3 Easy Ways To Give Your Flat Panel Doors A Makeover

Adding the final details to your living room renovation, you turn your attention to the flat panel door. It’s dull and lacks visual interest, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst your sophisticated new décor.

Deciding it’s time for a flat panel door makeover, you pull out your phone and search for ways to add some character to your door. It’s the first thing people will see when entering your newly renovated space, so you want to make sure it looks inviting.

From upgrading your door handles to adding eye-catching moulding, discover how to give your flat panel doors a much-needed DIY makeover.

Flat panel door makeover ideas

Whether you’re renovating your home on a budget or simply looking for a new DIY project to keep you busy, giving your flat panel doors a makeover is a great way to breathe new life into your interiors without spending a fortune on brand new doors.

Even if you don’t have much DIY experience, upgrading your flat panel doors is quick and easy. Use all of these ideas together to completely transform the appearance of your doors, or choose your favourite to make a small but noticeable change that complements the rest of your interior design.

1. Add a fresh lick of paint

One of the easiest ways to add some visual interest to your old flat panel doors is to give them a fresh coat of paint.

Think carefully about the interior design style of your space and make sure you choose a paint colour that complements it. If your room features lots of green accents, for example, you might choose to paint your old wooden doors green to effortlessly create a more cohesive space.

For a small or dark room, it’s a good idea to choose a light paint colour as this will reflect light from your lighting fixtures and make the space feel much brighter and more spacious than it really is. All paint colours have a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) number printed on their can, so opt for one with a high LRV if you want to brighten up your room.

Design tip: The trick to painting your flat panel doors is to take your time. Use a high quality paint and primer to give your doors a flawless, professional finish.

2. Create panels with moulding

Flat panel doors often lack dimension and character, which is why adding moulding can be a great way to upgrade them. Moulding is a decorative strip that can be added to your doors to create a panel look and enhance their appearance, and it’s much more affordable than replacing them.

To add moulding to your flat panel doors:

1. Start by measuring and planning. It might help to draw up a plan of the layout you want to go for so you can be sure you’re happy with it. Then, you’ll need to measure the door to make sure you know exactly how long each piece of moulding will need to be.
2. Cut your moulding to size. To make sure the pieces of moulding slot together correctly, you’ll need to use a mitre saw to make precise 45 degree cuts at each side.
3. Use hot glue to attach the moulding to the door. Hot glue is strong and easy to use, so you shouldn’t have any issues with the moulding coming loose.
4. Fill in any gaps with Polyfilla. This won’t be noticeable once everything is painted, so don’t worry if your corners don’t come together perfectly. Let it dry and then lightly sand it to make sure everything is smooth.
5. Finally, paint the door. It might be easier to paint the door before applying the moulding, then give it a touch up once the moulding is secured.

Image courtesy of @covetnoir

3. Upgrade your door handles

If redecorating the entire door seems too time-consuming, simply upgrading your door handles is a great way to change the appearance of your space and only takes a few minutes.

Choose a colour and finish for your door handles that complements the other accents throughout your home. If you have matt black light switches and sockets, for example, a matt black handle for your doors would be an excellent choice. In the kitchen, you could even match your door handles to your kitchen cabinet handles and drawer knobs to tie the space together.

‘Making flat panel doors more visually appealing is all about adding interest – think about it as accessorising’, says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, interiors expert and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds. ‘A great way to do this by changing the knobs or lever handles you have – opting for a new metal colour like gold or matt black instantly makes your doors feel new and fresh.’

Show us your flat panel door makeovers

We’d love to see how you’ve used these flat panel door makeover ideas to spruce up your interiors. Tag us on Instagram @dowsingandreynolds – we can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!

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