15 ways to update the old door – a detailed description of the methods

Does your old door appear a little shabby and worn out? To give your house a modern, updated appearance, you don’t have to replace it. You can turn that old door into a gorgeous focal point with a little imagination and work. This post will discuss 15 amazing ways to give your old door a makeover, along with step-by-step instructions for each.

Every skill level and taste in style is catered for, with options ranging from basic paint jobs to sophisticated decorative techniques. These suggestions will motivate you to embark on an enjoyable and fulfilling do-it-yourself project, regardless of whether you’re going for a sleek, modern look or a quaint, rustic feel. Additionally, replacing your door is an affordable way to improve the interior and exterior design of your house.

We’ll go over many techniques, such as painting, staining, changing out the hardware, and adding original design elements. Every technique is thoroughly described to make sure you have all the knowledge required to produce results that look professional. So gather your supplies, put on your artistic cap, and let’s begin converting that outdated door into a stunning new focal point for your house.

Method	Description
1. Repaint	Choose a fresh color and repaint the door to give it a new look.
2. Add Molding	Install decorative molding to add character and depth.
3. Wallpaper	Apply wallpaper to create a unique and stylish appearance.
4. Stencil Designs	Use stencils to add patterns or designs.
5. Chalkboard Paint	Transform the door into a writable surface with chalkboard paint.
6. Decals	Use decorative decals for an easy update.
7. Distress	Give the door a vintage look by distressing the paint.
8. Replace Hardware	Swap out old handles and hinges for new ones.
9. Add Glass Panels	Install glass panels for a modern touch.
10. Fabric Covering	Cover the door with fabric for a soft, elegant look.
11. Magnetic Paint	Use magnetic paint to create a functional magnetic board.
12. Wainscoting	Add wainscoting panels for a classic look.
13. Vinyl Wrap	Apply a vinyl wrap for a sleek, modern finish.
14. Wood Overlay	Attach thin wood panels for a rustic feel.
15. Reflective Film	Use reflective film to add a mirror-like surface.

The meaning of the restoration of the door

When you can purchase and install new doors, why restore old ones? When you stop to consider it, there are numerous justifications for door restoration:

1. Expenses. Wooden, veneered, and even more so metal doors are quite expensive. For little money, you can buy only a box from MDF, which will not last long and will not look too aesthetically pleasing.
2. Change of style. It happens that the style of the room or its color scheme completely change, and the door ceases to fit into the interior.
3. The importance of the product. Some doors are expensive or are artistic, historical value, are antiques. They can be restored quite.
4. The ability to make an exclusive thing. After restoration, the door can become a real center of the room, attracting attention.
5. Door"s inconsistency. If the product has long been outdated, you can not throw it away, but update it at home.
6. Hobby. Work on wood is an exciting and useful occupation, which sometimes even brings additional income.

You can update any door with your own hands, if you’d like. However, experts typically avoid taking on products that have significant damage, destruction, or that are already rotten or have large chips or holes in them. Purchasing a new door leaf with jambs and platbands is a simpler solution in this scenario than putting time and effort into restoration.

Preparatory stage

Prior to applying dye or executing additional restoration techniques, it’s critical to properly prepare the surface. Some antique doors have already been painted, polished, or veneer-trimmed. Varnish is a natural or artificial substance that is covered up by a layer of paint and needs to be fully exposed to improve the quality of restoration work.

You must get ready in order to remove the previous coating from the door leaf:

• construction hair dryer;
• grinding machine;
• sandpaper (sheets with different granularity);
• metal spatula;
• solvent (washing);
• brush;
• rags.

For ease of use, you should first take the door out of the loops. Fittings such as handles, locks, and loops must be taken out, and any details that are out of style or not appropriate for the new look must be replaced. The door is positioned horizontally on two installed stools to facilitate work. Glass should be carefully handled and placed aside to allow it to settle; otherwise, it may shatter during the grinding process.

