How To Paint a Door to Look Like Wood Stain {12 Shade Options}

How To Make A Metal Door Look Like Stained Wood

Want to upgrade an ugly metal or fiberglass door? I’ll show you how to paint a door to look like wood on a budget with seven shade options.

Did you know you can give any metal or fiberglass door the look of wood with a few paint supplies from your local home improvement store?  Don’t settle for a tired, bleached-out door color when you can paint your door in any of 7 beautiful shades of faux wood grain. 

I have used this technique with excellent results on furniture pieces, but I’m so excited to show you how amazing it looks on interior and exterior doors made of any material.  I’ll show the simple steps so your old door looks like wood for less than $40.  That could save you hundreds of dollars if you buy a new one.

How Do You Make a Door Look Like Wood With Paint?

Whether you are refinishing your metal front door or a fiberglass back door, the process is the same and uses latex paint and glaze to give any material the look of wood grain.  If you have a stained faded door, this is a great process, as you can completely refinish your door without stripping.  With this easy step-by-step tutorial and video, I’ll show you exactly how to do your door makeover on a budget!

Is There Such a Thing as Paint That Looks Like Wood?

There is no one shade of interior or exterior paint that looks like wood stain because when you look at a stained piece of hardwood there are actually several different colors in one piece.  After lots of experimenting, I’ve found a faux finish that synthesizes the look of wood grain on any material surface. 

You will be using three different sample containers of paint per door and we will paint them on with a method that is easy and looks so much like real wood.  I also give you over 7 different shade options so you can get the exact look that matches your style and home decor.

How to Make A Metal Door Look Like Wood (Process Overview)

With this process, first, pick your shade from several options below.  Each shade has a designated wood tone base coat color and two different glaze colors.  (I promise this is easier than it sounds so stick with me!)  We will paint on the base coat and let it try before taping off your paneled door in smaller areas to make sure the faux wood grain is going in the right direction. 

Then, we will brush on one glaze later into the sections we are working on at the moment.  The glaze layers are semi-translucent and the brush strokes will create a graining effect just like wood.  When that first layer of paint dries, we will brush on the second glaze layer which acts as a wood grain finish coat. 

After that layer of paint dries, we remove the tape and retape the rest of the sections.  Then, we will do glaze layer 1 and then glaze layer 2 again on those sections.  When it is dry, we apply a clear coat and admire the amazing door you just created to look like a high-end hardwood door you first paint on a basecoat for less than $40!

How Does This Process Compare to Wood Look Paint Kits?

There are many wood look paint kits on the market. This process is cheaper, has a more realistic end product and I use a more reliable clear coat. Also, you can customize all the shade options to get the style you want.

Supplies Needed: How to Paint a Door to Look Like Wood

Before you get started, know that there are several different stain color options. Follow this tutorial step by step but you can go to one of these options for the basecoat and glaze steps: How to Paint Furniture To Look Like Wood – Shade Guide

Shade Options When Painting A Metal Door To Look Like Wood

For my metal door I used the Rustic Mahagony faux stain that you can find here: Traditional Faux Stain Options

For the rest of my faux stain options, go to this guide: How to Paint Furniture To Look Like Wood – Stain Shade Options

Follow this tutorial step by step but when you get to the base coat and glaze steps, make sure to use the colors I suggest in the link above.

