What Color To Paint Inside Of Front Door?

The front door is typically the first thing guests will see as they walk up to your house. Because of that, door color is certainly something to consider. You may think of an excellent exterior door color, but what color should you paint the inside of a front door? For your convenience, we've brought you some excellent color options. 

You should paint the inside of your front door white or at least keep it neutral. Even for anyone with a brighter-colored front door, painting its interior-facing side white or a neutral hue will keep your indoor colors from clashing. 

As we begin, we will cover all things front door paint. Whether you want your front door to be bright and cheerful or prefer to keep it simple, choosing the right interior color is essential. With that said, let's get right into this topic!

A black door with window panels on the sides, What Color To Paint Inside Of Front Door?

Should You Paint Your Front Door The Same Color Inside And Out?

In general, it is not always necessary to match the inside of your front door to its exterior color. Most times, the front door will have a bright, fun exterior color and then transition to a white or softer shade as you enter the home.

Although there is no set rule to painting your front door, keeping it simple on the inside is the best way to go.

We sometimes add affiliate links and content that was curated and created by our team with the help of advanced ai tools to help showcase the best design styles.

A dark grey colored door with window panes on the side and decorative rocks on the front door

Does Your Front Door Have To Match Your Interior?

You do not always need your front door to match your home's interior. As we covered above, as long as the front door's inside color is white or neutral, it should blend nicely with your current interior color palette.

That said, if you have a white interior and want your front door to be more colorful, we think switching things up is a great way to add vibrance to your space.

How Do You Paint The Inside Of A Front Door?

For those wanting to paint the inside of their front door themselves, this is relatively simple. Follow these steps:

1. Clean the inside of your front door with a warm, soapy sponge/rag.

These all-purpose sponges come in a pack of five, each measure 2.4 inches thick, are reusable polyester material, and come with a storage bag.

Check out these sponges on Amazon here.

2. Tape off any windows or fixtures on the inside of your door.

This multi-surface painter's tape works on smooth/uneven surfaces, won't leave behind residue, covers 60 yards, and comes in a three-pack.

See this painter's tape on Amazon here.

3. Use a primer on your door to avoid an uneven paint application.

4. Let your primer dry for one to two hours before applying paint.

5. Using a roller or foam brush, coat your door with one to two layers of paint.

This painting kit comes with a foam paintbrush, two rollers, replacement roller heads, a mixing tray, a paint can opener, and has great online reviews from customers.

Follow this link to Amazon to view it.

6. Allow your door to dry overnight and remove any tape from earlier.

How Many Coats Of Paint Do I Need For My Front Door?

Typically, you will need to use two coats of paint for your front door. That said, you shouldn't need as many coats on the inside of your front door as the exterior facing side, but this depends on its current color/finish.

We recommend a thicker oil-based paint for your front door because it can take a beating, but with that will come a longer dry time. Using a thicker paint like one with an oil base will also require fewer coats, which is also something to consider.

Rust-Oleum White Door Paint

This front door paint is oil-based, works on wood and metal, is corrosion/weather-resistant, dries to the touch in one to two hours, and promises not to chip or fade.

View this on Amazon here.

Do You Paint A Front Door With A Roller Or Brush?

When it comes to painting your front door, we recommend using both a roller and a brush. In general, using a paint roller is great for larger spaces, while foam or a traditional paintbrush will be better for harder-to-reach, detailed sections on your door.

Color painting materials and color palettes on the table

According to Glidden, if you are painting a flat door, you should use a foam roller to apply your paint and then brush it on with an angled paintbrush. Now for those with a more textured/detailed door, this same method is okay to try as long as you smooth your paint out with a foam paintbrush between coats.

View this foam brush set on Amazon here.

Is It Better To Spray Or Roll Interior Doors?

Between spraying or rolling on your interior door's paint, they both have their advantages. When it comes to which option is faster, spraying on paint will be the better choice. 

With that said, spraying paint can be messy, which requires more prep than rolling, so that is something to consider. Adding on to that, rolling paint is more user-friendly, so even a new painter should be able to do it.

High Power Paint Sprayer

This high-power paint sprayer is 700 watts, comes with five different nozzles, three spray patterns, and guarantees not to make a mess.

Click here to view this sprayer on Amazon.

Should You Paint The Top Of A Door?

We do not recommend painting the top of a door. In general, you don't want to paint the top or bottom of your door because it needs room to expand and contract depending on the weather inside and outside your home.

Adding to that, if you decide to paint the top of your door, you will have to leave it open for a few hours to dry, which might not be ideal if the weather is bad out. That said, if you prefer the look of a completely painted door, we don't think you should run into major structural issues, so the choice is yours.

Do You Paint The Edges Of A Front Door?

For anyone debating painting the edges of their front door, we think this is very important. According to Practically Functional, you should paint the edges of your front door first so that it gives them the longest amount of time to dry.

You want to give your door's paint plenty of time to dry, so you don't end up having to redo it later.

What Kind Of Paint Should You Use On The Inside Of A Front Door?

A gallon of light grey paint with a paint brush resting on top

Paint-wise, we recommend using a semi-gloss or high gloss paint option for the inside of your front door. Like we covered earlier, oil-based paints tend to hold out better than other formulas and won't require as many coats.

Another reason to choose a thicker, glossier paint is that it will last longer than a water-based option and isn't as prone to fading or chipping.

Should The Trim And Front Door Match?

When it comes to matching your front door to its trim, we think this is a great idea. Although you don't have to match your colors, doing so will create a theme for your space.

Especially inside, you want to keep your trim and door similar in color to help frame the entrance of your home.

To Wrap Things Up

Whether you are renovating or just want to repaint your front door, finding the right color to use is important. From what we found, you should paint the inside of your front door white or neutral in color.

When it comes to painting the front and inside of your door the same color, we don't always think this is necessary. Technique-wise, we recommend using a foam roller and brush to paint your door and letting it dry for one to two hours before closing it. Regardless of which color you choose, make sure to find high-quality door paint, and don't forget to use a primer before you start painting.

Want more door inspiration and guidance? Check out these helpful home posts below!

How To Paint A Front Door Without Removing It? [5 Steps]

Front Door Color For A White House [Inc. 20 Photo Ideas]

Should The Screen Door Match Your Front Door?

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