How to Upgrade Cheap Interior Doors
I’ve been looking at upgrading our interior doors for a while now, which are cheap, hollow-core doors. The cottage was built in the 1940s, and the doors should reflect that.
I looked at new solid doors that had a little more detail, and they were quite pricey. While I believe these doors are well worth the price, it was a little outside of my budget due to the kitchen remodel.
Instead of investing a bunch of money into these new doors, I decided to try and make the current doors look fancier. I tested this project out on our Harry Potter closet underneath the stairs since it was the smallest, and I really liked how it turned out.
Supplies Needed
1/4X4X4″ poplar boards
2 1/4″ hole saw
Drill
Nail Gun
15 gauge 1 1/2″ nails
I started by painting the door with a coat of primer because I knew it would take a few coats of paint to cover the pre-existing shine. I wouldn’t recommend sanding doors like these because they are cheap and there’s not a lot of substance.
After one coat of paint, I started working on the trim. I took several 1/4X4X4″ poplar boards and started cutting my pieces. I started with the height pieces first and then the width. I decided to trim both sides of the door because our doors weren’t in the best condition.
Using a nail gun with 15 gauge 1 1/2″ nails, I started nailing the trim pieces in. Note: If you don’t happen to have a nail gun, you can either try and use wood glue or use regular nails. Make sure the trim is flush with the edge of the door or you may have a difficult time getting the door to shut once it’s installed.
Next, I used a 2 1/4″ hole saw to cut through the trim for the door knob. I used wood filler to fill the nail holes and the gaps where the pieces of trim meet. Once the filler was dry, I sanded and painted the door.
I may do a different design on other doors, but I am obsessed. I love the character it adds, and it was an easy diy project. All in all, this project cost less than $50, which definitely beats buying a new door.
Your friend,
Laci