There are numerous techniques for getting paint and varnish off of door leaf:

1. Warm the base with a construction hairdryer. This will help the coating soften, after which it can be wiped with a rag, scraped off. It is important to drive a hairdryer on the canvas evenly, without lingering in any areas, otherwise varnishes of varnishes to catch fire. Due to the risk of releasing toxic fumes when heated, all work must be carried out using personal protective equipment and in a ventilated room.
2. Apply a universal wash suitable for a tree to the door. Such funds are made on the basis of acids, alkalis, organic solvents. They are applied with a brush, and after the expiration of the action, the paint is cleaned and the base is washed.
3. Wipe the paint with sandpaper, scrap a spatula. Such methods can be produced if paint or varnish has already begun to exfoliate in pieces. The work will require accuracy (it is important not to scratch the door) and the presence of a large amount of free time.
4. Clean the door with a grinder. This is a method used by professionals. Using a special tool, you can quickly and efficiently clean the door leaf from any old paintwork, and also give it smoothness.

Once needless pollution has been removed, you can begin the next phase of the project. It’s critical to eliminate any cracks, including those that develop on the outdated product. Any flaws in the door must be carefully fixed using a specific putty on wood that matches a specific color. Pencils and putty work well for this, as does furniture wax in the case of small cracks. For softening, the latter needs to be melted before applying. You can use homemade putty prepared using the recipe below:

• take wood dust, which turned out when grinding the upper layer of the woody canvas;
• Dilute dust with furniture varnish to the desired density.

Additionally, you can mix equal parts cement, sand, and alabaster to create a tool that you can use to fix the door’s weak spots. Sanding paper should be used once the excess grouting materials have dried. It is best to use a grinder for this purpose, particularly if the treated area is large. The machine cannot be pressed firmly; otherwise, the pressed stripes may remain. Use the smallest grain sandpaper in severe situations. Once the preparatory steps are over, you will need:

• Wash the door thoroughly;
• dry the product;
• Apply olifa or stain (when it is required).

If the door is ever painted white or another light color, or if it is ever painted artistically, only a colorless stain needs to be used.

How to update wooden interior doors: Instruction

The future door’s design must first be carefully considered; it must blend in with the room’s overall aesthetic and work well with the furniture, flooring, and other elements. The door can be updated in a number of easy ways, such as applying paint, stain, or a film. If you’d like, you can use more intricate techniques that transform the ancient door into a piece of artwork.

Staining, varnishing and wrinkling

Painting the doors a new color is the simplest way to update them without having to replace them. Selecting paint with a high-quality and appropriate shade is the only thing that matters. This can be accomplished by using the picture found in manufacturer catalogs while the furniture and floor are shaded. The most common paints used on doors are alkyd, acrylic, or nitroemal. While other paints have a strong odor that goes away when the layer dries, acrylic paints are thought to be entirely safe. Staining outdoors in the fresh air is ideal.

Acrylic paints don’t smell, have a rich color palette, and provide a noble matte finish. It is advised to apply a special furniture varnish in the second layer after using an acrylic agent. This varnish has protective qualities and extends the paint’s lifespan. Application is done using a brush or roller. The brushes are pre-soaked in water for several hours and then combed to ensure they stay on the villi. It is advised to prime the door before applying any paint to ensure that the paint will apply evenly and free of stains and fluxes.

You have the option to varnish the door in addition to staining it. From these options, you should select the appropriate treatment:

• acrylic;
• alkyd;
• polyurethane;
• Nitrolaki.

A primer is applied first, along with an antiseptic to prevent mold and decay, before varnish is applied. The product is applied quickly in a cross-directional motion so that the varnish stroke transitions are undetectable.

Another inexpensive yet exquisite coating option for the old door is morilka. It is absorbed into the wood’s deep layers, giving it a pleasing color and exquisitely bringing out the grain of the material. It’s also advised to apply 1-2 coats of wood varnish after staining.

