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

• Home
• Decorating
• Decorating Tips and Techniques

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.

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.

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.