Can You Use Exterior Paint on Interior Doors? Debunking Myths

If you have hardwood interior doors, you might be eager to paint them. You have a lot of design trends to consider, including the color, the style, and the type of paint you’re using. If you’re painting them yourself, perhaps the most important aspect is which kind of paint you use–can you use exterior paint for an interior job?

Let’s explore whether you can use exterior paint on interior doors and the impact this has on your home. With this information, you can make an informed decision on whether or not to use paint that’s not tailored to your project.

Current Design Trends for Interior Doors

In theory, you can paint your interior doors any color. Some colors are more popular than others, though. 

Are black interior doors trendy? Not only are they currently trending, they’re also timeless. In other words, you won’t need to re-paint them every few years because they won’t go out of style. This may make black a good choice for your interior doors.

Other trending colors include dark blue and gray. Whether you’re going for a traditional, modern, or farmhouse look, these three colors will look lovely in any home.

What Is Paint Made Of?

Paint is made of pigment, resin, solvents, and additives. The solvents vary based on the type of paint you’re using. Oil-based paints use mineral spirits as their solvent, and latex paint utilizes water. 

Some paints use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their solvents to keep them liquid. These chemicals release gas into the air as your paint dries, which can cause headaches and lung irritation. It’s best to find a paint with low or no VOCs if you’re painting inside.

Can You Use Exterior Paint on Interior Doors?

Technically, you can use exterior paint on interior doors, but we don’t recommend it. Exterior paints are more likely to have high levels of VOCs, and prolonged exposure to them can be rather hazardous to your health. Even short-term exposure can cause the symptoms we described above.

If you’ve used exterior paint inside, you don’t need to re-paint your doors. The exposure concerns are mainly related to when you are painting the door and it is drying. To avoid symptoms of VOC exposure, make sure your space is well-ventilated by opening up some windows as the paint dries.

We recommend sticking a box fan into an open window to blow in fresh air as well as opening another window and having a fan blowing the air back out. This will keep the space sufficiently ventilated.

Where Can I Buy Interior Doors?

Shopping for interior doors? Look no further than 27estore. We carry high-quality products in a variety of styles and colors. We also offer other home improvement products, so browse our selection today to get started on your next big project!

Looking for more design insights and project ideas, including how much gap should be under an interior door? Don’t miss our latest articles!