Forget Accent Walls—Add Color With Painted Interior Doors Instead (2024)

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Home experts say painting your interior doors can easily update your home's look.

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Lauren Phillips

Forget Accent Walls—Add Color With Painted Interior Doors Instead (1)

Lauren Phillips

Lauren is a former editor at Real Simple and currently serves as a senior digital editor for Better Homes & Gardens.

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Updated on December 07, 2023

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Forget Accent Walls—Add Color With Painted Interior Doors Instead (2)

If you've never thought about painting the interior doors in your home before, you may want to consider it. Painted interior doors—like painted front doors—are tough to resist. It's a colorful, playful way to bring character to a space with less risk and commitment than an accent wall or a fully painted room. Read on to learn more and see how experts suggest incorporating them into your home's decor.

  • Tina Nokes is the owner of Five Star Painting Loudoun, a Neighborly company.
  • Elyza Brillantes is a Colorado-based interior designer.

Benefits of Painted Interior Doors

Nokes says they're seeing many people painting the insides of their front doors. At the same time, they're seeing accent walls starting to fade in popularity. It's not surprising since the painted door look is striking and dramatic—especially when paired with lighter surrounding trim and wall paint. Plus, there are benefits to painting your interior doors.

  • Saves money: Painting is a costly process. However, painting a single door (instead of a whole wall or room) can save you money on your interior house painting costs.
  • Adds to the decor: Paint is an easy way to refresh a space and give it a new look. By painting the interior doors in your home, you'll be adding a unique element to the room.
  • Helps the door's lifespan: Before painting a door, it's typical to first sand it down and fix any chips or dents in the wood. Doing this will help extend the life of the door.

Which Interior Doors Should You Paint?

Don't limit painting interior doors to the back of the front door; consider other doors around your home: the kitchen pantry door, bedroom doors, and bathroom doors. Even a sliding barn door is a candidate for a fresh coat of paint, and an unexpected hue will add even more personality.

"We've had a few people that have painted several interior doors," Nokes says. "On the main level, they'll paint them black and keep the door jamb around it white." The visual contrast is eye-catching.

Color Ideas for Painted Interior Doors

As with any decision regarding paint colors, consider the atmosphere you hope to create in your home. A bright color will add energy to a space, while a neutral or muted tone will help the room feel soothing and peaceful. Here are some popular paint colors for interior doors:

  • Hues of blue: Whether deep blue or a muted tone, blue can add a beautiful pop of color to a room. Depending on the shade and the room's decor, blue can work for almost any door.
  • Shades of yellow: For a bright addition to your space, consider painting your interior door yellow. This can be a fun color for a bathroom, kitchen, or entrance.
  • Bold red: Add a bold statement with a red interior door. Deep reds work great for entryways, while a playful bright red would add fun to a kid's room or playroom.
  • Pastel pink: With just a hint of color, a soft pink can add a modest touch to a room. Try pink doors for a kid's bedroom or a boho-inspired entry.
  • Soft gray: If you're looking for a splash of color that's not too loud, gray might be your color. Like blue, gray is versatile and will work for painting any interior door.
  • Calming neutrals: To keep things neutral, opt for earthy, warm colors like brown or beige. These will work for bedroom doors, entryways, and just about anywhere else you choose.
  • Classic black: Black—the color Nokes says most people choose—is both dramatic and understated. If you're considering painting interior doors, perhaps the easiest color to start with is black. Brillantes also loves the look and has convinced clients to paint the inside of their front door black.

"It's such an unexpected and really cool way to infuse some personality into your space," Brillantes says. "In a small space or a historic space where you can't do a ton of changes to the actual property, painting the door is such a fun and cool way to add a little character."

Will Painted Interior Doors Replace Accent Walls?

Brillantes doesn't think accent walls are entirely on their way out of fashion but will be approached differently. The accent walls of the future might be more muted or have more texture rather than contrasting paint color, Brillantes adds. Or perhaps painted interior doors will fulfill our need for color. Only time will tell.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Should you paint all interior doors the same color?

    It's not a must to paint all interior doors the same color. You can certainly do this to create a uniform look, but you can also choose to create variety from space to space with different colored doors.

  • What type of paint should be used on interior doors?

