Quick Fix – Updating Old Doors

I recommend these two methods for doors that are still sturdy but look outdated or worn. It's ideal if they are flat and smooth—then adding texture and a fresh look is easy.

- Method one (light restoration).

This method works perfectly when you need to change a color that doesn't match the mood of your walls.

Remove the doors and repaint them: one coat is enough to let the wood grain show through. Once the paint is dry, mark the layout for the trim pieces. The dimensions in the photo are in inches: 5 inches is almost 13 cm, 6 inches is 15 cm.

The trim pieces need to be cut to size at a 45-degree angle—if you don't have the right tools, you can have this done at any hardware store.

Apply furniture glue and press the trim firmly onto the door surface. Quickly wipe away any excess glue and secure the trim with painter's tape—let it dry in this position for at least 20 hours.

The doors are the same, but they look completely different in the interior, don't you agree? 😉

- Method two (more radical).

Use this for a more worn-out door.

First, fill any chips with wood filler and prepare two pieces of plastic panels for decoration (perhaps leftovers from a recent renovation).

As before, draw your layout—it should match the size of the plastic panels.

Apply liquid nails or high-quality furniture glue to the back of the panels.

For extra security, fasten the plastic around the perimeter with small screws.

Here is the intermediate result:

Attach pre-cut wooden trim along the edges of the plastic panels.

All that's left is to add color—in this case, it's better to hide the damaged surface with at least two coats of paint.

And just like that, the old door doesn't look so old anymore 🙂