Decorating the front door from the inside with your own hands

Although the front door gives visitors their first impression of your house, its interior is frequently disregarded. Your entryway can gain personality and style by decorating the inside of your front door. There are many DIY projects you can choose from, depending on whether you want to make a big statement or create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Applying a new coat of paint to your front door is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact. Select a color that draws attention to the area and blends well with the interior design of your house. Think about painting a pattern or making a design with stencils for a more distinctive appearance.

Decorative molding or trim is another excellent way to improve the look of your front door. You can make this as easy or complex as you wish. A classic, elegant look can be achieved with trim, and a touch of sophistication and charm can be added with more elaborate molding.

If you’re feeling crafty, think about adding a decal or wallpaper to the door. This can be an enjoyable way to spruce up your entryway with textures, patterns, or even a mural-style design. Decals and wallpaper are quite simple to apply, and you can adjust or remove them as your style changes.

Accessories are a great way to decorate your front door. Consider adding a modest wreath, a decorative door knocker, or a chic doorknob. These last details have a significant impact and can further customize your area.

It’s not necessary to undertake a large project to decorate the inside of your front door. You can create a warm and fashionable entryway that sets the tone for the rest of your house with a few easy updates. Your front door is ready for a makeover, so gather your supplies and get creative!

Step	Description
1. Choose Materials	Select materials like paint, wallpaper, or wood paneling based on your style and budget.
2. Prepare Surface	Clean and sand the door surface to ensure materials adhere properly.
3. Measure and Cut	Measure the door and cut materials to fit, ensuring accuracy for a neat finish.
4. Apply Adhesive	Use appropriate adhesive for your chosen material, ensuring even coverage.
5. Attach Materials	Carefully place materials on the door, smoothing out any bubbles or wrinkles.
6. Trim Edges	Trim any excess material from the edges for a clean look.
7. Add Finishing Touches	Add decorative elements like moldings or hardware to enhance the design.
8. Let it Dry	Allow time for adhesive or paint to dry completely before using the door.

Entrance door finishing options

Painting, upholstery, and sheathing are some of the technological techniques used to alter the door leaf and frame’s design.

Coloring

In a very short amount of time, painting gives you the ability to independently change the door surface beyond recognition. Among the benefits are:

• simplicity of the technological process;
• low financial costs;
• the work does not require the use of physical force – even women can do it;
• a variety of colors and shades of paint allows you to fit a painted door into any interior;
• No special tools are needed for the job – just a brush (roller) and a paint tray are enough.

The method’s drawback is that it is impossible to install more insulation or sound insulation.

Materials for dyeing

A wide range of paint products are available from manufacturers for painting doors. Among them are:

1. Nitroenamel: this inexpensive, fast-drying coating can be applied with a brush (roller) or a spray gun, and it effectively prevents corrosion on metal doors. But a short service life—it fades quickly—often discourages customers from purchasing this kind of paint.

2. Oil paint adheres well to metal and wood surfaces alike. There are definitely benefits to using these paint and varnish products for front door interior decoration:

• it has an excellent price/quality ratio;
• durable;
• pleasant gloss lasts for a long time;
• not afraid of humidity and direct sunlight;
• withstands significant mechanical loads.

The lengthy drying period, low coverage rate (significant excess consumption per square meter), and rapid abrasion—which is particularly apparent near the handles—are among the weaknesses that must be mentioned.

3. Acrylic enamel (PF) does not burn, dries quickly, and can be applied to nearly any surface. It also holds its consumer properties for an extended period of time. Unsuitable for painting doors on the outside.

4. Alkyd enamel dries fast, keeps a glossy sheen for a long time, and is highly resilient to temperature fluctuations and UV radiation. These characteristics make them essential for outdoor use.

5. Since nitrocellulose paint cannot withstand atmospheric conditions, indoor entrance doors are painted with it.

6. Hammer enamel is more resilient to weathering, dries fast, and leaves the painted surface looking lovely. aesthetically very close to powder.

