You’ve looked at those doors for years. They’re scuffed, maybe yellowing from age, or covered in layers of thick, past paint jobs. One door might have a peeling finish, while another has dings from furniture bumps or a past remodel. And now that you’re freshening up your space, they just don’t look right anymore.
But replacing every interior door isn’t exactly cheap or easy. It takes time, and usually touches more parts of the home than you think, like trim, hardware, and even flooring transitions. Still, you want the end result to feel clean, updated, and worth your investment. So what’s the better move: should you paint those doors or replace them?
At Brush & Roll Painting in Omaha, we’ve been helping homeowners with this exact decision since 1996. Although we are confident in our painting services, we know some doors are absolutely worth keeping and some just aren’t. And we’ve walked hundreds of homeowners through that choice.
This article will walk you through everything you need to consider when deciding whether to paint or replace your interior doors. We’ll talk about cost, condition, style, and resale. You’ll leave knowing what’s right for your home—and if you decide painting makes sense, you’ll also understand what a professional painter should include in the process.
This is the first and most important question. If your doors are structurally sound, meaning they close properly, aren’t cracked or warped, and haven’t been damaged by water or impact, painting is usually a good option.
But here are a few signs that a door should probably be replaced:
For solid-core doors or real wood doors, a bit of wear and tear doesn’t mean it needs to be thrown out. These can usually be sanded smooth and painted for a like-new result.
Painting a door might seem simple, but there’s a difference between slapping on a coat of latex paint and having it professionally cleaned, sanded, primed, and painted for a smooth, factory-finish appearance.
At Brush & Roll Painting in Omaha, the cost to professionally paint an interior door is typically between $190–$250 per door. That includes full preparation, minor repairs, sanding, and a quality paint product, like Command by Benjamin Moore, designed to hold up to fingerprints, knocks, and everyday life.
Door casings, those trim pieces surrounding your door frame, can also be painted for $100–$150 per side, depending on the size and detail.
Compare that to the cost of a new interior door. A standard hollow-core door from a hardware department store might cost $80–$150 just for the slab. But that doesn’t include painting, hardware, hinges, or installation. And if your current door is a different size or style, replacing it may require new trim or even some carpentry work, which quickly adds up.
Here’s a quick cost breakdown Omaha homeowners might expect for a full interior door replacement:
So even on the low end, replacing just one door can cost around $400–$700, depending on the type and level of finish. Multiply that by multiple doors in your home, and you’re easily looking at several thousand dollars.
Painting, by comparison, keeps the structure in place and gives you a fresh, updated look without tearing things out.
In most cases, yes, as long as it’s done right. A professionally painted door can look as smooth and clean as a brand-new one, especially when sprayed with high-quality products and properly prepped.
Professional painters will:
This process is especially effective on solid wood or MDF doors. Even old golden oak or yellowed white doors can be transformed into sharp, modern black, white, or soft neutral tones that match today’s style.
If you’re already painting the doors, it’s often worth painting the casings too. Fresh paint on trim helps the whole area look clean and intentional. Leaving yellowed or chipped trim next to a freshly painted door just draws more attention to what wasn’t done.
And while some people choose to replace their trim, most standard door frames can be repainted successfully for a fraction of the cost. The same product used for the door can be used on the casing, ensuring a consistent finish.
Neutrals tend to win out for doors. All versions of white, soft grays, and beiges are popular, and they go with nearly any wall color.
If you’re keeping your existing doors, just make sure the new paint color complements your walls and trim. A professional painter can often help you pick a color with a color consultation, usually free of charge.
Freshly painted doors and trim absolutely make an impression during a home sale. When buyers walk into a home and see old, beat-up doors, it makes the entire home feel more worn out than it really is.
On the flip side, a smooth white or modern-painted door gives the impression of a well-cared-for home. It’s not the biggest renovation, but it’s one of those subtle updates that make everything feel more finished.
Painting your doors and trim is also an excellent way to modernize your home without changing the floors, cabinets, or furniture.
Sometimes it’s not the color or the condition, it’s the style itself. Many older homes in Omaha were built with six-panel doors or raised panel styles that now feel a bit out of place in homes with modern updates. Others might have faux wood detail, carved arches, or design choices that just don’t match your home’s current look.
If you’re feeling stuck with a style that no longer works for you, painting won’t necessarily fix the issue. It can help freshen up the appearance, but it won’t change the actual shape or structure of the door.
In these cases, replacement may be the better choice, especially if you want a minimalist or shaker-style look that’s more common in new builds or remodeled homes. New door styles include:
If your current door style is something you’ve never liked, or it doesn’t match your vision for your space, replacing it may be worth the investment, especially if you’re already redoing trim or other finishes nearby.
Wood grain can either be a beautiful design element or something you want to hide. The good news is, you have options beyond just painting.
If you like the natural look of wood, but the finish is outdated, you can refinish the doors with a new stain or wood tone instead of covering them with paint. This works best on solid wood doors or high-quality veneers. The door is sanded down to raw wood, and a new stain is applied to give it a richer, more modern color. Popular choices today include darker walnut tones, warm mid-browns, or cooler ash shades that update golden oak or orange-tinted wood.
On the other hand, if you’re ready to say goodbye to the grain altogether, you can have the sanded and painted for a completely smooth finish.
If your interior doors are in decent condition, painting is often the smarter and more budget-friendly choice. You’ll get a fresh, modern look without replacing hardware, cutting new casings, or trying to match door sizes. Most Omaha homeowners can paint all their doors and trim for a fraction of the cost of full replacement—and still enjoy the same updated feel.
At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve helped Omaha homeowners make this decision for decades. We’re here to help you decide whether painting or replacing is best for your home, without pressure. If you’re leaning toward painting and want it done the right way, click the button below to get a quote.
And if you're still budgeting, click the button below to head to our Interior Painting Pricing Calculator to see what a project like yours might cost.