How to Create a Raised Panel Look on Flat Doors

Create a mixture of one-quarter cup white vinegar and 3 cups warm water in a plastic spray bottle. Screw on the bottle’s top before shaking it vigorously to mix the ingredients.

Spray down the entire door with the white vinegar mixture. Work the mixture into the door with a kitchen sponge. Allow the door to dry completely before continuing.

Cover the door knob with a plastic grocery bag. Attach the bag to the knob with painter’s tape to avoid unwanted paint stains.

Apply a thin coating of latex primer to the door with a paint roller or brush. The primer prevents the wood’s color or grain from seeping through the final paint coats. Allow the primer to dry completely, or at least eight hours, before continuing.

Cover the door with a layer of semi-gloss interior paint. Using a brush or roller, apply the paint in even, back and forth strokes. Allow this first layer to dry for at least three to four hours before applying a second coat.

Create the panel’s shape with pencil. Using a ruler and a pencil, create an even number of panels on the door. The number of panels is determined by the size you’re after. For instance, if creating a six-panel door, draw the outline of three matching pairs of panels that have at least 1 inch of space between each pair.

Cover the pencil lines with painter’s tape. Fill in the space between the painter’s tape with a coating of semi-gloss paint that is one to two shades darker than the paint color used in earlier for the entire door. Allow the first paint coat to dry for at least three to four hours before applying a second.

Allow the final coat to dry for at least eight hours, or overnight, before carefully pulling off the painter’s tape.