Owl

A natural veneer is used to update the door completely and give it an upscale, elegant appearance. It elevates even inexpensive canvases made of sawdust from pressed wood. Procedure for open work:

• Put the door on the stool horizontally;
• start lining the canvas from the middle, moving to the edges;
• Lubricate a small area with special glue, apply finishing material, press;
• well roll with a roller;
• It is advisable to heat the surface with a building hairdryer, and then again thoroughly roll the veneer – this will make the connection between the finish and the canvas itself more reliable.

Once the glue has dried completely, the entire door is applied with a protective wax or varnish.

Self -adhesive film

There are plenty of film options available that have a color similar to wood. It is simple to glue, covers up base flaws, and enhances the canvas’s noble and lovely appearance. The steps are as follows:

• cut the film according to the right size using a sharp knife;
• remove the protective layer from the wrong side, but not from the entire cut, but only 3-4 cm from the top;
• attach the film to the door, smooth out with a rubber spatula (instead you can use a conventional rag);
• Start separating the rest of the protective layer, not forgetting to immediately drive out air bubbles from under the film;
• Cut the film in the corners;
• Install accessories.

Wall mural or vinyl

The door was credited with being cut with photo printing done by an advertising company. Murals the right size will also aid in decorating the door, giving it a whole new appearance. Since the door leaf can get sore and needs to be washed frequently, it is crucial to buy only washing murals.

Use premium PVA glue to adhere the photo wallpaper (carpentry composition is preferable). The door must be properly lubricated with glue, the finishing material must be firmly pressed, smoothed, and aligned. It goes without saying that you have to try the vinyl or murals on first to ensure that their sizes match the dimensions of the door.

Wallpaper with moldings

When decorating a space in a classic style, designers frequently provide such an unusual decor option. You can add a bright accent to the space and support the design’s stylistic orientation with the use of vinyl or non-woven wallpaper and polyurethane moldings. At the customer’s request, the background can be saturated or pastel in color, plain, or have a pattern.

The required wallpaper piece should first be measured. Subsequently, the finished material is applied and the door’s surface is leveled using a rubber roller or rag before the final PVA glue is applied. A plastic spatula is used to quickly remove air bubbles from the center toward the edges. Purchasing wide wallpaper is advised to avoid creating joints. You will need to carefully adjust two canvases to each other if there are joints. The wallpaper is cut at the edges as soon as it gets wet. After a day of drying, you can start gluing moldings:

• make markings for platbands on the wall with a simple pencil;
• cut moldings of the desired length (3 pieces should come out);
• Cut moldings at an angle of 45 degrees – these will be corners at the top of the door;
• Lubricate the back surface of the pieces of PVA or with liquid nails, glue them in the place according to the marking.

Drawings and paintings

There are many benefits to drawing on the door surface over other finishing techniques. The completed door will have a unique, exclusive appearance that can be "entered" into any interior design. Additional benefits of the door leaf painting include:

• simplicity of execution;
• the ability to use stencils if there are no artistic abilities;
• Large selection of colors and materials.

Use alcohol to thoroughly degrease the prepared door. In addition, wood is painted in two layers, which enables the paint to lay down evenly and without smearing or flowing. Next, you must draw or mark the area and apply an ornament. To ensure that the drawing is done accurately and with care, the door must be divided into zones. Acrylic paints are used to easily paint each component of the image in the desired color. Apply paint in at least two layers. The drawing’s contours are surrounded by contrasting tones to give it a vintage appearance.

Decoration of doors using decoupage technique

The door does not have to be taken out of the jambs in order to decoupage. To ensure there are no old coatings, all that needs to be done is wash, dry, and prime one or two layers of the product. Use construction tape to seal the opening. After soaking in water for 12 minutes, remove the decoupage card and use a rag to remove any remaining moisture. After removing the protective strips, affix the design to the PVA door that has already been greased.