How to Paint a Door To Look Like Old Wood – Rustic Options

Raw Wood Faux Finish

If you want to how to paint a door to look like wood that is raw or bleached, you can apply this Natural Wood faux finish to your interior or exterior door.  Follow this tutorial for taping off the different sections of your door but do the process listed here:  Easy Raw Wood Finish With Paint.  You’ll find it is a very similar process to this one with most of the same supplies. For examples of furniture in this finish, check out this post: Easy Raw Wood Finish With Paint

Restoration Hardware Faux Finish

For a Restoration Hardware finish, you can use this tutorial for taping off your door panel and the restoration hardware faux finish tutorial for the actual process.  Again, it is very similar to the process here and you can see how I used this process on the different wood panels of our dining table here: Easy Restoration Hardware Finish with Paint

How to Paint a Door to Look Like Wood – Video Tutorial

You can also watch the video with this post to see exactly how to faux finish your door with paint. If your video isn’t showing up, you can find it here on You’Tube: How to Paint A Door To Look Like Wood, Video Tutorial

Step 1: Sand First Before Painting A Door to Look Like Wood

Stop! The first thing you want to do is take a before pic.  When you are done, post the before and after pics on Instagram and tag me @renovatedfaith! ❤️

The first step is taking the door off the hinges and removing hardware.  Be sure to put your screws and hardware in a plastic baggie so none get lost.  I refinished my door in a vertical position so I could get better video shots but it is easier to refinish horizontally on a table.

I like to sand with my Tacklife Mouse Sander and I go in circular motions all over the piece as you see in the video.  You can also use fine grit sandpaper and sand by hand. To learn more about sanding, check out this post here:  How to Sand in Less Than 5 Minutes

How to Make a Metal Door Look Like Wood – Prep Work

Whether your door is metal, wood or fiberglass, you are just sanding to scuff up the surface. In other words, you are not trying to sand off the old finish. Chances are there is at least one layer of paint on your door and we want to make sure the new paint adheres to the old surface.

STEP 2: Prime Your Interior or Exterior Door First

The second step is to brush on a primer. For my exterior door, I used an oil-based primer called Zinsser Cover Stain.  It has great adhesion qualities which is important for exterior doors.  However, if you are doing this process on an exterior garage door, be sure to use Zinnser Bullseye 123 because some garage door warranties will be voided if you use an oil-based product on the garage door.  It also adheres well and you will get excellent results.

I brushed the Cover Stain primer on the entire door with a cheap brush that I can just throw away afterward.  I prefer this to going to the trouble of cleaning a nice brush with mineral spirits as this is an oil-based product.

Be sure to brush the primer on in the direction of the grain.  Once I have covered the door in primer, I go back and catch any drips that might have accumulated in the corner of the panels.

If your primer doesn’t provide full coverage of your door and you can see some streaks, don’t worry about adding a second coat.  Unless your original door color was bright purple, the streaks will add to the final character of your door.

What happens if I apply paint without applying a primer?

The primer is an insurance policy that our paint will always stick to the door without cracking or peeling.  The last thing we want to do is go to the trouble of painting our door only to have the paint peel off.  I like to say that “primer sticks to things and paint sticks to primer”.  As I mention in my post on Why I Don’t Use Chalk Paint, you need both because the two serve very different functions.

Once my primer is dry, I like to sand again to get an extra smooth finish but this step is not required.  The sanding will only take a couple of minutes.  Be sure to wipe down the door with a damp cloth when you’re done to remove sanding dust.

WANT MORE STAIN OPTIONS?

Don’t forget you can find more stain shade options here:  How to Paint Furniture to Look Like Wood

STEP 3: Apply A Base Coat on Your Front or Back Door

Before applying a good base coat, put down any plastic tarps or drop cloths around your work area.

Now, it’s time to apply your base coat.  The shade I’m using is Rustic Mahagony so Flaxseed is my base shade. 

You can either brush it on or a small roller it on and then brush out the roll marks in the direction of the grain.

How to Make a Metal Door Look Like Wood Grain – Brush Strokes!

Rolling it on is always faster and I brush out the roll marks because this is one of the few times I want brush strokes in the surface because they will mimic the feel of wood grain.  You can see how I do this in the video.

When painting a door, I like to paint the panels first and then move to the flat surfaces, always brushing in long horizontal strokes in the direction of the grain.  Since this is a metal door that has no grain, I’m usually brushing length-wise as you can see in the video.

