Find out how to paint a door with panels easily and without error with our expert DIY guide today.
Too often we overlook the fact that a beautifully painted door or colour refresh can transform the look of a room. A fresh coat of paint can uplift these entrances and create a warm, inviting ambience for the rooms they serve. For instance, painting a kitchen door the right way helps to craft a uniform look for the room and is sure to impress family, friends and guests when it’s your turn to host.
Whether you’re painting a bedroom door as part of your next renovation project or looking for tips on how to paint a door with panels, or even an inside door to upgrade your expertise, our easy-to-follow guide on how to paint a door will have you painting like a professional in just a few simple steps.
As with all decorating projects, preparation is the most important step in ensuring the best results are achieved. First, before you understand how to paint a door with panels, clear an area near the door to remove the risk of damage or stains to your furniture. Move any furniture out of the way and use an Essentials Polythene Dust Sheet or a Seriously Good Cotton Dust Sheet, which has a polythene backing to prevent spills from penetrating and to suitably protect the floor. Secure the dust sheet using some Essentials Masking Tape to prevent the sheet lifting and mitigate frustrating spillages on your flooring.
A key step in our tips for painting a door; you must next prepare the wooden surface for painting. Sand the door down using Ultimate Fine Sandpaper. As you sand, use your hand to identify the rough areas which need more attention. It is only necessary to remove the topmost layer of paint at this stage. If you notice that the existing paint on the door is particularly thick or heavy, take a look at our more in-depth guide on how to prepare wood for painting!
When you have completed the sanding of the door, take a Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth and remove any dust. To finish this step, add some Seriously Good UV Tape to protect the door handle and hinges. You’re now ready to paint!
When it comes to painting a bedroom door or any other entrance in the home, a primer must be applied to prevent any stains from sap, or other contaminants from coming through the wood and ruining the top coat. Shake your new tin of primer thoroughly then open and stir well to ensure a smooth consistency. Dispense a small amount of paint into a Large Handyhold, then using the Ultimate Triangular Gloss Brush, paint any shaped areas in the door panels. When these areas are completed, make sure to finish away from the corners, so you do not get a build-up of excess paint.
To ensure smooth coverage for larger flat surfaces, take the Ultimate 4-inch Gloss Roller. If you have a panelled door, however, when painting a bedroom door, for example, begin painting the flat sections of the panel first from left to right, then top to bottom. Next, paint the horizontal sections starting at the top and working your way down. Finally, complete the process by painting the long vertical sections starting with vertical furthest from the hinge and then working your way in.
To get the best results when it comes to how to paint a door with panels, leave your primer to dry and be sure to clean the brush using clean spirit and some Seriously Good Paper Roll to remove as much paint as possible between soakings. This technique ensures your brush is cleaned quickly and efficiently, ready for your stunning top coat.
Once the primer has fully dried, you can lightly sand the door if desired to remove any minor imperfections from the priming stage. Next, clean the surface with a cloth and then apply the top coat gloss, eggshell or satin paint mirroring the Harris-approved tips used in the previous step to achieve an enviable finish.
A final, optional step is to take the Ultimate Gloss Flat Brush with a very small amount of paint and very lightly and carefully go over the large flat areas. This process is known as laying off and although it takes some practice to master, this is the way a skilled decorator will create a perfect glass-like finish. Explore this step in more detail with our how to paint skirting board video!
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