The $10 DIY Project That Brings Me Joy Every Time I Come Home
A few years ago, while browsing Instagram, I fell in love with a pink door. Home blogger Brooke Christen, aka the designer behind Nesting With Grace, shared a picture of her front porch, which was beautifully thought-out, with planters, tiling on the front steps, and a light pink door. It was an instant follow, and I kept thinking about how adorable her door was.
My adoration, however, was mixed with a bit of longing. My husband and I lived in a rented apartment, and the exterior of our front door was dark blue — just like everyone else’s in our building. We didn’t have the option of painting our door a fun color, so instead, I daydreamed about the day we owned our home and had a nice HOA that would let us paint our front door whatever color we wanted. Because, not to be dramatic, but I desperately wanted a cute pink door.
I let myself continue to daydream, and after a few weeks, a lightbulb went off in my head. If we couldn’t paint the exterior door, why not paint the interior? Our landlord told us we were allowed to paint inside, just as long as we were fine with painting over it when it was time to move. Plus, we looked at the interior of the door way more than the exterior. Operation pink door was a go, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
When it comes to DIYs, painting your door a fun color packs a punch, and is highly cost-effective. Not only does it freshen up the door itself, but it can give your entire space a new look without spending a ton of money. A small can of Sherwin Williams’ Coral Perfection cost us only $10 (which may be out of stock at the moment, but this pretty pink hue achieves a similar look) and we had paint supplies on hand. Even if you don’t, things like brushes, mini rollers, painters tape, and paint trays aren’t very expensive. It took my husband and I less than an hour to paint the entire interior of our front door. The next morning, it was like our whole space was transformed. The light pink door was everything I had hoped for, and it instantly brought a smile to my face anytime I looked at it, and everytime I left our home.
Fast forward a few years and my husband and I now live in a rented townhouse. Our home just didn’t feel complete without a pink interior front door, and since we still had the paint and supplies, we did the same exact thing in this home. Now, the pink brightens up our entryway, and is such a fun surprise for guests when they come inside and close the door behind them. We can even see it from the living room, so it’s a big part of our home’s overall aesthetic.
Perhaps unconventional, our whimsical and playful front door is one of my favorite things about our home. This is a perfect project for anyone who is a bit nervous about adding color to their space, loves cost-effective DIYs, or wants to add their own personal touch to their rented home. I recommend opting for eggshell, semi-gloss, or satin interior paint sheens for your door, and be sure to put painters tape over the handle and the hinges.Some may prefer to paint the door flat and off its hinges, but I’ve painted two doors without removing them and it’s been just fine. If you’re feeling intimidated, or are unsure about picking the right color, don’t fret.
The great thing about this DIY is if you don’t end up liking the color, it won’t take long to paint it something new. And since it’s so easy, you may want to switch it up every so often, anyway. Seasonal interior front door colors, anyone?