Similar to wallpaper, the image must be carefully ironed, air bubbles must be released, and all folds must be eliminated; otherwise, it will appear uneven and unsightly. The door’s surface is varnished using multiple layers of acrylic after it has completely dried.

Design under the old days

Objects, souvenirs, and decorations inspired by the past are highly sought-after in the vintage, retro, and other styles. The finished aged decor is hard to find in stores, but it’s easy to make yourself. The Krakelyur technique, which involves applying two layers of varnish, is used to give the doors their original appearance.

You should first select the appropriate materials. Obtain two varnishes that have distinct ingredients and drying times. A specific lacquer designed for Krakelura wood ought to be among them; it’s easy enough even for a novice to use, and the package comes with comprehensive instructions. "Giving the effect of antiquity" is written on the bitumen varnish, which is the second type of varnish.

The steps are as follows:

• apply craquelure varnish to a pre -prepared door (a white or other light shade is used);
• After drying, a layer of bitumen varnish is performed with a darker color, which will enhance the contrast.

You can also use a dark main varnish in the Krakelyur technique, but instead of bitumen, a second layer of the appropriate shade of acrylic paint is applied. The door has an antique appearance due to the network of cracks created by the craquelure varnish after it has dried.

Decor with stencils

This method is applied to doors with glass inserts. On paper, the contours are cut through to reveal a picture or pattern. The glass is cleaned, degreased, and has a marker circled around it from the back. The pattern is leaned against the glass. After that, you can begin using acrylic paints to sketch the image, but only on the front. Following that, you must let the image fully dry.

Artistic painting

Drawing a door could suggest utilizing various creative methods. For instance, the canvas is fully stained first, and only then is a drawing done on it using contrasting hues. In addition, the image can extend past the door and up the walls, creating a unique and striking effect. Paint can be applied to the door using a sponge, spray can, or brush strokes. Using intriguing methods like screening and multi-layer strokes is permitted.

Creating an unusual texture

Adding an intriguing texture to the door was the original method of restoration. You can achieve a different effect in addition to the artificial aging effect achieved with craquelure varnish. The base is painted with a lighter shade, and a second layer is applied using a soft sponge that has been neatly rumpled. Such a basic trick allows one to obtain bases or spotted surfaces of the "steel wool" variety. Special paints are available for purchase, enabling the creation of the neckboard from an ordinary door while maintaining the visibility of the canvas.

Patchwork for doors

This method of making a door will fit perfectly into any interior. Shreds of cloth, magazine and newspaper clippings, pictures, pieces of skin, and other items that go together well can be used as decoration. It is best not to use this technique in a bathroom or other damp area as the collage will quickly turn yellow and start to grow mold. Patchwork is perfect for interior doors in the living room and bedroom.

The patchwork’s fabric needs to be thick, resist crumbling at the edges, and, if needed, have a little repeating design. Overlocking can be used to treat cuts, but it’s not required. Lace and too-light materials shouldn’t be adhered near door handles as they will quickly become wet. PVA, furniture staplers, and brackets will also be needed for the task. The process is easy to follow:

• the door is primed;
• apply PVA glue to the door section;
• attach flaps and other materials, making a picture;
• Squeeze well, roll with a roller;
• give the collage to dry well;
• Put heavy elements to the door with a stapler;
• The finished object can be covered with furniture varnish.

Doors lamination

A unique self-adhesive film is used for lamination. Because the home lacks the required press equipment, its service life is shorter than that of factory lamination. The outcome will not appear any worse than that of professionals.

You must first purchase a special film, which is available in furniture component stores. After removing the protective coating, finishing material is glued to a low-filled, smooth, and flat door (at first only its upper edge is removed by 3-5 cm). The film is thoroughly rolled after being fully adhered to and any air bubbles removed with a plastic spatula. It is then heated using a construction hairdryer. As a result, glue will clamp with the surface more consistently. The device will be functional once the glue has dried.

