Painting Ideas for Doors and Windows

Use a Natural Look

• If possible, homeowners should consider using a natural wood look for windows and doors, especially on the inside. To do this, homeowners will need to sand the doors down and apply a layer of preservative or stain to bring out the qualities of the wood. This does not work in every home style, but can add a warm and inviting touch to many designs.

Use a Gloss Paint

• In general, homeowners should try to use a gloss paint for inside painting projects involving the trim of doors and windows. A gloss or semi-gloss paint is more reflective than a flat paint, which means it will reflect more (incoming) light into the room and draw the eye more easily.

Go Darker or Lighter

• Both inside and outside, homeowners should choose between a darker and lighter trim Trim painted a color closer to the shade of the house may be acceptable if the homeowner is trying to make the house look bigger by emphasizing doorways. Lighter colors are more traditional and suitable for outside trim on traditional-style homes. Darker colors are typically more contemporary outside, but inside, they can accent light-colored walls well.

Match Trim

• When in doubt, homeowners should always match trim they already have. This could be trim in other areas of the house, such as on other windows or doors, or trim along mantelpieces and walls. Painting the inner parts of doors and windows the same color as the trim can also have a uniform, pleasing effect.

Refinish Factory Layers

• For many windows and some doors, the manufacturer has already included a layer of finish of the fiberglass or vinyl framework. These layers of finish are difficult to paint over, since paint will usually not adhere properly to them, nor protect the frame as well as the finish itself. In this case, it is best for homeowners to replace the original finish with a new finish layer instead of a new layer of paint.