We’re back with the full front-door makeover and all the details.
Here’s what the entry looked like before we started:
The storm door was old maroon and had three problems: the grid didn’t match the six-paneled solid wood door behind it, it frequently jammed, and it didn’t latch reliably, so it would bang open during wind and storms.
We rarely used that storm door—there’s another screen/storm door on the side of the house and interior screens for the living room and sunroom—so we decided to remove it and reveal the original wood door. That choice isn’t for everyone, but it let us finally appreciate the six-paneled door that had been hidden for years:
We removed all the storm-door hardware and filled the screw holes with spackle, then prepped the surrounding trim to be touched up with exterior paint (fortunately the previous owners left a matching can in the basement).
Before any spackling or sanding, the fun part: choosing the paint color. We held up a rainbow of swatches—plum, turquoise, navy, lime, and more—but kept returning to a cheerful yellow. The final four contenders were close, differing mainly in how much white or orange they contained. After viewing them in morning light, afternoon shade, and under the porch light at night, we chose Full Sun EB1-1 from Valspar’s Eddie Bauer Home collection.
We also decided the original door knocker needed attention—it was rusting and peeling—so we carefully removed it to refurbish and reinstall later on the freshly painted door.
With the hardware off, we sanded the surrounding paint to smooth the surface and make it ready for primer and paint. We also removed a rusted brass kick plate at the bottom of the door and filled and sanded the old screw holes. For a cleaner look we preferred the uninterrupted appearance of one boldly colored door.
For paint and primer we consulted a paint professional and chose Valspar Duramax with the Full Sun color matched to it. Duramax includes primer and is formulated for exterior durability. We bought a quart in semi-gloss, which is ideal for front doors because it shows color vibrantly and cleans up easily.
Before painting, we used a liquid deglosser (Next Liquid Deglosser by Crown) to remove surface oils and improve adhesion. A deglosser is a useful shortcut when you want to avoid sanding every glossy surface, but it won’t smooth out imperfections—so any spackled or rough areas still need to be sanded first.
We applied the first coat with a small foam roller to minimize brush marks and used a 2″ angled brush for the door panels and edges. One thin coat already made remarkable progress considering we were covering a deep maroon base. After allowing adequate drying time between applications, we finished with four thin, even coats to achieve a smooth, glossy finish.
The result was a joyful, glossy yellow door that brightened our brick and cream siding. It looks great from the street, and just as charming from the inside.
Using quality exterior paint and applying thin, controlled coats with a foam roller and a high-quality angled brush helped eliminate visible brush strokes. Patience—waiting for each coat to dry before adding the next—was key to a smooth finish.
We also refurbished the hardware while it was off the door; those details will be featured in a dedicated hardware post with step-by-step photos and instructions.
Here’s the door from outside as the paint dried—if you paint in the morning, by evening the finish is usually cured enough to close the door without sticking.
Isn’t the porch happier without the old maroon storm door hiding the front door?
We were thrilled with the final result. John loves it too—happy day.
Summary of the front door makeover process:
- Test multiple swatches on the door at different times of day to confirm the color in changing light.
- Remove the old storm door and spackle, sand, and paint the surrounding trim.
- Remove door hardware and sand the areas to ensure a smooth paint surface.
- Remove any rusted kick plates and fill and sand the holes for a clean look.
- Degloss the entire door to improve paint adhesion.
- Refurbish hardware separately (full hardware rehab details coming soon).
- Apply four thin, even coats of exterior primer + paint in semi-gloss for a durable, shiny finish.
- Reattach hardware once the paint is dry to the touch and allow the paint to fully cure before closing the door for the first time.
Cost breakdown: one quart of Valspar Duramax semi-gloss from Lowe’s cost about $15. If you don’t already have spackle and a deglosser, those items may add roughly $4 each. We had plenty of paint left over, so a quart typically covers a front door even if you paint both sides; we left the interior side white like our other interior doors.
Have you painted your front door recently or are you planning to? This was my fourth front-door paint job in five years and the second time I chose a cheerful yellow—there’s something about that color that feels welcoming and energizing. This makeover has us motivated to tackle more exterior updates, like painting the cream siding or addressing the brick, and we’ll share those projects as they happen.
Update: Several readers asked for wider shots from the curb, so here are a couple. Keep in mind most of the other elements in these photos may change over time—this is an ongoing exterior update.
…especially the large row of bushes that hides the door from some angles.
If I could move those bushes with a thought, I’d pick that superpower over flying or mind-reading.