How to Paint an Interior Door to Look Weathered

Remove the door from its hinges, using the appropriate screwdriver. Set it in a well-ventilated location, laying it flat on a clean drop cloth. Remove the door hardware, including the doorknobs and any separate locks.

Wash the door with a mild solution of dish detergent and hot water, scrubbing off any stains or spots. Use a fresh, damp rag to remove all traces of soap residue. Allow the door to dry completely.

Sand the surface of the door with a piece of fine-grade sandpaper, removing just the glossy finish of the paint. Wipe the surface with a piece of tack cloth to remove fine dust and lint particles.

Brush on a coat of interior primer to help block the original color and create a suitable base for your paint. Let the primer coat dry completely.

Apply a layer of your base coat to the cleaned surface of the door. Use an interior satin or semigloss paint in a light color for this step. Paint the entire door, working the paint evenly into every groove and indentation to form an even coat of paint. Let the paint dry for the allotted amount of time recommended on the product label.

Spread on a thin layer of darker paint over the light color. Immediately wipe the wet paint with a clean rag, working in line with the grain of the wood to remove most of the color, leaving just hints of darkness over the base coat. Let this coat dry completely.

Apply a crackle glaze over the top of your door, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Apply the same paint you used for your base coat over the top of the crackle coat. As this dries, it will cause your final coat to crack and peel, showing the underlying paint and giving your door a realistic weathered appearance. Replace the hardware and hang your door back in place on its hinges.