My flaky front door was letting the whole house down – these are the 5 steps I took to smarten it up with a pop of colour
My front door was in desperate need of a makeover, here's how I achieved it in a single day
Forming an important part of the overall kerb appeal of your house, as well as the entryway into your home, the front door often fails to get the recognition it deserves. This is the point at which you should feel a sense of being welcomed in and, as such, your front door ideas should really set the tone for what's to come.
In the case of my own front door, a repaint is very much overdue. Over the years it has been through a host of different colours. When we moved in it was painted a very bright cobalt blue to match the rest of the exterior woodwork and since then it has been through various off-whites and a fresh Eau de Nil.
1. Sand it down
I'll hold my hands up and say that in the past I may have neglected the preparation stages of painting my front door a little, so keen was I to get to the fun bit and see my front door colour ideas come to life. However, this time around, I want to ensure a perfect and long-lasting finish.
According to David Turner, head of product at Leader Online, sanding is essential here. 'Start by scraping off any loose paint and then sand the whole surface with 60-80 grit sandpaper. You don’t necessarily need to strip it back to bare wood, but you do need to remove the shine and create a fresh surface to help the new paint properly grip and prevent flaking. Use a finer sandpaper after, like 180-220 grit, to smooth the surface and give the door a thorough clean to remove dust and grease, as any remnants will show up later as texture and bumps.'
I actually removed some of the elbow grease required here by using this Bosch Cordless EasySander Multi Sander for the main areas and sheets of sandpaper for the tricker sections.
A cordless sander is an ideal option if you want to make quick and easy work of sanding down surfaces before painting, without worrying about a power cord getting in the way.
David Turner, head of product at Leader Online, has vast knowledge of doors, floors, tiles, worktops and panelling – based on his 15 years of experience in the homes and interiors industry. He began as the brand's sales and logistics manager in 2011, and now leads all product operations and planning.
2. Give it a thorough clean
Having dusted down the door and removed all loose dirt and debris, I gave it a thorough clean. The best thing for this job is sugar soap which removes all manner of grime and grease. It can be used for all kinds of DIY tasks, from painting wooden furniture to cleaning walls.
You can buy sugar soap in various forms, from concentrates that you dilute with water to ready-mixed sprays and even handy wipes.
Simply apply, work it in then rinse it off. Make sure the door is fully dry before you move on to the next step.
3. Mask off any sections you don't want to get paint on
This is another important step that often gets missed yet makes all the difference when it comes to the final finish.
You can use regular masking tape or painter's tape for this, which tends to be a little more flexible and easier to work with. The idea is that you mask off all the bits of the door that you want to stay paint-free – door furniture such as letterboxes, keyholes, hinges and so on.
In the case of my door I also needed to mask off the edges of the glazed sections. Fiddly? A bit. Worth it? Most definitely.
Shop my painting kit
No faffing around diluting with this sugar soap spray – just spray it on, leave it for a minute then wipe it away for a clean, grease and dirt free surface that is ready to prime or paint. It works just as well on walls as it does on woodwork.
I don't know where I would be without a roll of this for all the painting jobs around here – it keeps lines sharp, prevents paint bleeding and won't pull off your new paint when you remove it.
This set of five paintbrushes is so handy as the smaller ones work perfectly for tricky areas requiring precision while the larger one give really good coverage fast. I also noticed no bristle loss while using them.
4. Add a coat of primer
I had actually already primed the door before I chose my paint. Having researched some of the latest paint trends, I opted for Intelligent Satin by Little Greene in the shade Hellebore 275 which combines a primer and topcoat in one, meaning I didn't actually need to take this step. However, if you have gone for a different type of paint, priming is an important task.
'Primer is another step that’s often skipped as people don’t think it’s that important, but it makes a big difference,' explains David Turner. 'A good bonding or multi-surface primer will give you a much more even finish and help stop future peeling by sealing the porous wood against splashes and deterioration.
'Use a paint roller, brush or both to apply your primer and allow it to dry before painting, giving it at least one to three hours for latex or water-based primers.'
5. Get painting
Time for the best bit – applying the paint itself. In the past, I have just used any old paint brush I could get my hands on but this time I decided to make painting easier by taking the advice of David Turner and combining a small roller as well as a brush.
'A small roller works well on flat panels, with a good-quality angled synthetic brush, made of nylon or polyester, for edges and detail,' explains David. 'That combination helps avoid visible brush marks while still giving you control where you need it. When loading the brush with paint, only dip up to the belly of the brush (the middle) and gently tap the flat of the brush against the paint bucket on each side to knock off any drips for an even distribution of paint.'
David had some more tips for me to when it came to the best painting techniques. 'Start in the centre of your door to unload the paint and spread it out before working towards the edges or panel grooves.
'It’s better to build up thin layers rather than go in heavy,' continues David. 'Two coats are the minimum, but three thin coats will give you a smoother, more durable result. Just make sure each coat is fully dry before adding the next. Some suggest only doing a coat per day to allow full adhesion, but water-based or quick-dry gloss paints require a minimum of four hours to dry. If you’re using a paint conditioner, allow extra drying time.'
David also suggested using a a clear topcoat to make sure the colour stays vibrant and is protected, but the paint I have chosen doesn't require this step.
The end result
Later that same day, the door was finished. Having chosen a mild, dry and sunny day, I was able to leave the door open all day while waiting for the two coats to dry out.
I couldn't love the new pink shade more – it adds such a pretty pop of colour to the facade and sits really well with the surrounding greenery too. If you are looking for welcoming front door colours I can highly recommend this one.
Next up I'll be turning my attention to painting the inside of the house – my all-white kitchen walls are crying out for some colour and I'm already looking into some pink kitchen ideas...
FAQs
What are the best weather conditions for painting a front door?
I lucked out with the weather on the day I planned to paint my front door – a warm, but not hot, sunny and dry day. It is really important to carry out external painting, whether you are painting a fence, doors or windows, in the right conditions if you want your paint finish to stand the test of time.
'The best painting conditions are on a mild, dry day,' advises David Turner. 'It’s best not to paint in direct sunlight because the paint can dry too quickly and leave streaks. Cold, damp, or humid weather can disrupt how paint bonds and dries, leading to peeling or flaking.'
Painting your front door is just one way to add kerb appeal to a house. Now the weather is picking up, take a good look at the front of your home – even simple tasks like weeding, cleaning windows and roof tiles and repairing any guttering can all elevate the exterior more than you might imagine.
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