The role of doors in interior design

It is definitely advisable to consider all architectural elements in the interior design of a space, be it staircases, arches, window frames or doors. The advantage of architectural elements, such as doors, is that they offer more colour surfaces and provide us with an additional possibility to bring colour into a space.

Colour uniformity and a sense of spaciousness

In small, awkward and irregularly shaped spaces, it is even more important to find creative ways to increase the sense of spaciousness, and here, colours can help. The colour uniformity of a space, where one colour or a colour palette of similar shades of one colour dominates, can contribute to a sense of continuity. If a door is painted in the same shade as the wall surfaces, it will blur the transition between the door and the wall and act as its extension. 

Creating harmony and continuity

It is often the case that doors are not our favourite part of a space, as they are a visual distraction. This is especially true with darker interiors, walls with more intense colour tones and wallpapers with multi-colour patterns. Choosing the same or a similar colour shade can help connect the door with the space and maintain harmony and continuity. Fans of maximalism in interior design, who like to opt for extravagant wallpapers, often use the dominant colour of the wallpaper pattern for their window frames and doors. Similarly, doors in the same colour shade as the wall are the preferred choice for spaces where tranquillity is crucial, such as bedrooms or studies, where we are first and foremost looking for ways to create a peaceful environment in which to relax or sleep.  

Choosing the colour shade

Dark and medium tones add depth to a space and create an intimate and warm atmosphere. Light tones help create the feeling of an open and airy space. Interesting details can also be created by matching the colour of the carpet or the floor with the door colour. Larger and built-in furniture pieces, the amount of natural light in the space, as well as the size of the space should also be considered while choosing the colour. In large and well-lit spaces you can afford to be more daring and choose darker and more intense colours. For smaller spaces, consider whether you want to visually enlarge the space – in which case we recommend lighter colours – or create a feeling of depth, intimacy and warmth that can be brought into a space with darker colour tones. For a more sophisticated appearance, you can add stucco to the door, which works particularly well on very light, almost white and larger surfaces where interesting finishes are a welcome detail.

Experimenting with colours in a modern interior

Strong contrasts and vibrant shades, which can also be brought into a room with the colour of the door, can be a good fit even in modern, bright and refined spaces, where white is usually the dominant colour. From coral red HGMIX R23–5, emerald green HGMIX G12–7, to royal blue HGMIX B04–7 and sunny yellow HGMIX Y23–6 – all these shades beautifully complement the white walls. You can also attract attention by disregarding the lines determined by the door frame, using the so-called colour blocking trend. The colour surface is extended to adjacent walls, even the ceiling, creating interesting aesthetic accents and visually separating the entrance area from the rest of the space, which is especially suitable for longer hallways or awkwardly shaped interiors. A similar effect of continuity and a dash of modernity can also be achieved with furniture and decorative elements, such as bookcases, shelves or picture frames, painted in the same shade as the walls. There are certainly many more colour combinations and possibilities than we have doors to bring our ideas to life. 

How to give your doors a makeover

To make the work easier, we suggest that you take the door out of its frame and, if you can, place it on a sawhorse or an old bench so that it is raised off the floor. Make sure that the door is firmly fixed. Remove the door handle and lock, lightly sand the surface of the door and clean it of dust particles and other impurities. Don’t forget to protect the glass parts, like the peephole on a front door. Fill any cracks, dents and scratches on the wooden surfaces with TESSAROL ACRYLIC PUTTY FOR WOOD. Lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper after puttying, then remove dust particles. For painting wooden doors in interior spaces, we recommend applying TESSAROL ACRYLIC PRIMER FOR WOOD as a primer and two coats of the TESSAROL ACRYLIC ENAMEL finishing paint in the shade of your choice. If you are painting a door made from hard PVC, use TESSAROL ACRYLIC PRIMER UNI as a primer. While painting, make sure that the paint does not run from the higher to the lower parts and accumulate there.

To renovate or refresh external entrance doors exposed to various weather and mechanical influences, we recommend TESSAROL PRIMER FOR WOOD and two coats of the TESSAROL PRO PROTECT finishing paint in the shade of your choice. As it is a larger surface, we recommend using a roller or spraying to paint doors, but you can also use a small paint brush for details such as decorative panels. Avoid windy days to prevent the paint from drying irregularly and to avoid the fine particles carried by the wind that can stick to the drying paint.

Now that you know all the secrets to painting doors, it is time to accept the challenge and try your hand at finding your own unique style!