How to Paint an Interior Door

Locate the hinge pins connecting the door to the wall. Place a thin nail or a flat-tip screwdriver on the bottom of the hinge pin. Tap the nail or screwdriver with a ​hammer to push the hinge pin upwards. Once the pin has protruded enough, grab it with a pair of pliers and pull it out. Follow the same process to remove all other pins. Once all the pins are removed, slide out the door. The door could be heavy, so ask someone for help.

Place the door on the two sawhorses in your workspace. Use a screwdriver to remove the hinges, doorknob and any other hardware.

Lightly sand the door surface with a sander or sandpaper. This will give you a smooth surface to paint and help you achieve a good finish.

Sanding will leave small wood particles on the door. Clean the surface with a cloth or soft-bristle brush. You may also vacuum to remove the debris.

Pour a small amount of paint into a paint tray. Dip your angled brush or high-density foam roller into the paint. Start painting the edges of the door.

If your door has panels, start painting the edges of the panel first. After lining the edges with paint, proceed to paint the center of the panels. Follow it by painting the area between each of the panels.

If your door does not have panels, you can start by painting the front of the door. Allow the paint to dry. Turn the door and place it on the sawhorse. Now, paint the back of the door.

You can paint the door casing while your freshly painted door is drying. Cover the wall right beside the casing with painter’s tape. Use a small brush to paint along the casing. Allow the paint to dry off and remove the painter’s tape from the wall.

Allow the paint on the door to air dry. Check if you’re satisfied with the paint finish. Apply a second coat of paint if needed. Let the paint dry completely.

Use a screwdriver to fix the knob, hinges, handles and any other hardware to your door. At this step, you can also choose to install new door hardware.

Remove the door from the sawhorse and place it upright. Ask someone to help you reinstall the door. Lift the door and slide it back on the hinges attached to the door casing. Replace the hinge pins and hammer them back in place.

Use painter’s tape to cover the door hardware. Score the edges around the hardware with a precision knife. Remove any excess tape.

Lightly sand the door to get a smooth surface. Wear safety glasses and a respirator during this process. Remove the debris and dust with a vacuum cleaner.

Pour a small amount of paint into a paint tray. ​​Dip your angled brush or high-density foam roller into the paint​​. Start painting the front of the door. Use a minimum amount of paint to avoid any paint drips. Use a fine brush to paint along the covered hardware.

Allow the paint on the door to air dry. You can add a second coat of paint after the first coat has dried completely.

Confirm if the paint has dried, then peel off the painter’s tape from the hardware. Use a fine brush to paint any gaps that might be visible. You can use the door after all the paint has dried.