A Low-Cost and Simple Way to Give Your Front Door a Fresh Look

Lost & Found
by Lost & Found
1 Material
$30
Easy
Meet my front door. It's nothing fancy--your basic wood door, surrounded by average white trim and lots and lots of red brick. There is little about this door that draws your eyes in to my entry, but that's about to change!
Fusion Mineral Paint made it possible for me to update the look of my door for minimal cost and effort. Haven't heard of Fusion? It's an alternative to chalk-type paint. Acrylic-based, it paints on smooth and seals itself to provide a stainproof and waterproof finish--with NO topcoat or waxing required.
The Fusion color I chose for my door was one of my favorites in their line, and is called Homestead Blue. They key to making this project work is to take the proper prep steps, which aren't difficult but do need to be properly done.
You want to start out by really cleaning your door, paying attention to recessed areas where gunk may have gathered. You can read more about my favorite cleaning product on my full blog post.
Since the original varnished finish on my door was flaking off, I did decide also to give it a good sanding with my power sander. It's best to have a surface that is free of dirt and flaking material for your paint to adhere to. Sanding the door smoothed out the wood and took care of all that flaking finish.
With Fusion I always use my round-bristle natural brushes, because I find they do a great job at minimizing brush strokes, so working with a roller isn't necessary. It's important when you're painting your door to work in sections, and paint along the direction of the grain in each panel.
2 coats of Fusion's Homestead Blue got me the full coverage I wanted, and now my door looks amazing! It really draws your eye in and creates a great focal point for the front of my home. I made a few other simple changes too, like changing out the old brass (mostly broken) door hardware for a satin nickel set, and making a pink tulip door hanger to match the pink of the flowers in my pots, and adding a new mat in coordinating colors.
About 10 days after I finished the door, a hail storm came through my area and pummeled my door pretty well, leaving lots of dirt and water spots on the finish.
What do you think . . . Will they clean off? Is Fusion really waterproof and stainproof?
Yes!! A little brushing with soapy water, and my door looks good as new!


I have a few more progress shots on my full blog post, as well as tips for how to get your door looking great with Fusion. And you can find my plant recipe for my front door planters also on my blog! Click here to see planter recipe!


I've gotten lots of questions about if this will work on a metal door, and the answer is YES! There is an additional prep step of painting on a coat of Fusion's Ultra Grip, but that's all.


And if you want to learn more about Fusion and what makes it a unique paint option, please visit my website and check out the Fusion Mineral Paint tab to get more info.
Suggested materials:
  • Fusion Mineral Paint
Lost & Found
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 10 questions
  • Lillian Lillian on May 30, 2016
    Where do I get the fusion paint?
  • Peggy Peggy on May 30, 2016
    Whatt kind of bruch did you use? I almost lookslike a shaving brush.
  • Laura Benavidez Laura Benavidez on May 31, 2016
    I have an old bedroom set I'm looking at updating: I know it's not hard wood but more like a heavy pressed wood, very sturdy set that I can't afford to replace. Do you know if this paint would work on it? I have sections of the set I don't use and was going to test some methods on it before taking on the entire project; I read that you sell it from your blog, does the company make sample sizes? I love this color BTW.
Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 54 comments
Next