While it’s true that you need to paint both sides of exterior doors, do you need to paint both sides of interior doors? That depends on why you’re painting the door first, whether you want to match up with the rest of your interior, and how much time and money you want to invest in painting your doors! Here are four reasons why it’s worth it to take the time to paint both sides of interior doors and three reasons why it’s not worth it.
White on White (and Sometimes Black on Black)
Painting interior doors white, or a very light color, will help them reflect and bounce light throughout your space. Painting them black (or any dark color) will make them easier to see from a distance. And if you have an entryway into your home that gets lots of natural light during certain parts of the day, painting your door white and trimming it in black might make for a more dramatic and visually exciting look. If you’re going for drama with colors in your entryway, take advantage of other elements in that area—like flooring and wallpaper—to create contrast when needed. One thing is certain: When interior painting doors, it’s worth considering both sides before deciding on just one!
Consider Color Combinations
Here’s a secret to painting well: You should never paint an entire wall one color. It gives off a flat, uninspired feel. Instead, it would help if you always considered painting in color combinations that give your walls a more distinctive look. And I’m going to tell it anyway—you must make sure you’re painting interior doors before hanging them. This is especially true if you’re trying out bolder colors and color combinations with cool tones; warm tones tend to blend better and look less flat when used alongside darker walls.
Be Careful With Contrasts
There are many ways that contrasting paints can be used together. Consider a room where you have used complementary colors (red and green, yellow and blue) or even a range of shades from one color family (say, yellows). However, it is preferable not to pair different types of paints together on one surface in most cases. If you’re using more than one type of paint on a given surface, mixing them up is usually better, so you don’t have an unbalanced look. The same goes for materials like wallpaper—try mixing wallpapers in opposing patterns or hanging them side by side for maximum impact.
Painting, Stripping and Removing Surfaces
First, you should know that not all doors are created equal, depending on what kind of door you’re talking about. Typically, interior doors don’t have a problem being painted on both sides, but exterior doors are much more sensitive. Why does it matter? The main reason is that exterior doors typically get much more abuse than interior ones. There’s a good chance your front door (if an exterior one) was made in exactly that way: with special protection against painting both sides and stripping paint when needed. If you have an interior door and want to paint both sides, it might be a little bit easier if you follow some precautions.
If a Door Has Exposed Wood, Leave It Unpainted
A door is typically painted on both sides if made with a veneer or composite wood. These materials are made up of several layers of wood, plastic, and other materials that can be damaged by paint. However, most interior doors are made from solid wood. Solid wood provides enough strength that you can safely paint just one side. The only exception is if your door has an exposed-wood face frame since you wouldn’t want paint soaking into those joints—and even then, it’s best to avoid painting both sides if possible.
Don’t Forget the Pre-Painted Doors
When you’re painting interior doors, you’ll often hear about whether or not to paint both sides. It may seem like a small detail, but if you choose not to do so, you might miss out on up to 50% more light in your home. Some people opt for just painting one side and letting that side face outward when it comes time for their door replacement. If you don’t want your wood cabinet doors exposed, then go ahead and leave them unpainted.
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Conclusion
The short answer is no, but it isn’t very easy. Most paint sold in America is designed for interior use and will not last long against moisture or extreme conditions. While there are special exterior paints you can use on doors (and on trim, for that matter), professional painters generally recommend using a paint explicitly marketed as exterior instead of an interior paint labeled as exterior to ensure a better product. If your doors go outside, ensure they’re treated with sealant first. It’s also important to remember that painting both sides might be more work than worth it if you have other plans for those walls, such as putting up wallpaper later.