The Best Paint for Interior Doors and Trim
When it’s time to paint your home interior, most of your attention will be focused on the walls within a given room. After all, the colors and finishes you select for these large surfaces will shape how a room looks. But keep in mind that interiors feature plenty of other paintable surfaces, too—features that help create contrast or make statements of their own. If you leave your interior doors or trim unpainted, your space will look and feel incomplete (not to mention these features will be left unprotected). This doesn’t mean you should choose the first paint you find, though. Some paints are better suited for interior trim and door applications than others.
Let’s explore what makes for the best paint for interior doors and trim so you can complete your interior and protect these important features.
Two Compositions to Consider
The composition of a given paint product determines its consistency, adhesive properties, longevity, fumes, dry time, cleanability, and more. Two types of paint are optimized for painting interior doors and trim: alkyd/oil-based and acrylic latex/enamel. These are your options if you’re searching for the best paint for interior doors.
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. This thickness comes with some downsides, though, including longer dry times and increased emissions (i.e., volatile organic compounds, or VOCs).
Acrylic paints are water-based, so you won’t have to worry about those aforementioned fumes and odors nearly as much. Of course, water-based paints are thinner than their oil-based counterparts. This means they dry faster but also yield more noticeable brush marks and a more brittle surface.
Four Finishes to Choose From
Whether you go with an alkyd or acrylic paint for your interior trim and doors, your next decision revolves around the finish. Paint finishes fall on a spectrum from the flattest (matte) options to the shiniest (high gloss). These finishes don’t just affect a surface’s final appearance—they also contribute to its durability and ease of maintenance. Glossier paints are tougher and easier to clean than flatter paints. And since interior trim and doors are bound to take a beating over the years, it’s best to coat them with hardier (and therefore shinier) paint finishes. You don’t want to go any flatter than satin paint, so the four home interior painting finishes to consider for trim and similar features are:
Satin
Semi-Gloss
Glossy
High-Gloss
The glossier you go, the more reflective and protected your interior trim and doors will be. Just note that higher-sheen paints tend to cost more than less glossy alternatives (and they also reveal more surface imperfections).
Color Counts, Too
The interior paint colors you choose ultimately come down to personal preference. This is especially true for walls and cabinets. Interior trim, however, is usually best left a neutral color. White is the most common paint color for trim, followed by brown, black, and beige. Keeping your trim neutral allows you to emphasize the colors of each surrounding wall. But if you have a specific color scheme in mind, you can choose virtually any color for your interior trim. The same logic applies to interior doors. You can’t go wrong with a neutral-colored interior door, but a more vibrant choice can transform the character of a given space if so desired. Your interior paint ideas don’t need to be limited.
Interior Door Paint Ideas
Finding inspiration for door paint these days is easier than ever. You can search for interior door paint ideas on search engines like Google or social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, and you’ll get hundreds of results. But since you’re already here, read on for some ideas to help you get started:
For a child’s playroom or bedroom, consider adding a nice pop of color by painting the trim white and choosing something vibrant for the surrounding walls.
Transform your entryway into an eye-catching design statement by painting the door with a contrasting dark color.
Make a subtle statement by painting your interior door with a muted shade and pairing it with contrasting hardware.
For homes with unique, vintage details, consider embracing the retro vibe by painting the doors and trim monochrome.
Use tonal whites if you prefer a minimalist look but want to add visual complexity and depth throughout your home.
A home has many doors—cabinets, kitchen doors, and bedroom doors—so remember that you don’t have to paint all interior doors the same color unless you wish to create a uniform look. If you wonder whether you can match interior door paint with trim paint, you can decide based on your preferences. Most of the time, however, homeowners paint the door and trim either in contrasting or complementary colors.
The Benefits of Painting Your Interior Doors and Trims
The benefits of painting interior doors and trims can go beyond protection and aesthetics. It can extend their lifespans, allowing you to save money. By including door painting in your home’s regular maintenance tasks, you’ll be able to spot and address issues before they become more serious. Furthermore, an aesthetically pleasing, well-maintained front door with a desirable paint color can increase your home’s value. It may even help attract buyers should you decide to sell your property.
The Verdict: What’s the Best Type of Paint for Interior Doors?
There are countless brands and interior paints to choose from when seeking the best option for your trim and doors. Before you get too lost in the weeds, remember that you’re looking for an alkyd or acrylic paint with a satin, semi-gloss, glossy, or high-gloss finish.
Once you find the right paint, you can worry about how to paint interior doors and trim the right way. Not to worry—the experts at Anderson Painting can help you with your next interior painting project. Whether you need help selecting paint brands, products, and colors or require professionals to get the job done, we’re your premier painting service in and around Raleigh and Wilmington, NC.
To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
