When thinking about home decorating, the doors should be a part of the picture. Painting them may depend mostly on personal preferences, but following color-matching guides keep them in harmony with the rest of a room or house's layout. So, should they be painted the same color as the walls? What colors and styles are best for doors? We've looked into these questions, and here are the answers we found.
Door color can be matched with the color of the walls for a sleek look. However, the color you choose for painting a door depends on a few factors, such as:
- Size of the room
- Number of doors
- Current color scheme
Usually, doors are painted the same color as the walls only until the trim. The door itself tends to come in a color that matches the surrounding décor or furniture rather than the walls themselves.
There's a wide variety of colors to choose from when it comes to picking out what to paint exterior and interior doors. But which colors will work best for them? Should they match every door in the house? Do both sides of the door have to be painted the same? Keep reading to get a deeper insight on these points.
What Is The Best Color For Internal Doors?
Choosing the best color for internal doors varies on the room's overall composition. Color options you won't go wrong with are neutral and classic shades, including white, gray, earthy tones, and even black.
Note that these colors differ, especially for rooms that consist of brighter features. In this case, interior doors should match up with the room's primary color scheme instead.
If you prefer to do so, you can pair doors with the color of the walls. The paint color may vary if the interior door has a different finish, allowing the door to subtly stand out.
You can also paint only the door trim the same color as the walls, then paint a contrasting color on the actual door.
Picking door colors generally rely on a few aspects. These include the following:
Size Of The Room
Doors that contrast with the color of the walls are best for rooms with large or wide spaces. It helps draw attention to the door, especially when there's a lot of room to fill.
On the other hand, a contrasting-colored door may cause a smaller room to look cramped. In this case, it's better to paint the door in slight contrast or the same color as the walls.
Number Of Doors
Some rooms around a house may come with multiple doors, other than the main interior door. The more doors are present in a room, the less space you will be working with.
Doors in closed rooms, like bedrooms, tend to be colored a slightly different shade from the wall or in a color that complements the room's furniture. In open areas of the house, the doors are usually painted according to the home's palette.
Current Color Scheme
The color scheme a home follows is another factor to consider, as it determines how well the door will blend in. If most of the furniture in the house comes in colors opposite the walls, you can paint the interior doors in the same pigment.
However, considering room size, keep in mind the color of doors should not excessively stand out in a smaller room.
For choosing pantry door colors, determine what to paint them by reading through this post: What Color Should A Pantry Door Be?
Are Painted Interior Doors In Style?
Modern interior design styles introduced painting interior doors as the new trend. Its popularity rose high enough to replace the accent wall trend.
Previously, people were focusing only on painting exterior or front doors. The trend gave light to the impact of painting interior doors on the overall aesthetic and cohesiveness.
With painted interior doors, more attention goes to a room's décor and vibe instead of the mere appearance.
Do All My Interior Doors Have To Match?
All interior doors in a home don't necessarily have to match, but selecting doors to paint the same color maintains the consistency of the design's flow. Matching colors is good when interior doors come in similar styles or finishes to ensure it gives the same effect when painted over.
Using different tones and shades to paint doors makes other doors in the house stand out. Separating parts of the house through door color is one way to add more personality to it. But for a cleaner look, go for one color to paint all the interior doors.
If you have a lot of interior doors, keep in mind that it may cost you a lot to paint all of them. Although, if you decide to do so, note that opting for a single color is likely cheaper than painting them in different colors.
Do I Have To Match Exterior And Interior Doors?
You can paint a front door differently from the rest of the doors inside the house to highlight its position. The main exterior door should catch more attention, even inside, because it features the home's entryway.
Consider how many doors are seen in the room with the entry door when deciding on its color. If there are multiple, you can paint them the same shade. If there are only a few, they can come in varying shades.
When matching exterior and interior doors, you should also evaluate how to coordinate their styles to maintain harmony.
Should Interior Doors Be Painted The Same Color On Both Sides?
Painting an interior door the same color in and out isn't necessary but helps keep a consistent scheme throughout the home.
Unlike front doors, it's easier to paint an interior door the same color on both sides without much issue with blending it with the rest of the house.
Coloring it a different shade is also possible if the décor's palette inside and outside a room contrasts. It also changes if you're looking to match it with the walls of each room. But typically, the color of interior doors is expected to be the same front and back.
If you're working with a front door instead, read this post to guide you: Should A Front Door Be Painted On Both Sides?
Should You Paint The Top And Bottoms Of Interior Doors?
Painting the top and bottom edges of interior doors won't be required unless they are visible. It's mainly up to your preference on whether to have them painted or not.
Leaving these parts of a door unpainted allows the door to expand along with the changes in its surroundings.
On the other hand, painting them adds a layer of protection for the narrow edges of the door by minimizing the amount of moisture it absorbs.
Final Thoughts
Painting doors to match the color of the walls is possible if you want to go for a neat style. The color you choose to paint interior doors changes depending on the furniture and décor in the home. The size of a room and the number of doors in the same area can also affect your choice.
Using one color to paint all the interior doors is one way to keep a room's character constant. Another manner to maintain this without spending too much on painting costs is by coordinating doors with similar finishes and features.
