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Do you have door knobs that function, but are not the look you want for your home? I’m going to show you how you can update them on a budget and in just a few hours!!

Did you know that you can paint your door knobs? Yes, I said PAINT! Anytime I have a space or item I want to change, refresh and update- paint is my first choice! Paint is inexpensive, easy to use and gives quick results!

The door knobs in my home are the existing ones from our 1990 build. While they still functioned, the shiny brass just isn’t my style.When we moved in we updated the all the door knobs on the main level with brand new oil rubbed bronze ones. There were only a few interior ones to do and we wanted them to match the new ones we added to the exterior doors on that same level. However we have A LOT of door knobs on our upstairs level. Bedroom doors, closet doors, and bathroom doors … it all adds up. So rather than buy all new… I decided I would spray paint them for just the cost of spray paint!

So what did I do and how is it holding up?

First let’s gather our supplies:

Supplies:

• 220 grit sandpaper
•  TSP substitute 
• spray primer
• spray paint
• spray sealer

Directions:

The first step is to remove the door knobs. For interior door knobs, there is a small push button on the underside of one side of the knob. Use a small Flathead screwdriver to push the button in while simultaneously sliding the knob off. Once the knob is off, the round plate should slide off also and then the front of the knob and round plate should easily slide off. You can also remove the strike plate to paint it too. (Now is also a great time to freshen up your door paint if it’s needed.)

 After the knobs are removed, you need to clean them thoroughly with a TSP substitute. Once clean and dry, you will want to lightly sand the surface to give the paint some “tooth” to grip to. Once sanded, wipe clean to remove any sanding dust. 

Next up is primer. I like to lay mine on cardboard boxes and a drop cloth to protect the surface you are working on. Since I am painting my door knobs flat black I chose a black primer.  I do 2 light coats of primer. (*TIP: doing 2-3 light coats is better than one heavy one. Heavy coats can cause runs and drips.) Make sure to get all sides and angles- you may need to flip them over between coats. Be sure to let them dry thoroughly between coats.

 
After the primer is dry, you will need to apply two light coats of spray paint (in the color and finish of your choice). Remember to turn/flip the knobs to get all sides and angles. Let dry thoroughly between each coat.

Once the coats of paint are dry, you will then apply 2-3 light coats of sealer. Since I want my knobs to have a flat/matte finish, I chose both a flat spray paint and matte sealer. 

Now, you may be thinking… does spray paint really need a sealer? Isn’t it durable enough on its own? Well.. in a prior home, I painted outdated knobs but didn’t do the sanding or the sealer steps and they did not hold up. They quickly scratched and showed signs of wear with light use. So doing those two extra steps had made a huge difference in the overall durability of the finish.

I let the knobs dry for at least 24 hours before reinstalling them. 
Once they are completely dry, reinstall and stand back and admire your fresh new knobs …all for just the cost of spray paint!!!

I hope you’ll come back next time for more budget friendly DIY’s, decor, recipes and all the in between.