One coat will be enough.  If you have some streaks where the paint didn’t cover completely, that is perfectly fine and will add to the effect when we get to the glazing step.

Let the base coat dry overnight.

Step 4: Glazing – The Secret To Making Metal Doors Look Like Wood

This step is all about teaching you how to glaze each section and on the next step, we will tape off and glaze different sections of the door.

You will now mix your clear mixing glaze, water and paint in this proportion for each paint color.  Since the Rustic Mahogony has two glaze coats, I will mix two separate mixtures with this ratio using the paint colors SW Van Dyke Brown and SW Turkish Coffee.

Glaze Mixture Ratio:

2 Parts Paint

1 Part Water

2 Parts Clear Mixing Glaze

I usually start with 1 Part equaling 2 TBS and you can always mix up more later. I like to use a paper cup and a plastic spoon.

I mixed two separate glaze mixtures. With the first mixture, Van Dyke Brown is the paint color and with the second, Turkish Coffee is the paint color.

Now that I’ve got two glaze mixtures mixed, each with my two latex paint colors, I can start the first coat.  Normally, we will tape off a small area first but I’m going to show you what to do on a wood sample.  Be sure to watch the video for this section and if you have trouble seeing it in this post, you can see here: How To Paint A Door To Look Like Wood, YouTube

How to Apply Both Glaze Mixtures To Your Metal Door

1. As shown in the video, brush on the first glaze mixture until you get full coverage on the surface or taped area.
2. Now, wipe any excess glaze mixture off your brush with a paper towel.  Start brushing lengthwise in the direction the grain would go. Use long strokes on this section so that you start your start at one end and you don’t pick up your brush until it has passed the section.
3. Keep brushing in long strokes and you will start to see the appearance of wood grain.  Wipe off your brush with a paper towel after every few passes.  NOTE: If small dots form in your brush strokes a few seconds after brushing on the mixture, your mixture is too thin so add some paint.
4. Once you like the look of the first glaze coat stop painting and let it sit untouched for 2 hours.
5. When it’s dry, repeat Steps 1-4 with the second glaze mixture. Do the exact same process above with the second glaze mixture shade on top of the first coat.

STEP 5: Create Wood Grain That Runs In Different Directions by Taping

Next, we will take off sections of our door to give the same look of a real hardwood door that has been constructed out of different pieces of wood. To create the effect of a wooden door, we will apply two glaze mixtures on those sections, let them dry, and then tape and glaze other sections. 

Taping and Glazing Paneled Sections of Your Door

First tape off the paneled area with your Yellow Frog Tape.

Do the entire glazing process (above) to just the paneled areas going up and down. 

Pro Tip: You’ll notice that the top and bottom “trim sections” of each panel are technically going horizontal.  On each of your last glaze passes, you can brush over just these areas vertically.  This is optional but it will give your door an even more authentic look. 

Remember to do the first glaze mixture, let it dry two hours and then do the second glaze mixture. As soon as you finish the application of the second glaze coat, you can start peeling off the tape. 

Use a wet rag or paper towel to touch up any bleed-through areas and let it all dry at least an hour. If you have minor bleed through on areas, don’t worry about touching it up.  The next coats will cover it.

Taping and Glazing Horizontal Sections of Your Door

Tape off the top horizontal sections of your door.

Once all your horizontal sections are taped, do the full glazing process on each section but make sure to brush left to right this time.

Again, take off the tape immediately after finishing the final brush strokes on your second glaze step.  Touch up any major bleed-throughs.

Taping and Glazing Vertical Sections of Your Door

For the last time, tape your vertical sections being sure to leave a visible paint line along the edges of the last sections you painted.  I also tape the edges of the door because I want the corners to be painted but not the entire side of the the door.

Do the full glazing process on the vertical sections brushing up and down.

If you have any areas that weren’t covered well, take a tiny brush and brush on a little of your second glaze mixture.

