Today I’m pondering the fact that one never really knows one’s friends. They can seem to be on the straight and narrow, even a little straighter and narrower than you, when something is said or done that reveals their true natures.
Case in point: A couple of weeks ago I posted on Facebook that I was feeling rather rebellious. I’ve been wanting to paint my front door ever since moving into our neighborhood and several months back I mentioned it to a neighbor who happens to be a member of the architectural committee. He told me point blank that I shouldn’t paint my door without getting the committee’s permission. This was a little discouraging, given the neighborhood gossip that said that the committee was painfully slow at approving anything. So after stewing for awhile over the unfairness of it all I put the idea aside. That is until Spring sprang once again, and my black door continued to hide in the shadows, making my porch seem like an entrance into a black hole. With encouragement from a few friends (who I already knew were rebellious types) I decided to go for it!
What surprised me about my FB post was that ALL my friends (save two who commented that they are rule followers and had heart palpitations even thinking about what I was intent on doing) agreed wholeheartedly that I should, “Just do it!” Like I said, one never really knows one’s friends.
I am extremely pleased with how my door turned out so today I will share with you my 10 Steps to a Perfectly Painted Exterior Door (tips borrowed from online door painting tutorials). Before you begin, do choose a mild weather day for painting as you will need to keep your door open for an extended period. Mid morning to early afternoon is best.
1. Gather your supplies: 1 quart of good quality latex exterior paint (I used Valspar because it was here waiting for me when we bought our house – sorry, it was a custom mix and there isn’t a color on the can), a dropcloth, a damp rag, a good quality 2-3″ acrylic bristled paint brush, a smaller paint brush for painting around hardware and in tight places, painter’s tape, and a small stepstool or ladder.
UPDATE: After several requests I took my paint can to Lowe’s and this is the color match formula they gave me. You can print this formula and take it to any Lowe’s Hardware and they will be able to mix this same exterior paint for you.
2. Prep your door and painting area: Wash off any dirt and wipe dry. If mold is present, use a mold retardant and allow to dry thoroughly. If your door is in rough shape you may need to sand it smooth before painting (be sure to wear a protective mask when sanding loose paint). If your door has oil paint on it, is a new unprimed door, or if you are applying light colored paint over dark, prime with bonding primer. Lay a drop cloth under the door. Cover anything you’ll have trouble painting around with painter’s tape. Stir paint well and begin.
Note: If you aren’t sure if your door is painted with oil or latex paint a simple test is to dip a cotton ball in a small amount of denatured alcohol and rub it over the door’s surface. It the paint does not come off on the cotton ball it is oil paint and must be primed with a bonding primer prior to painting.
3. If you are only painting the outside of the door begin by painting the door edge first. If your door swings inward the hinged edge gets the outside color. If the door swings outward just the opposite is true.
4. Paint hinges if already painted. Otherwise leave them unpainted.
5. Paint around door windows or hardware (or remove them first for ease of painting).
6. With a raised panel door, paint the reveals first (this is the frame around the center panel).
7. Paint the panels inside the reveals next.
8. Paint the rails (these are the horizontal cross pieces) working from the top down and painting horizontally, left to right.
9. Paint the stiles last (the vertical parts of the door) from top to bottom.
10. Wait an hour or follow directions on paint can and repeat these steps.
Before Painting
After Painting
Sometimes a third coat of paint is necessary for good coverage, especially if painting light over dark. Leave your door open 2-3 hours to dry. Remove any tape and you are done!
Another post I put out to my friends on Facebook was what color hardware should I use on my newly painted door? The brass deadbolt wasn’t working properly so we needed to replace it anyway.
I had votes for virtually every color but oil rubbed bronze was by far the favorite. I liked that choice too because it matches nicely with my urns and the shutters on the windows.
It was also a good choice because we only had to replace the door handle and everything else was able to be sprayed with Rustoleum’s Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint, thus saving additional expense.
From a distance my door isn’t bright enough to catch the attention of the architectural committee which, by the way, I found out has no jurisdiction over door color. Sheesh!
But it no longer looks like one is entering into a black hole.
Now it opens right in to the colors I’ve used throughout my home.
So whatcha’ think? Should I paint the inside of the door the same color? I’m pretty sure it would make my hallway feel happy. 😉
Blessings (you may need them if you too are rebellious) friends,
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Extremely similar to my front door remodel I did last summer! I love it and have received so many Compliments! Yours looks beautiful!
Love the new look! Wish I had your as my neighbor…. You inspire me.
I love the new color, and it does make the entry look much more welcoming than the black door. I hope the committee won’t object! (With things like this, I tend to agree with the philosophy that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission! LOL)
Visiting from PatAndCandy today, and pinning your tips because we have several inside doors to paint, and possibly the front door too.
Wonderful color-so inviting! Great choice!
Your door is beautiful!! You are so right, the light color is much more welcoming and not so black holish. That’s a word, right?
I sure wish we were allowed in our neighborhood. Our architectural committee would definitely swoop down upon me!!
Love it. I painted my door that color last year. So cheerful road come home to.
Don’t you love auto correct. Tried to say— Cheerful to come home to.
Beautiful colour! Great choice. Our front door is in need of painting and hardware. This will come in very handy when I tackle that job!
