Give Your Old Flat Panel Doors a Stunning Makeover for Less!

In this guide, we’ll show you how we transformed a plain, flat panel door into a gorgeous statement piece for under $20 per door. I'm absolutely in love with the results! Keep reading to learn how to refresh your flat panel doors on a budget.

My Inspiration

Once we decided to revamp our old flat panel hollow core doors, I started researching ideas and techniques. I was surprised to find that this is a popular trend and could not wait to update all our doors! 

Step 1: Choose Your Design

There are countless options for adding trim to your door. We opted for a single rectangular box design with 1' trim, but I've also seen designs featuring two or three boxes and different style of trim. All of them look fantastic! To help us decide, we used painter's tape to outline the design on the door and confirm it was the right fit for us.

Step 2: Cut the Trim Pieces

Once the design was finalized, it was time to cut the trim. I used a miter saw to cut the pieces to the exact length and angled the edges at 45 degrees for a clean, professional look. If you’re new to power tools, don’t worry! You can use a miter box instead, which is more affordable and beginner-friendly.

Step 3: Test the Fit

Before attaching the trim, I laid the pieces out on the ground to make sure everything fit perfectly. Thankfully, everything came together just as I’d planned on the first try!

Step 4: Attach the Trim

To secure the trim to the door, I used a brad nailer, though liquid nails work just as well. If you use adhesive, you can tape the trim in place while it dries. I started by attaching the top piece, then worked my way down the sides, finishing with the bottom. If the mitered corners aren’t perfect, don’t worry—caulk will smooth out any imperfections.

Step 5: Caulk, Fill, and Paint

After attaching the trim, I filled the nail holes with wood putty. If you use adhesive, you can skip this step. Then, I caulked the edges to give the door a seamless, polished look. For the finishing touch, I painted the door using Sherwin Williams' Black Magic (SW 6991), which I absolutely adore. It’s now the go-to color for all my doors!

The Final Result

This project made a huge impact on the look of our doors. Paired with new black hardware and freshly painted white walls, the doors now look sleek and modern.

I hope this project inspires you to transform even the most basic flat panel door into something truly beautiful!