Can I use different kinds of doors in different areas of the house?

Barbra
by Barbra

How do you think it would look to do the bedroom doors and their closets as painted Mdf doors and the kitchen living area in more expensive walnut stained wood matching the window frames and patio doors. The house is 2300 sq ft and prairie style. They quote $195 per door to stain and finish - ouch!

  4 answers
  • You might get away with it if you can't see the bedroom doors from the main living area.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Nov 24, 2019

    While it is possible for MDF to be stained, the final outcome on what the 'finish' will look like may not meet with your expectations. The reason is that MDF does not have any grain to it, as it is not real wood.

    Also as MDF does not absorb stain to the same extent as real wood, a polyurethane coat over the stain is advisable.


    My suggestion if you really want the doors to look the same as the living room windows, is to purchase unfinished genuine wood doors, then either diy or hire out to have them stained.

  • Sharon Sharon on Nov 26, 2019

    When I paint clients doors, I take them down and do them on saw horses in the garage. Just use a large screw driver on the hinge and tap with a hammer to lift each out.

    If you are going to stain yourself, I would use wood conditioner first to get an even finish. I like to pour the stain on a rag and quickly apply.

    If you want to make the MDF doors look like wood, paint them first with the lighter of the 2 wood tones, then apply the darker tone gel stain over the dry paint and run a wood graining tool over it..... or here is another technique..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQuCa1pyWA

  • Michelle James Michelle James on Nov 30, 2019

    I think that would be totally fine. You could pay to have the living room, etc ones done but do the bedroom doors yourself.