One of the easiest ways to give the front entryway a fresh appearance is to paint the door a different color. Red is often used to make a door stand out, or you can paint it a high-contrast or neutral color. Following these steps will make it easy to freshen the appearance of your front door.

Gather Supplies

To accurately paint a door, you will need these supplies:

• Pieces of clean cloth
• A screwdriver
• Palm sander or sanding block
• Medium-coarse sandpaper
• Primer
• Paint, about one quart

When you go shopping for the supplies you need, you can either pick the paint color at that time or take paint samples home to help you select a color. Before you get started with the painting project, you can remove the door from the frame, but it isn’t necessary.

Remove Door Hardware

Although you can tape off the door knob and locks, it will be easier to remove them than to paint around them. If you want a completely different appearance for your front door, consider purchasing new hardware.

Sand the Door

Before you start sanding the door, dampen one of the cloths and wipe it down to remove any dirt from the surface. Using your choice of a sander, sand the door to remove some of the paint and smooth out rough areas. You don’t have to remove all of the paint: you just want to rough it up so the primer adheres better to the door’s surface.

Prime the Door

After sanding the door, use the dry cloth to wipe off the sanding dust. Depending on the paint color you’ve chosen, you can use a tinted primer, which may help you use less paint. Apply the primer and allow it to dry. After it has dried, look for any imperfections and sand them lightly to remove or flatten them. After you’ve finished, wipe off the dust.

Paint the Door

The paint can be applied with a foam roller, a foam paint brush, or a regular paint brush. Whichever you are more comfortable using. Start by painting any trim or insets on the door with a brush and then use a roller to paint the flat surfaces so the application is even. You should plan to apply two coats, which should be about a quart of paint.

Once the first coat dries, apply the second one with the roller or a paint brush. If you decide to use a roller, use a bristled brush to smooth out the roller lines and give the door a hand-painted texture. Allow the door to dry.

Replace Hardware

Once the door is dry, replace the doorknob and locks. After the last screw has been tightened, your front door is finished and you can relax with a nice cold drink.

Painting your front door is an easy, quick project and can be done in a morning or afternoon. After the project is completed, your front entryway will have a fresh new look.