DIY Interior Door Makeover: Eco-Friendly, Budget-Friendly Upgrade with Recycled Moldings
So, after we swapped out the old door frame moldings in our place, we realized the doors themselves were looking pretty basic and needed a little love too. Since we’re renters and not looking to blow a ton of cash, we knew we had to come up with a budget-friendly fix. Just painting the flat, boring doors wasn’t going to cut it. That’s when it hit me—why not reuse the old moldings to give the doors some texture and character?
This DIY makeover turned out to be super easy and way more effective than we expected. Not only did it save us money, but it also helped the environment by giving materials that would’ve just been tossed a second chance. We were able to upgrade the doors and moldings, all while keeping it affordable and eco-friendly. Total win!
Give Your Interior Doors a Fresh Look
- Clean the Old Moldings: Start by giving the recycled door frame moldings a thorough cleaning.
- Trim to 45-Degree Angles: Carefully cut the moldings at 45-degree angles for a clean, precise look.
- Sand Smooth: Sand the moldings to create a smooth, flawless finish that’s ready for painting.
- Get Creative with Layout: Lay the moldings on the doors to find the best fit—this is where you can get creative and play around with different designs!
- Test the Design: Once you’re happy with the layout, remove the moldings and add glue to the back.
- Press and Adjust: Carefully press the moldings back onto the door, adjusting as needed before the glue sets for a secure bond.
- Nail the Moldings In Place: Once the glue dries, use finishing nails to secure the moldings. Be sure to hammer them in just enough to provide support without damaging the moldings.
- Create Your Pattern: The design possibilities are endless—get creative! We went for a timeless square pattern repeated three times on both sides of the door for a clean, sophisticated look.
- Prep for Painting: Lightly sand both the door and the moldings with finishing sandpaper to ensure a smooth, even surface.
- Prime the Door: Apply two coats of high-quality primer to create a uniform base for the paint and help with adhesion.
- Paint the Door: Choose your paint finish (we went with semi-gloss for durability and elegance). Apply two coats, letting the paint dry thoroughly between coats.
- Add Hardware: Install the new door hardware, including the door knob and hinges. We upgraded to chrome-finished hinges for a sleek, cohesive look.
- Trim for Hinges: When adding new hinges, be sure to make cutouts in the moldings for a proper fit. The additional thickness of the moldings may require you to trim the door to fit the hinges.
- Alternative Placement Option: If you don’t want to trim, position the moldings slightly away from the edge of the door to avoid this.
- Tip for Fewer Holes: When removing old nails, pull them out from the front of the molding to avoid larger, more noticeable holes that could be left from pulling nails out from the back.
This step-by-step process not only updates your doors but also gives them a whole new level of style—while being super budget-friendly and eco-conscious!
The images below walk you through the different stages of our Interior Door Makeover project, showing you each step along the way. From cleaning and prepping the old moldings to carefully positioning and gluing them onto the doors, these photos capture the process in action. Whether you’re curious about the transformation or just looking for some inspiration, these pictures give you a closer look at how we brought new life to plain, flat doors with a little creativity and a lot of DIY effort. Take a look and see how simple materials can create a big impact!