorknob could completely alter the look of the door to make it more cohesive in the space.

Modern

With their focus on minimalism, modern looks generally rely on whites, creams, off-whites, grays, charcoals and black neutrals. There is still plenty of room to play around with colors. Try swapping the neutral locations for something new. If you have while walls, opt for a gray color. If your walls are cream colored, you might choose a dark green door. These small changes can translate into a big statement while adhering to the guidelines of a modern style.

An additional and affordable option is to pai your modern theme with special veneer wood doors, like the quartered fumed oak wood door, for a polished contemporary look. You can also experiment with neutrals like griege or off-black. For a unique twist, paint an office door with chalkboard paint. You and your team can use the door to write out lists, brainstorm or display weekly messages in an unconventional way.

Small

When you work with small spaces, you want to maximize the available space to make it feel as large as possible. You can use paint creatively to play with the feel of a room's dimensions.

Painting a door a contrasting color can break up the visual lines on the wall, making a small room feel smaller. However, painting the door the same color as the wall can make the wall seem continuous, translating into a seemingly larger room. You can use a high-gloss version of the paint color to give the door a bit more pop without sticking out.

Large

A larger space can handle more of a pop of color without feeling cluttered or claustrophobic. In fact, a brighter color can add some life to the room. However, make sure your chosen color works with the room's current color scheme. To add a subtle statement, choose a darker, richer shade of the current wall color in the room like a Litchfield gray, to compliment your white dove walls.

Painting Your Interior Doors: FAQ

Tips for painting interior doors - manhattan Door Stop

There are spoken and unspoken do's and do not's when it comes to painting doors. When you understand this framework, you can be intentional in your choice to abide by or break the "rules." Here are some of the frequently asked questions about interior door color schemes.

Should I Paint the Door and Wall the Same Color?

For small rooms, yes. You can make smaller spaces feel bigger with the same-colored doors and walls. Light tones can also make a room feel more airy and spacious.

You can also make an oddly-positioned door stand out less by painting it the same color as the walls.

Should I Paint the Entire Door or Just One Side?

Painting one or both sides of the door comes down to your preference and if the rooms the door connects have contrasting styles. If the rooms are very different, you could solve the lack of continuity with a different door color on the front and back to match each room's style.

Should Doors and Trim Be the Same Color?

There is no direct yes or no answer to this question. Deciding whether doors should match the trim or the wall is also entirely up to preference. Matching the trim to the door crease a polished and sophisticated look. You can opt or contrasting color combos for the door and trim if you want the door to pop and make a statement. You could pair darker shades with lighter pastels or neutrals. Think green meets blue for the trim and a Himalayan mist for the door for a subtle yet visually interesting contrast.

Do All Interior Doors Need to Be the Same Color?

Different areas in a commercial space have different design considerations. Keep the door colors in the same color family for a cohesive look that blends with varying designs. Keep in mind that no one will see all the interior doors at the same time, so different door colors may only stick out unless you want them to.

What Is the Best Type of Finish for Interior Doors?

There is no straightforward answer to this question because you should consider various aspects for each door. Each finishing option has unique qualities, and the location of the door may change the finish it requires. For example, a bathroom door must withstand frequent contact and disinfection, so a highly durable semi-gloss finish would do.

Generally, you want to use a lower sheen finish for your door. This will prevent the door from having an overly shiny or fabricated appearance. Options to consider include:

Shellac
Varnish
Water-based finish
Lacquer
Oil
Wax

What Is the Best Type of Hardware for a Door?

The hardware you choose will depend on the door and the room's overall style. The door handle should visually stand out and add a beautiful accent.

Good door handle and hardware options include:

Pewter: Pewter works with most styles, and you can use different finishes to narrow down the design for the specific space. For example, a brighter, shinier finish works well for modern areas, and darker shades pair well in antique rooms.
Colored ceramic: Choose colored ceramics for a surprising option that makes a statement. Colored ceramic works well in retro spaces and rustic, country decors. The variety of colors and finishes available gives you plenty of options to find the perfect fit for the room.
Brass: Brass is the most widely used option because it works well in most spaces. Bright finishes make modern spaces pop, while weathered looks sell the authenticity of vintage spaces.
Bronze: With its naturally aged appearance, bronze adds texture to the room. Different finishes give the material a blend of tones, making it a striking accent.

When choosing the doorknob, picking the right finish is one of the most important decisions to help bring cohesion to the space.

Do I Match the Trim Color to the Door Color?

Matching the trim to the door creates a subtle and sophisticated look. You can opt for contrasting color combos for the door and trim if you want the door to pop and make a statement. If you paint your door an accent color, a white trim can help contain the color and create a smooth transition to the wall color.

How Do I Highlight the Designs in an Intricate Door?

Choosing a door with a delicate design adds an element of sophistication to a room. You can highlight those details by painting the door a shade lighter or darker than the surrounding walls. To accentuate the details even further, paint the recessed parts of the door white to highlight the raised details.

Do You Paint the Door Frame the Same Color as the Door?

The answer depends on the feel you are going for and, in all honesty, you budget. I you love contrasts, painting the door and framing different colors is the perfect way to add personality and break up a room. If you want a bolder look, paint the door and frame the same color. This design will help make the door look bigger, giving it a slightly dominating presence - perfect for those executive offices.

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From exotic wood veneer to durable metal doors, we have the options to provide you with outstanding results. Our products have a shorter turnaround time than our competitors so you can get your supplies sooner and satisfy your clients on schedule.

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