The drawback is that it takes a lot of effort to damage this kind of enamel on iron products. Nevertheless, in the event that this occurs, repainting will be required to fully clean the coating’s surface before the paint layer can be restored (touched up).

7. A large variety of buyers are not familiar with fake paint. However, if you want to paint a metal front door yourself, this is the best option (powder paint requires heat chambers). It integrates into the metal surface to form a single whole and is strong, resilient to nearly all impacts. The expensive price is the only drawback.

Upholstery

Upholstery is one finishing type that had been forgotten until new varieties of artificial leather appeared on the building materials market. Dermantine or synthetic leather doors have an appealing appearance. They look elegant, strong, and noble, and they also create a cozy, homey atmosphere in apartments. They also fit well into almost any interior design scheme, retain heat well, and shield owners from loud entrances.

Upholstery offers a lot of benefits.

• durable (service life of at least 10 years);
• low cost of finishing work;
• easy care: easy to clean, and, if necessary, to remove stubborn stains, withstands dry cleaning;
• not afraid of moisture;
• withstands any frost;
• does not fade under the sun;
• Upholstery materials have a huge selection of colors and textures.

Among the drawbacks, it is important to remember:

• rapid flammability;
• inability to restore damaged areas – only replacement of damaged material;
• When contacting sharp objects, upholstery material is easily damaged.

Upholstery materials

When it comes to door upholstery, leatherette—which, incidentally, is no longer produced in its original form—means both vinyl and its derivatives, which are used as natural leather substitutes. The following consumer properties of dermantine explain the selection of soft materials for the exterior and interior finishing of the apartment entrance door:

• affordable price;
• resistance to rotting;
• high abrasion resistance;
• simple care;
• variety of colors and textures;
• long service life.

The work "Do-it-yourself door upholstery with dermantine" goes into greater detail about the various kinds of upholstery materials and their characteristics.

Sheathing

There are numerous benefits to finishing an entry door yourself from the inside using hard materials (sheathing).

• a large selection of not only materials, but also a wide range of products within each type of cladding in color and texture;
• long service life;
• the ability to provide additional heat and sound insulation to the door;
• easy care;
• easy installation.

The cladding doesn’t have any drawbacks in general. Every kind of material is unique. Therefore, in the subsection "Materials for cladding," we will discuss the drawbacks of one type of cladding over another.

Sheathing materials

Prefabricated wood panels (oak, ash, walnut, cherry, etc.), laminated chipboard, PVC, upholstery lining strips, and MDF panels are used to cover entry doors.

Natural wood

Natural wood is a very elegant and useful option for door finishing. Slabs that are ready for installation can be obtained thanks to modern technologies (gluing under pressure), where the wood pattern is chosen into a single ensemble and the joints between the narrow planks are essentially invisible. Of course, the price of such a plate is high—between 2,200 and 30,000 rubles/m^2. But this finish offers enough benefits to

• high strength;
• long service life (depending on the type of wood from 30 to 70 years);
• pleasant to the touch texture;
• natural wood pattern;
• the ability to fit the door into any style of apartment design by whitening, aging, brushing, etc.d. surfaces;
• high heat and sound insulation, allowing you to avoid the need for additional insulation of the door leaf;
• environmental cleanliness;
• maintainability – such an overlay can always be restored.

The high cost and frequent application of varnish and antiseptics, which prevent the wood fiber from becoming wet, must be mentioned as drawbacks.

Note: The slab’s surface does not need to be varnished in a dry room. Everything is dependent on the owners’ preferences.

MDF

Medium density fiberboard, or MDF sheets, are the most widely used finishing type. They are made by dry pressing finely ground fraction shavings at high pressure and temperature. The material doesn’t look particularly appealing. As a result, it is laminated with a unique protective film or lined with veneer. Paint is the least expensive option.