Let your whole door dry overnight.

STEP 6: How to Paint a Door to Look Like Wood So It Lasts!

The final step is to apply a top-coat to protect the end product.  Use the right clear coat for your DIY project – Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane for interior doors and Varathane Waterbased Spar Urethane for exterior doors.  I don’t like using oil-based products outside because they often crack eventually and also if you are doing this process on a garage door an oil-based product could void your garage door warranty.

Stir (don’t shake) the can of clear coat.  I like to use large foam brushes because they don’t leaf brush strokes and they are super cheap so I just throw them away after each coat.  You can also use one and store it in a baggie in your frig until you do the next coat.  This will keep it wet.

Put on three coats all within 24 hours.  I usually wait an hour or two between each. 

UPDATE YOUR DOORKNOBS TOO!

This is a great time to update your knobs or handles with spray paint.  After lots of experimenting, here’s how to spray paint door hardware so it outlasts the house:  The Ultimate Guide to Spray Painting Door Knobs

Let your door dry and add the hardware.

If you like my other budget-friendly back door decor, you can make your Hydrangea Wreath, Topiaries & DIY Interchangeable Layered Mats here:

• Easy Hydrangea Wreath
• Faux Boxwood Topiary Tutorial
• DIY Interchangeable Layered Door Mats for Any Season

RENOVATE YOUR FAITH: Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers?

For more spiritual encouragement, click here for the rest of my project posts that also include Renovate Your Faith devotionals.

FAQ’s: How to Make A Metal Door Look Like Wood

How Do You Make A Metal Garage Door Look Like Wood?

If you’re wondering how to paint a metal garage door to look like wood, you can use this same process. Whether your garage has wood doors, metal doors or fiberglass, the only changes are in how you tape.  You will tape each section of the garage door as if it is a regular door on it’s side.  Do the panels first, then the vertical parts and then the long horizontal parts.  Also, be sure to avoid direct sun while painting your garage door.  You can avoid this by setting up a tarp to block the direct rays of the sun.

How to Make a Metal Door Look Like Distressed Wood

If you want the rustic look of driftwood you can use the driftwood finish above.  It is very similar to the traditional stain technique but at the end you dry brush with white and that gives it the gray look.

What is the Best Way to Paint Metal Doors that Are Rusty?

If your door is rusty to the point that it has structural damage, it is probably time to get a new door.  If the rust on your metal door is minor, sand down the rust with your sander and a 60 grit sanding pad.  Then, you want to prime your door with Rustoleum Rust Reformer (you can buy it here on Amazon)  that will stop the rust and prevent more rust in the future.  Once it is dry, continue the rest of the process as normal.

How Do You Paint A Door To Look Like Wood Matching Your Home Decor?

If you are painting an interior door to look like wood, you want to be sure it coordinates with your home decor. All of the sample options are neutrals but you want to take your wall color and your floor color into consideration. It’s important to get a shade that coordinates with your floor color but it doesn’t have to necessarily match it. For example, if your flooring is dark walnut, you can go lighter on your door to brighten things up a little. Also, if your walls are dark, consider the raw wood finish or Restoration hardware finish to add contrast.

How Do You Paint A Garage Door to Look Like Wood?

If you want the look of a wood garage door, you can use this same process on your metal or fiberglass paneled door.  Just be sure to not use oil-based products on your garage door as it could void the warranty.

How About Painting A White Door To Look Like Wood? Do I still Need To Prime?

If your door is already white, still prime it so that the base coat can adhere well to the surface. You might be tempted to skip the base coat since not much of it shows through but the base coat also serves as a barrier to ensure the glaze mixture slides around on the surface and doesn’t absorb in too fast. On my Wire Shelving Hack, I used the raw wood finish on each shelf and thought I could just have the primer tinted to the base coat color. What I didn’t count on was how the glaze mixture absorbed into the surface too fast and I couldn’t get the look of wood grain.