Hmmm, I think my Spirit already knew YOUR Spirit was a tad rebellious! And you wear it well, so never mind the naysayers, or the timid rule followers…
I liked the black, because it looked so classic and proper….you know, “Suth’un proper”. But I love the color you used and it is so much more friendly now, in a pineapple-welcoming way! And it certainly suits your personality better! I say you should do the inside as well. Lol, knowing you it’s probably already done, my sassy friend….good job!
I LOVE the color Patti! And I would have encouraged you because… yes… I am known to push the boundaries. Or did you already guess that? 😉 If the exterior color is perfect for the inside… what are you waiting for? Get out that brush do some therapy. (Painting for me is always therapy.) BTW…. Your tut is how I paint six panel doors. And believe me I have painted a ton of them. Except I complete each square fully including the inside panel before moving on to the next… my quirk. 😉 Your house is beautiful and the color is cool and peaceful and inviting… all at the same time. You rocked it!!!
I love the colour you have chosen for the door it’s such a brave choice but it has made a huge impact, looks amazing!
Wow! I really like the new look on your front door!
I love it! (I am rebellious! LOL)
Paint the inside of the door, make the hallway happy!!! Rebel some more!!!
I have a WHITE door…booooo!
It WILL get painted eventually. I have been here almost 4 years and the white door is blah. My house is light gray siding and my shudders are blue…more of a grayish blue, but blue, nonetheless. My front porch is white and screened in. The screen door is white. I have not yet pondered what to do with the front door. (I have always wanted a house where I could paint the front door either a bright red or PURPLE. Too bad it’s not THIS house. LOL)
Now ya got me thinkin about all the doors I have had. LOL
What a difference! It now says “come in.” Love the color.
Patti,
It looks great! We have the same color door, except we bought a new door and spray painted it.
Have a great weekend,
~Kiki~
Visiting from your link-up at Art and Sand…your front door color is gorgeous! Really makes a difference. Your home looks like a beautiful mansion! I will have to take a look around your blog to see if you have a home tour or showcase any of your rooms. 🙂
Love love love the color of your door, it really look great……………
and if it goes with your decor inside………why not Paint it there too??
Looks so much so nice especially for Spring and Summer, but love
this color with Fall colors too………..
Enjoy……….
Blessings, Nellie
Make your hall happy. She deserves it. After all, she works really hard to get you to where you need to go within the house.
I love this color. We’ll be painting our door some day, so thank you for the hints.
Love the color and I would paint the inside to. So glad you didn’t listen to your neighbor, lol.
Love the color Patti! Glad you decided to be a rebel and go for it. 🙂 Yes, paint the inside. It would be so cheery! thanks for sharing the great painting tips with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Absolutely stunning! I’m just about to paint our front screen door red and our front door black, I can’t wait! New paint on a front door makes SUCH an incredible difference!
Love the door color! Thanks for the step by step tips. We need to paint our front door, but likely missed our window for now as the heat of summer has arrived.
My sister just bought this cute little home built in the 1930’s. It is a really nice little place. She wants to do some changes to make the place more of her own. I think the door would be a great project. I really liked you tip about checking if it is an oil based paint or not. I will get my sister to check before we start picking the paint and primer. thank you for the tips, and step by step instructions.
This color is stunning!!!!! Beautiful job.
Patti I love that color!! Great choice! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Lovely. My motto, ” it is easier to get forgiveness than permission”!
Your door is beautiful. Check out that 4th of July wreath on my page and you will see my ugly green door. I feel your previous pain and have been wanting to repaint my door since we moved in last year. Alas, our HOA does have jurisdiction over our door colors. My hubby is quite the rebel and me, the rule follower…we will see what happens. The entire house needs painted, so we will be waiting to do the door for when we do the entire house. I am really swooning over the color of yours! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!
Oh, you rebel, you! 🙂
I love the front door color, and I think you’d enjoy having the inside painted to match. I thought your black door was stately and imposing, which was great, but this door looks more welcoming, which is even better.
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party! I’m featuring you this week!
Beautiful color and it makes the door stand out beautifully. Good for you for going ahead and painting. It’s always easier to get forgiveness than permission anyway 😉
This is absolutely beautiful and thanks for the tips.The Improvement Association is the subdivision where we live has similar “rules” and I say that loosely. They would like for us to get their permission before making any changes to our landscape. Uh-no, not happening.
Beautiful!!! It turned out great. Thank you for the painting tips. Time to put a second coat on with the paint brush strokes in the “perfect” direction!
Patti,
Amazing transformation, dear friend!
L O V E the hue!
Fondly,
Pat
That looks fantastic! Love the color!
Thanks Sherry!
Love the finished door. And the paint color You choose!! Who thought you needed to get permission from the neighborhood committee. Not me. I just painted my door last summer from a dull tan to a bright vivid orange. And boy does it look great. Luckily I haven’t gotten any notes from the neighborhood committee. Yet!
I’m glad you didn’t know before you did it Theresa. Otherwise you might have held back. I haven’t had anyone say a word. I’m think I’m lucky to be way down at the end of the cul-de-sac and set back a ways from the road 🙂 Thanks for stopping by to comment.