The front door of your home is probably the first thing visitors and passers-by will notice as they take in the entire scene. It sets the tone for the type of house you own and the type of people living within. If your front door is looking a little tired and run-down, don’t despair! There are plenty of ways to give your front door a spruce. My favourite way to do this is to paint your front door a bright colour. And while bringing in an expert painter is always a good idea, some of us are a little more hands-on and want to DIY. Here are my top tips for painting your front door DIY-style…
1. Choose the right paint!
So it sounds obvious, but give it a minute to sink in. Just because you have some paint leftover from another project in the garage is not necessarily a good enough reason to use it for your front door. Remember, that thing is going to be exposed to the elements year in and year out and you want it to last. Exterior paints please, and good quality ones at that. Personally, I prefer a gloss finish (especially with a pop of colour), but it is completely down to personal preference when it comes to your own project.
2. Prepare, prepare, prepare
If you have any hope of keeping your front door in good condition long term, the most important thing to do is to make the right preparations. Before you start, you need to decide:
- Are you painting just the front of the door or the whole door? And what about the frame?
- Are you taking the door off its hinges to paint it? What about security in the meantime? What if the paint needs to dry overnight? (Again, choose your paint wisely)
- Are there any hidden meanings (good or bad) around your chosen colour?
- What is the weather going to be like the day you choose to paint?
Food for thought.
On the more practical side of things, you’ll need to clean, sand and prime your front door surfaces, and apply painter’s tape around the edges to protect your walls from errant brushstrokes. Undercoat is essential for a front door to make sure your paint job lasts as long as possible.
3. Use the right tools for the job
No need to be too flash here. Painting your front door a bright colour is statement enough, so save your schmancy effects for another project. A foam roller and/or a paintbrush is all you’ll really need. If you’re deadest on the ‘handpainted’ look, by all means, just use a paintbrush. Pro tip though, you may find the job goes faster if you apply the first coat of paint with a roller and the second with the paintbrush to achieve texture.
4. Patience is key
For goodness sake, whatever you do, don’t be in a hurry. This type of project takes care, attention and patience – you want your final look to be sleek, modern and professional, not a DIY project gone bad! Leave at least two hours between coats and be absolutely certain your final coat is dry before reattaching and closing your front door.
Painting your front door a bright colour can be a delightful experience, and can be a source of joy for yourself and the whole neighbourhood. Following my simple tips will be the key to DIY success. So have at it and make sure you send me lots of pics!
