11 Reasons to Paint Your Interior Doors Black

Brush on some ebony paint and turn a dull doorway into a model of drop-dead sophistication

Fred AlbertJul 21, 2014

Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style 1900.

A few months ago I saw a quote from a designer espousing the beauty of black doors. I had never thought about painting my doors black before. But then, up until a few months ago, I had never considered painting my ceilings black, either. Then I wrote a piece for Houzz called 11 Reasons to Paint Your Ceilings Black, and I was an instant convert.

Black doors don’t seem quite as radical to me. But the results can be transformative. Take a look at the photos that follow, and see if you become a convert as well.

1. They’re classy. OK, let’s state the obvious right from the start: Black doors are elegant. A white door would have looked charming and cottage-y in this entry hall. But splash on a bit of ebony paint, and you have instant, drop-dead sophistication.

Shop black front doors on Houzz

I love the way the black door is framed by the black walls in the foreground. Which leads me to reason No. 2 …

The Yellow Cape Cod

2. They’re wonderful at picking up other black accents in the room. If you’ve got black elsewhere in the room, a black door will repeat the color and make the space feel more cohesive.

Thom Filicia Inc.

I love the way the black door echoes the color of the bed frame in this room, giving the space a rich, masculine feeling.

Notice how in all these examples, the door casing was left white.

Wow Great Place

3. They’re good at making things disappear. Got a door you want to downplay? Black is great at disguising shortcomings (like a large slab door, if that’s not your style) so you don’t notice them.

Black doors work well in an open space like this, but avoid using them in a confined area with a confluence of doorways, as they can look chaotic.

Phillip Smith General Contractor, LLC

4. They frame views. Just as a piece of art looks better if it’s framed, a view is enhanced if there is something in the foreground to set it off. These black French doors make the greenery outside stand out.

Martha O'Hara Interiors

The view doesn’t have to be outside, either.

Find a door dealer near you

Thom Filicia Inc.

5. They’re good to a void. Notice I didn’t say “avoid,” I said “a void.” As in, if you’ve got a big fireplace that’s unlit 99.9 percent of the time, and a dark painting or flat-panel TV above it, a black door will help mitigate the impact of those big, black voids, so they don’t look as noticeable in the room.

Thom Filicia Inc.

This room looks fine now, but when the TV is turned off, there’s a big black hole in a fairly small space. The black door balances the void so the blank screen isn’t the only dark expanse in the room.

Diane Burgoyne Interiors

6. They make a stock door look special. Slap on some black paint, and a typical paneled door takes on an air of swanky elegance.

Hire a painter to transform your doors

Phil Kean Design Group

7. They don’t show fingerprints. How many times have you had to clean dark smudges around a doorknob? Black doors won’t repel dirt — but they won’t show it as readily, either.

Brooke Wagner Design

8. They mark a destination. This black door is like a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence — it marks the end of the long hallway and provides a clear destination.

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

9. They look great with dark floors. White doors would have been fine in this space. But I love the way the black doors extend that sultry, dramatic mood.

They also send a subtle message, suggesting that the spaces beyond are special. This would be a great way to keep out prying eyes if there’s not a clear distinction between public and private areas in your home.

Terracotta Design Build

10. They add shine to a room. Every room could use a touch of reflection, especially if the other elements are textured or neutral. A mirror is one solution. A shiny black door is another.

Use a satin finish for minimal sheen. Or go for broke and apply a clear polyurethane topcoat for maximum shine and protection.

Thom Filicia Inc.

11. They make a ceiling look taller. Contrast draws the eye, so a narrow black door draws the eye up, making a low ceiling look higher. This makes black doors especially useful in basements or other low-ceilinged spaces.

More: 11 Reasons to Paint Your Ceiling Black

Comments (700)

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Robin Winter

Hi Barbara, it was a bit of a shock,the door faces north and is protected by the veranda most of the time. However, only a week after painting the door in late May 2018 we had a day when the temp reached 24 deg, by mid afternoon you can’t put your hand on the door it was so hot. The door was of timber construction with a glass panel at the top. Upon further research with Hume Doors they recommend light reflective colours for external doors to reduce the possibility of bow, twist or warp. Dark colours may void guarantee. Semi gloss finishes are recommended. Paint with a Light Reflective Value (LFV) finish greater than 50 should be used on External Doors.
WHITE approx 95
BLACK approx 5
And use the same colour on all sides. Different colours may cause doors to warp.

Dean Quinlivan

Fred I hope you still receive comments on this excellent article. A question of you if I may. I would love to paints “some” doors black even though my other half thinks they are funerary. The walls will be painted one colour Dulux Natural White and the carpet in all rooms except kitchen area is dark as per attached photo. In the kitchen area will be dark timber. The doors I was hoping to paint black are: garage to formal room, double door entrance to kitchen and front door. Would two black doors either end of the hallway look ok? What other doors could I paint? Appreciate your thoughts and thank you for the inspiration.

calyadwa

Some I liked very much, especially pic 8, others not so much. We have plain panel doors in our little reno house (2 and a half bed) plus bathroom door. I liked the idea of black because at the moment it is an all white house. Having run the idea past the other half, I have decided to varnish them. Even though I am design and he is execution there has to be a little give and take (ha ha).