Can You Make A Metal Door Look Like Wood That Matches Your Garage Door (Or Visa Versa)?

If you are working on an exterior door, keep any other exterior doors or garage doors in mind when picking out your shade. For example, if your garage door is a dark stain and you are faux painting your front door, paint the door Dark Walnut to better match your garage door. My garage door faces the front of our house but because it is not right beside the front door, I don’t have to match exactly. Just don’t paint your front door in Brown Oak if your garage door looks closest to Rustic Mahogony. They will look too different and won’t coordinate with each other.

Can You Stain a Steel Door?

You can stain any material to look like wood. If your door has no panels that you will paint off first, you will do the whole door as one panel to create a wood grain on a steel entry door. You will want one or two people to help you with both glaze steps so that it doesn’t dry up on you too fast.

Can You Use Wood Stain on a Metal Door? What About Zar Wood Stain for Steel Doors?

Traditional wood stains like Zar are oil-based so they will adhere on a wood door but they will dry up before you can create faux wood grain with your brush. In other words, as you are working with it, it will probably dry up on you and look like a mess. The water-based paint and glaze mixture gives you a lot more control and is more forgiving if you mess up

What About Giani Wood Look Paint for Front Doors?

There’s a product on the market that is used to paint doors to look like wood called Giani. It looks like they offer a few shade options as well but my personal opinion is that their wipe-on method is not as convincing in creating a faux wood grain. Also several of the reviews are pretty bad which makes me hesitant to recommend it. You are also required to get the Giani Paint Mitt to apply this product.

How To Stain a Fiberglass Door to Look Like Wood

“Can You Paint A Fiberglass Door to Look Like Wood?” You can use this process on fiberglass just as you can on a metal door or even a painted wood door.  Just follow the exact same instructions above.

Can You Buy Metal Exterior Doors That Look Like Wood?

To save money, you can buy a metal door with a faux wood finish but sometimes the finish is high glass after leaving the factory. Also, it can be difficult to find a door in the right shade where as you can pick one of 9 shades with the process above.

How to Make White Doors Look Rustic

To make white doors look rustic, you can do one of two things. The great thing about the faux stain finishes above is that they can be used on any plain white door, no matter if it is wood metal or fiberglass. For old doors, be careful when sanding because there might be lead paint exposed in the sanding process. Another option is to give a plain white door a distressed look with a chip brush.

How To Make a Door Look Like Wood With Gel Stain

Another way to make any solid door look like wood is with a couple of coats of gel stain. With an orange paint base and this process, you can make any solid door look like wood: How to Gel Stain Doors to Look Like Wood

Related Posts – How Do You Make a Regular door look like wood?

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How to Paint A Metal Door to Look Like Wood, YouTube Video

Final Thoughts on How to Paint a Door To Look Like Wood

These step-by-step instructions show you the exact easy steps and supplies to completely transform the look of your door on a budget. This process costs around $40 but a new door would cost hundreds of dollars. Be sure to check out the video to see exactly how to do each step. With this tutorial, you can have the curb appeal you have always wanted and a front door you can be proud of.

I love to hear your thoughts and questions!  Scroll down to leave a comment and I WILL reply! ❤️

Blessings,

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How to Make A Metal Door Look Like Wood

Karin Peters

Karin Peters is a DIY expert and the creator of Renovated Faith. She is a furniture painter, a home design consultant, and a tenacious problem solver determined to help you transform your house into a home. With 17 years of experience with DIY home improvement, she researches and analyses professional processes to adapt them to be easy and cost-effective for DIYers.  She then tests every project and product before it appears on the site in a detailed, step-by-step format.  After attending Texas A&M University, she received her Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages at Southwestern Baptist Theology Seminary.  Her passions unite in Renovated Faith, which shows readers how to create a home that serves them so they can pursue their God-given purposes.     About Renovated Faith  |   Editorial Policy  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | LinkedIn