    When painting interior doors, you should use indoor acrylic-latex paint. While you can choose from either satin, eggshell, or semi-gloss sheen, you should avoid matte or flat paint finishes.

  • Should doors be lighter or darker than walls?

    If you wish for your doors to blend in with the walls, paint them the same color or a similar hue. But if you want the doors to stand out, consider painting them darker than the walls for a dramatic look.

  • Do interior doors and trim have to match?

    No, painted doors don't have to match the trim color; this comes down to personal preference. Other alternatives include painting the door and trim in contrasting colors or painting them in complementary colors.

15 Gorgeous Accent Wall Ideas to Help Your Room Stand Out

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Forget Accent Walls—Add Color With Painted Interior Doors Instead (2024)

FAQs

Should interior doors be the same color as walls? ›

But if keeping a sleek and ultra-modern look is important to you, then it's definitely worth keeping everything the same colour. Having doors painted the same as the walls is a simple trick for a pared-down look that makes the whole space look effortlessly sleek – and chic!

What color should interior doors be painted? ›

“I would keep the door the same color as the walls because if you start changing colors it could make the space look smaller,” he says. “It's a color block that draws attention to it in a small space. You want it as monochromatic as possible.”

Can you have an accent wall with a door? ›

Solid Walls – Generally and logically speaking, accent walls are solid and don't have any windows or doors. However, there can be exceptions where your window has a fantastic view and beautiful frame, and when you have doors that blend in seamlessly with your home décor.

Are accent color walls outdated? ›

Whether you're a trendsetter or prefer a timeless design, you always want your home to be in style. So, if you've been asking yourself, "Are accent walls out of style?" we assure you that they're definitely on-trend, and we don't see that changing anytime soon.

Should interior doors be darker or lighter than walls? ›

Should doors be lighter or darker than walls? If you wish for your doors to blend in with the walls, paint them the same color or a similar hue. But if you want the doors to stand out, consider painting them darker than the walls for a dramatic look.

Are colored interior doors in style? ›

Interior door colors don't have to be restricted to white. From basic black that adds drama and sophistication to lighthearted blues that give a space a refreshing, approachable look, to quirky colors like light green and pink, any color you would put on a wall can go on a door. Ready to grab your brush and a roller?

Where not to put an accent wall? ›

If the room already has a lot going on, an accent wall may not be the best choice. It could make a busy room feel too crowded. In addition, you want to choose somewhere that a wall will stand out—not a dark corner where it will be forgotten.

What is the rule of thumb for accent walls? ›

In order to not overpower your room's color scheme, professionals use a little rule called the 60-30-10 wall color rule to maintain the space's color balance. Simply put, 60% of your room will have the dominant color, 30% should primarily be the secondary color, and 10% the accent color.

Are accent walls out of style for 2024? ›

Accent walls have consistently remained a go-to design choice for homeowners looking to update their spaces with ease and style. Given their versatility, timelessness, and emotional impact, it is highly likely that they will continue to be in style in 2024.

Should an accent wall be lighter or darker? ›

It is usually suggested that an accent wall be darker than the other walls to create depth and drama, but this is not always the answer. If you intend for your ceiling to be the accent, and the ceiling is low, a lighter color is often the correct choice.

Should you paint door same color as wall or trim? ›

If you're looking for a modern, seamless, finish then doors should be painted the same color as walls and trim. This color-drenching trend can also help to make a small room feel bigger. She adds: 'You can then throw in some stunning contrasts and accents via your soft furnishings and furniture. '

What color should doors be if walls are white? ›

However, keep this in mind: your doors are really connected to your walls and are the extension of that plane, so we would encourage you to think of keeping them pretty close in color. If you want to do a color, choose either a warm color (greys can be warm) or a cool color (blues) to match the rest of your room.

Should a door match a wall? ›

It all depends on your design goal for the room. Do you want the space to look calm and relaxing or do you want your space to look bold and vibrant? If calm and relaxing is your goal then paint the door to match the walls. If bold and vibrant is your goal, then paint the door with a pop of color.

Should interior doors be the same color on both sides? ›

Painting one or both sides of the door comes down to your preference and if the rooms the door connects have contrasting styles. If the rooms are very different, you could solve the lack of continuity with a different door color on the front and back to match each room's style.

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