Interior Door Q&A

Interior Doors

Q: Are there any rules for what color to paint interior doors?

A: If you want to play it safe, select an interior door color to match the interior trim, or choose a shade of white or off-white. White is a good choice if you have architectural details in your home you want to showcase because it allows those details to stand out. A good rule of thumb is to cut the white with a quarter of your wall color.

Sherwin Williams (www.sherwin-williams.com) is an excellent source of information and offers high-quality paint. If you are working with neutrals in your home, Alabaster White (SW7008) is an excellent choice. Check out Antique White (SW6119) if you have stained or weathered wood trim. Sherwin Williams also has a pearlized finish you can use on interior doors to give them an extra elegant touch.

If you prefer the unconventional, have a bit more fun with color. Consider the architectural style and period of the home. If your house style falls into one of the five periods of American architecture (Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Victorian, or Colonial Revival) check Historic New England (www.historicnewengland.org) for a chart of historically accurate interior paint colors.