An eggshell finish will be more forgiving when it comes to imperfections on your walls, and is durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors.
As such, the sheen you choose should stand up to the years and not show it. Semigloss is the best paint finish for interior doors and trim. The reason being, semi-gloss can take up quite an abuse and stand up to nicks and scrapes better than any other sheen, flat or eggshell finish.
An eggshell finish offers the lowest sheen level that is ideal for use on interior doors, as an acrylic matt will often not have the required durability for the knocks doors can take.
Both satin and eggshell paints can be used on interior woodwork including doors, window and door frames, skirting boards, architraves, stair railings and other architectural details. Eggshell is better for a lower sheen with a matte emulsion feel while satin is glossier.
Summary of Paint for Interior Doors
Latex paints are easy to work with, environmentally friendly, and resist yellowing over time. Oil-based paints provide a durable, smooth finish, although they require a bit more effort to apply and clean.
An eggshell finish will be more forgiving when it comes to imperfections on your walls, and is durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors.
A gloss finish used to be a preference as it was hard wearing. But due to paint technology rapidly moving on in recent years, this isn't the case anymore with just gloss paints. One drawback when using a shiny gloss paint, if your woodwork is old the high sheen can be less forgiving and highlight imperfections.
Generally, the best paint for interior doors is semi-gloss because it is easy to clean and produces a finish that lasts for a long time, but gloss is good too. For the purposes of this guide, we will assume that you are painting a door that is plain, so does not need stripping and sanding.
Finish – Satin and gloss paints are usually best for internal doors. The finishes are washable, so it allows for the removal of stains. Most homeowners choose a high gloss finish as it's the most durable out of the options.
Eggshell Finish
The Cons: It is very hard to touch up. Because it has the slight sheen to it, it's almost impossible to only add a new layer in small areas without it being visible. Usually a “touch-up” of eggshell means re-doing a full wall. Best For: Walls in any room where you want a little more sheen.
Eggshell, as its name suggests, is a no-shine finish with very little luster to it. While this paint isn't as durable as the higher gloss products, it covers wall imperfections very well and works on walls that don't get a lot of bumps or scuffs.
Because eggshell is less lustrous than satin, it is also slightly less durable. That being said, it will still hold up better than flat or matte finishes would. Eggshell paint is a great option for walls in medium- to low-traffic areas, and can be easily cleaned.
Two types of paint are optimized for painting interior doors and trim: alkyd/oil-based and acrylic latex/enamel. Oil-based paints have been a staple for trim painting for several decades. This type of paint offers a smooth finish with virtually zero brush marks, in large part thanks to its thick consistency.
High gloss or semi-gloss latex paint is used for painting interior doors and trim. Glossy sheens showcase the door frame better and it's easier to clean once it's dry. For doors that open to the outside use latex-based exterior paint designed specifically for use on trim.
Opt for semi-gloss.
Because trim serves a decorative purpose, the best paint for trim should accentuate the details, so satin, semi-gloss, gloss, and high gloss are all suitable.
The traditional choice for painting doors, trims and skirting boards has always been oil based gloss because it's practical and hardwearing. Gloss paint holds up better for cleaning. Doors and the trims can get grubby which makes gloss type paints the preferred option, but some argue it's outdated.
If you are going to paint a plain, flat door, use a foam roller to roll on the paint and use an angled brush to paint the sides. You want to make sure you leave no roller lap marks. To remove any lap marks, roll a lightly-loaded roller over the wet coat of paint to smooth.
Choosing current but not too specific colors allows you to create an overall appeal in the home, and make it stand out without the fear of the door looking too dated in the coming years. In terms of current color trends, white, grey, black, and even taupe work well as interior door colors.
The Cons of a Gloss Finish
While gloss kitchens are easier to clean, they also need to be cleaned more often as those dirty marks and fingerprints will show up more easily. Another downside, particularly with acrylic gloss units, is that they're quite easy to scratch.
It Shows Imperfections
Especially when it comes to hiding preexisting blemishes on the walls or ceilings. Because there's an accelerated amount of sheen, you will be able to see the imperfections. That being said, they're easy to clean, so if you bump or scuff a high gloss paint, it'll be easier to scrub off.
The consensus is that grey is out and warm neutrals will continue to dominate in 2023.
A minimum of 2 coats applied. If you are painting a primed door: A latex or water-based paint can be used. A minimum of 2 coats is recommended however, you can apply as many coats to acquire desired finish.
Bloggers and designers have been painting interior doors for years. It's a look that can add a punch of color – or a subtle color-washed look – to a home. Sort of like accent walls used to in the past. Only painting your interior doors is a much more economical and fun way to do it!