There is a vast selection of MDF overlays. The eyes of an unprepared buyer go crazy. These models feature large, press-pressed panels that are straight, but they also have milled decorative elements that can be adorned with 3D engraving, patina, or inserts. This is enhanced with a variety of hues and tones.

Here, however, the type of protective film should be given more consideration than the aesthetic design, even though this is a very important indicator. An less expensive choice works well for finishing indoors (it cannot shield the MDF board from fading and moisture outside).

There are entirely different requirements for the protective film when it comes to the outside, even in private homes where the door opens directly onto the street (it must be painted with polymer paint and have increased strength). It is therefore much more expensive, driving up the cost of the panel itself.

This door trim has a lot of advantages.

• the texture can be wood, including aged wood, natural or artificial stone, textiles, leather, etc.d.;
• variety of colors and shades;
• can be milled to give different relief (only natural wood has this option);
• you can finish doors from any material (wooden and metal);
• high strength and moisture resistance;
• easy care;
• tolerates low temperatures well.

Among the drawbacks are:

• inability to recover after damage;
• afraid of abrasive materials.

The lining is priced starting at 1200 rubles. Here, it’s important to remember that the protective film on inexpensive panels fades and can crack in direct sunlight. As a result, linings of reasonable quality typically cost 2,000 rubles per unit. approximately ten years of service.

Expensive MDF boards are suitable for outdoor and indoor installation.

Chipboard, plywood, OSB

If money is tight, you can finish the door leaf with chipboard, OSB, or shipboard, which is moisture-resistant plywood. These materials come in two varieties: sanded (which needs to be varnished or coated with enamel after installation) or laminated with a protective film.

The benefits of this content

• presentable appearance;
• strength and wear resistance;
• long service life – at least 15 years;
• reasonable price – from 280 rubles./m 2 .

• complete lack of possibility of repair in case of mechanical damage;
• fear of high humidity in the room;
• When cleaning, do not use abrasive materials or aggressive chemicals.

Plastic linings

Overlays made of solid composite plastic are also common. They have shown themselves to be a very durable and good-looking waterproof material that resists rot and cracking as well as seasonal temperature changes. You can purchase a "anti-claw" reinforced version of the lining if you have pets.

You can select a coating to go with any design solution thanks to the range of colors available. They maintain their original appearance when given regular care. One of the benefits is that each overlay can be purchased for a reasonable 1500–5800 rubles, depending on the thickness of the material and the amount of décor.

Unlike other building materials, plastic door linings have the following drawbacks:

• rarely found on sale;
• limited decorative possibilities (the texture is always smooth);
• low strength (even the “anti-claw” does not always withstand the impact of sharp objects).

PVC and fiberboard panels

Fiberboard and polyvinyl chloride panels are two materials that craftspeople can use to decorate doors. A solid canvas is assembled from standard panels that range in width from 10 to 50 centimeters. Expert finishers are dubious about this kind of finishing, but experience has shown that the technique has a legitimate claim to existence. It offers a lot of benefits.

• inexpensive;
• easy to do;
• lasts a long time;
• Fiberboard is characterized by impact resistance, resistance to moisture and abrasion;
• PVC is characterized by 100% resistance to water.

Both materials are easily cleaned and repaired (just replace the damaged strips), and they look presentable. PVC has a 20-year service life, while fiberboard has at least a 10-year one. One square meter of material costs 80 rubles.

Among the flaws we identify are:

• PVC is destroyed under shock loads (you can’t open such a door with your foot);
• the surface is easily damaged by abrasive materials (baking soda, Pemolux, etc.);
• burns out.

Laminate

Used in Russia for laminate flooring and door leaf finishing. Artists possessing a golden touch and an exquisite sense of design create unique and exquisite doors. Lamellas of any kind, including textured, standard, and chamfer-equipped models, are utilized. The slats are inserted into the grooves of a gusset, which is used to secure it to metal doors.