Glass inserts

You can separately alter the old door’s glass or decor to update the view of the old door there. Technology that is stained produces an especially intriguing effect. Special stained glass paints, a marker, brushes, and a completed sketch are needed.

You must work as follows:

• Remove the glass or the entire door, lay it horizontally;
• on the back of the glass, draw the contours of the future stained glass and all its sections;
• On the front side, arrange contour lines with paints;
• After drying, fill in empty spaces with the right shades;
• If desired, to glue the decor on the not yet frozen paint: rhinestones, pebbles, pieces of colored glass (after they can be circled with a black marker);
• wait for the final drying of the paint;
• set glass in the place.

The sheet itself also makes use of stained glass machinery. It is permitted to cut holes in the door and insert pieces of multicolored glass into them to create the stained glass effect. This results in a stunning, one-of-a-kind composition.

Textile

The use of tekstil finish is rare and pointless. This is a creative and easy way to drastically alter the outdated door’s appearance without breaking the bank. Purchase some fabric and cut a piece to the appropriate size from it. Double-sided self-adhesive tape needs to be used to adhere a piece of cloth to the door. It is crucial to eliminate every fold right away because it will be very challenging to remove the tape afterwards.

It’s best to stay away from light colors in textiles since they get dirty easily. A fabric featuring cartoon characters or fairy tales is perfect for a child’s room. If you’d like, you can use fabric to change the finish to something new that you like or that better fits the room’s overall style.

Want to update that outdated door without going over budget? Find fifteen simple yet inventive ways to breathe new life into it. Every step of the process is broken down into detail to help you achieve a beautiful makeover, from painting a room a fresh coat of vibrant colors to adding chic hardware, applying decorative decals, or creating a custom design using stencils. These simple ideas will motivate you to transform your worn-out door into a prominent element of your house, regardless of your preference for a modern aesthetic or a charming vintage feel.

Features of the restoration of modern doors from organ

Self-adhesive film is used in door repair, with organized materials being the primary tool used. A piece of film the size of the door must be purchased, unwound from the loops, and carefully prepared. The entire restored surface must be carefully covered with a workpiece that has been precisely measured and cut. Using a towel, smooth the film from the middle to the edges. Should the bubbles persist, they must be cautiously punctured using a needle.

You can revitalize your space by updating an old door, and there are many inventive ways to do it. Whatever your taste, there’s a solution to suit your budget and style, whether it’s a straightforward paint job or a more complex redesign. The methods we’ve covered cover everything from basic painting and staining to more complex choices like fabric panels, moldings, and decals. Every technique provides a different approach to change your door, improving its look and usefulness.

Repainting the door is one of the simplest and most economical solutions. While more neutral tones can add a sophisticated touch, a fresh coat of paint in a bold color can make a statement. If you want to create a more rustic or vintage look, think about using chalk paint or a faux finish to add some texture. If you’re up for the challenge, trying out geometric patterns or stencils can make your door look like a genuine work of art.

If you’re not into painting, you have a lot of other options. A wooden door’s inherent beauty can be enhanced by staining, which also adds warmth and character. As an alternative, patterns and designs can be added without the paint’s permanence by using vinyl decals or wallpaper. A new set of hardware can instantly update the appearance and function of a flat door, while trim or molding can add dimension and interest.

Glass or mirrors can create a more dramatic effect by taking the place of the door’s panels, which can help a room appear bigger and more airy. Adding fabric or upholstery to the door can give it a more opulent and cozy feel. Replacing your door sweep or weather stripping can improve your insulation and security while also being aesthetically pleasing.

Regardless of the approach you take, updating an outdated door is a terrific way to give the interior of your house a makeover. This project is ideal for a do-it-yourself project because it can usually be finished in a single weekend. You can make an ordinary door in your house become a focal point with a little imagination and work.

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