Revitalize Interior Doors: Upcycling Old Moldings for a Stylish Remodel

After replacing the original door frame moldings in our home, we realized that the doors themselves needed a refresh. As renters, we were determined to find a budget-friendly solution. Simply painting the plain, flat doors wouldn’t suffice. That’s when inspiration struck: why not recycle the old moldings to add texture and depth to the doors?

This real-life makeover project proved to be both simple and effective. Not only did it save us money, but it also benefited the environment by repurposing materials that would have otherwise been discarded. By breathing new life into both the moldings and doors, we achieved a stylish upgrade while staying mindful of our budget and environmental impact.

Revitalize Interior Doors

The process began by meticulously cleaning the old recycled moldings, followed by precise trimming to 45-degree angles and thorough sanding for a flawless finish. With the moldings prepared, we then positioned them on the doors, allowing room for creativity to flourish.

Once satisfied with the layout, removed the moldings, apply glue to the back, and carefully place them back onto the door. This method ensures a secure and durable bond before the glue sets, allowing for easy removal and readjustment if needed.

Once satisfied with the placement of the moldings, nail them onto the door. To secure the moldings in place, we used finishing nails, ensuring they were hammered in just deep enough to provide ample support without compromising the integrity of the pieces.

Different patterns can be created with the limitation being only your imagination. The possibilities were endless, and we opted for a timeless square pattern repeated three times on both sides of each door, adding a touch of sophistication to the space.

Once the patterns are securely attached, it’s crucial to prepare the surface for painting. Begin by lightly sanding both the door and moldings using finishing sandpaper to ensure a smooth and even finish. Next, apply two coats of a high-quality primer to promote adhesion and provide a uniform base for the paint. Once the primer has dried, proceed with applying the paint.

We opted for a semi-gloss paint finish. This choice not only adds a touch of elegance but also offers durability and ease of maintenance. Apply two coats of semi-gloss paint, allowing sufficient drying time between coats for optimal results.

The final step of the makeover involves adding hardware, which may include the door knob and hinges. While some projects may only require updating the door knob, we decided to enhance the overall aesthetic by replacing the hinges as well. Opting for chrome-finished hinges that matched the door handle added a cohesive and stylish touch to the doors.

When installing new hinges, it’s important to make a cutout on the moldings to ensure a proper fit. We found that updating the first door on its hinges helped us gauge how much we needed to trim for the now wider door to accommodate the hinges. The addition of moldings will inevitably increase the thickness of the doors.

Another option is to position the moldings slightly away from the door’s edge, there will be no need to trim them to accommodate the hinges.

Tip: By pulling out the original nails through the front of the molding, we ensured that any resulting holes remained smaller compared to pulling out from the backside. If pulled from the backside, the wider head of the nail would push completely through the mold, leaving a deeper, more noticeable hole.

Images below show the various stages of the Interior Door Real Life Makeover project