As can be seen in the work "How to lay laminate flooring on a concrete floor," the overlay is installed in this instance with an offset in the same manner as the floor.

The benefits of this style of finishing are clear. Coverage:

• has high wear resistance;
• tolerates temperature changes well (the main thing is that technological gaps are left in the gusset);
• repairable in case of damage – the bar can be replaced or restored with waxes or valve-type corrective markers;
• has different textures and a large number of shades;
• lasts at least 20 years.

The drawbacks are equivalent to those of flooring:

• a large amount of waste;
• afraid of moisture;
• “breathes” (expands) under the influence of temperature changes;
• does not like wet cleaning.

Premium laminate starts at 480 rubles per square meter.

Keep in mind that doors that face directly into the street cannot have laminate applied to them from the outside. Usually, this is a private residence.

Coniferous lining

Clapboard (European or regular) made from edged boards, which are wooden planks that are 6–20 mm thick, can be used to create an intriguing design.

Lining is not afraid of moisture, in contrast to laminate. It can therefore be installed in highly humid rooms. Material made of pine and spruce looks nice. He:

• a pleasant forest smell that does not disappear for a long time;
• beautiful natural wood pattern;
• affordable price;
• long service life.

Attached to the door in a pattern that has several dozen of them in it. There are two types of them: the widely used classic ones (as seen in the photo) and the copyrighted exclusive ones that are exclusive. The drawbacks are identical to those of overlays made of solid wood.

Additionally, they adorn doors with entirely exotic materials like ceramic tiles, siding, and real and artificial stone. Since the siding is weaker than the stone and tile, which weigh more than the door, the loops become deformed after a few years of use and are unable to withstand the pressure. For this reason, we will not go into detail about them in this work.

Your home’s entryway can be transformed by decorating your front door from the inside, adding character and warmth. You can add a special touch that expresses your style and improves the overall appearance of your interior with a few basic materials and a little imagination. Whether you decide to paint, apply wallpaper, or add trim, this do-it-yourself project is a quick and inexpensive way to update the appearance of your house. Additionally, if you do it yourself, you can customize every element to your tastes and preferences, guaranteeing a finished product that you will be happy with each time you walk through the door.

Instructions for finishing the front door from the inside

As soon as the door unit is installed, the interior finishing of the doorway gets underway. The casings are mounted after the slopes are finished with plasterboard or MDF extensions. The threshold is then put in place. They start working on the doors after finishing the tasks on the list. Below are guidelines for correctly painting, upholstered, and sheathed doors.

Painting doors

Painting doors is the easiest and least expensive way to finish them.

Tools and materials

To paint doors, you will need the following supplies:

• paint;
• a ​​set of screwdrivers;
• a tray;
• a paint roller (you can paint with a brush, which takes longer, but then you don’t need a tray);
• old newspapers or a piece of polyethylene film.

Painting instructions

Painting the doors starts with taking out the locks, peephole, and handle; if you skip this step, you’ll have to spend a lot of time fiddling to get the paint off of them. Painting tape is helpful in cleaning accessories, but slight paint residue is still present. It is therefore preferable to get rid of everything superfluous.

Then, to prevent paint drips on the floor, newspapers or film are placed underneath the door.

After cleaning and degreasing the door surface, sandpaper is applied. Doors made of metal and wood are used in this process. The door leaf is painted in two to three layers once it has fully dried. The fittings are installed to complete the process.

Upholstery with leatherette

The article "Door upholstery with leatherette with your own hands" on our website provides a detailed description of the process of upholstering doors along with instructions and a number of technologies.

Door sheathing

Every kind of finishing material has a unique technology for use in door sheathing. In this article, we’ll look at how to DIY front door decoration using solid overlays made of plywood, MDF panels, composite plastic, chipboard, and natural wood.

Tools and materials

What you’ll need for door sheathing is:

• overlay made of natural wood, MDF, laminated chipboard or plywood;
• screwdriver with a set of bits (cross No. 7 and slotted) and drills for metal (diameter 2.8 mm, 3 mm and 10 mm);
• primer for metal;
• roulette;
• hammer;
• clamps;
• paint brush;
• acetone or white spirit;
• insulation if it is planned to carry out heat and sound insulation;
• self-tapping screws;
• sandpaper P120-P150;
• glue;
• plastic plugs.

Instructions for attaching solid door trims

There are two ways that the plates are fastened to the door’s surface:

• on the frame – when insulating the door leaf from the inside;
• with self-tapping screws or glue without insulation (the method is used mainly for exterior decoration).

The door leaf is ready for decorative finishing to be installed, regardless of the chosen method of fastening or material:

1. handles, locks, and peepholes are removed;
2. the metal is cleaned with sandpaper;
3. degreased with acetone or white spirit;
4. primed with primer.

After cleaning and degreasing the wooden door, small cracks are sealed with putty.

The following is the step-by-step procedure for using self-tapping screws to fasten:

1. Markings are made on the cover for self-tapping screws: 3 on top and bottom, 5 on the sides. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the fasteners do not get on the fittings;
2. holes are drilled in the plate with a 2.8 mm drill;
3. the lining is applied to the door and secured to it with clamps;
4. metal is drilled through the finished holes;
5. manually, using a drill with a diameter of 10 mm, recesses are drilled into the plate for the screw heads;
6. the cover is secured with hardware;
7. on the reverse side, through the holes in the door, holes are cut out in the slab for locks, a handle and a peephole. To do this, you can use a large drill (under the peephole); crown or cutter for locks and handle;
8. fittings are installed;
9. plastic plugs are driven into the heads of the screws with a hammer.

You can use the technique in the picture, where the screws are hidden, to attach the lining on both sides.

To attach the interior lining, here we first drill through the entire door. The self-tapping screw is used to draw the plate to the surface. To prevent the hardware from coming out in this situation, the length of the hardware must be chosen.

The fastening element caps will be concealed by the outer cover. Additionally, it will be secured with self-tapping screws that are inserted into the vestibule, where a seal will conceal the hardware’s heads.

You can use insulation that fits beneath the inner panel if you choose this option.

Instructions for finishing the door outside

The technology used to secure the cladding from the exterior to the interior is the same. Here, the only considerations that need to be made are entirely different specifications for the facing material. It must have greater strength against mechanical stress, be resistant to moisture and sunlight, endure seasonal temperature swings, and be both elegant and fashionable.

Refinishing the interior side of your front door is a satisfying do-it-yourself project that gives the entryway of your house a unique flair. The options are endless, whether you decide on chic paneling, ornamental molding, or a new coat of paint. This project shows off your individual style and inventiveness while also improving the visual appeal of your door.

As you work on this, keep in mind to set up your workspace appropriately. To guarantee the best results when painting or applying new materials, clean and sand the door’s surface. To achieve a professional finish, take your time with every step—from measuring and cutting to applying adhesive or paint.

When choosing colors and materials for your home, don’t forget to take the overall style into account. Your front door should create a unified look and complement the interior decor. You can design a stunning and welcoming entryway that sets the tone for the rest of your house with a little thought and work.

You can add a sense of pride and accomplishment to your home as well as enhance its appearance by decorating your front door from the inside. It’s a project that makes every trip home more enjoyable by showcasing your abilities and improving your living area. So gather your supplies, schedule some time, and relish the process of making something unique by hand.

Video on the topic

Brick-like tiles in the doorway of the entrance door

Door slope with your own hands. Extension + casing from MDF

How to make a slope (extension) on the entrance door.

Installation of slopes from MDF Entrance door

How to put an MDF slope on the entrance door

Installation of door slopes (extensions) on the entrance door. Step-by-step instructions.

Another option for slopes on the entrance door…

Slopes of the entrance door from plasterboard in wallpaper