After you see my painted metal storm door you will want to paint your storm door too. I'll show you how I painted the metal and my wood front door too!
I painted our front door red about 15 years ago. I think it's the first time I painted a door. Let me tell you....when you use red paint it takes several coats of paint to get good coverage. Or maybe I just didn't know what I was doing. I've learned a few things about paint since then and I still have a lot to learn.
Anyway It's time for a paint change. We are slowly upping the curb appeal of our home. We updated the house shutters and the light fixtures on each side of the door this year. The red paint on the door is oil-based so it needed priming. 
I used Glidden Gripper Primer in Grey. I find the gray paint color works well under any paint color and is easier to cover than white primer. They don't make the grey primer anymore so I have them tint the white primer for me. Update May 2021- They no longer make the Glidden Gripper or it's not named Glidden Gripper. It is now called PPG Gripper and you can find it at Home Depot.
I chose Behr premium Plus Ultra paint and primer for the new paint finish. When doing a job like this I like to be extra sure and prime, prime, prime. Behr Ultra goes on smooth and doesn't chip off.
Before painting I taped off the door knob with painters tape. I removed the kick plate and the door knocker. They needed to be updated and that's a post for a later day.
Door primed and ready for paint. I applied one coat of primer, just enough to give the top coat something to grip to. Now about that shiny brass hardware I painted. I'll give you a preview!
This is how the door knocker looked before painting. And yes I know it's upside down thanks to one of my on-the-ball readers. I'm a little nutty sometimes.
And it's still upside down but isn't the color much better! See the spray paint makeover project here.
This is how the front door looked after the paint job and the hardware spray paint makeover. I hated the look of the white metal around the glass storm door. It really stood out against the blue door so it got me to thinking. I asked my husband if he thought the metal would paint up ok. He said go for it.
To tell you the truth I wasn't sure this paint project would turn out okay but I wanted to give it a try anyway. I'm glad I did. I've often looked at the frame around the glass storm door wondering how it would look painted to match the front door paint. Now I know.
I taped off all areas I didn’t want to paint accidentally. I’m a very messy painter. Painter's tape has saved many many times. The shelf on the step ladder was a great place to set my paint and work tools.
I decided to paint the handle and door bell the same blue color. Didn't know if the paint would stick to them either but might as well try it. I also primed this door. You can never go wrong when starting a paint project with a coat of primer. I painted all of the weather stripping, metal door casing, and the inside casing between the storm door and the front door blue.
The only thing I didn't paint was the inside frame of the storm door. I guess I should have painted it too but hey, I don't see that when looking at the door from outside. The painted metal storm door looks great. Why didn't I think of painting it sooner.
The white vintage iron posts really stood out once both doors were painted blue. The JTS painted the house shutters brown and I painted the iron porch posts. Much better now. We also changed out our old, sad, rusty, exterior light fixtures on either side of the door. It's really easy to change light fixtures. I can even do it myself.
The exterior is shaping up. We need to do something about the landscaping. The shrubs are original to the house and the house was built in 1965. We've lost a tree or two to storms and luckily they didn't fall on the house.
Love the brown shutters and blue door much better than the white shutters, red door, and shiny hardware. What do you think of the makeover? I can’t believe I didn’t get a before picture of the front of the house.
The door was painted in 2012 and this is how it looks in 2021...
No chipping, no scratches, no fading that I can tell. I'm getting ready to paint it again.....after we finish the interior of the house and this Fall when the weather is cooler. I just need to decide on a color.
I also painted our metal back door after this project turned out so great. You can see the back door makeover here. We've been painting the interior of our house and using a paint sprayer to paint the closet doors is so easy!!..... video below....
Click here to learn How To Paint Outdoor House Shutters....the painless way.
As always thanks for being here and have a great day, Kathy
sam
love this!! did you just use regular latex paint??
Kathy Owen
Yes, but prime first.
Janet
Great minds MUST think a like! I was just in the middle of painting MY two storm doors to match my newly painted doors when your post showed up in my mail box!!! Yes, the paint gives the entranceway a WAY more updated appearance! Nice to know someone else was performing the same chore!!!!
Kathy Owen
YES!
Kathleen Hicks
Wow you sure have followers that love you-I do not have a storm door, live in Ca.(sorry) and my front door is wonderful on it's own, it's was home made over forty yrs ago and has black strap hinges and such. BUT I sure wish I could have a red front door like you did. The blue is beautiful and painting the storm door was genius.
Kathy Owen
Thanks Kathleen. Your front door sounds very nice.
Christina Woodcock
Love the blue Kathy! My door is red right now, but this makes me want to change it!
Kay Hess Grogg
Thanks for this post. I painted our front door red, many long years ago and changed the hardware many years afterwards. Now we have a white space around the door handle. This inspires me to get moving and repaint the door and the storm door to all match.
Tell me about the ladder you use. I would like to have a little paint ladder with a shelf for the paint can.
Thanks,
Kay
Kathy Owen
I know, I'm so ready to paint the door again but it's too hot right now. We've had the ladder forever. Check at your local discount stores or hardware stores.
Laney
Thanks for the post. My double front doors and storm doors are very similar to yours, and have given me the push I needed to move forward with painting the doors. Original color is almost same shade of blue, with the storm door a dark brown alloy metal. Brick front, almost same as yours. And, we had the ironwork posts. We covered them in wood, boxed and added some nice trim work. The scale of the new posts is much better with the wooden posts now. Wish I could send you a photo, as the fronts are very similar. Thanks again!!
Kathy Owen
Yes!! I want to wrap our posts in wood. Send a pick to my email address. [email protected]
Bonnie
Love the door and the hints on painting. I am painting our front door tomorrow. Just needed some tips on what to pain the space between our front door and the storm door.Storm door is green, brand new. Painting the door a reddish brown. Just didnt know what to do with the space between, white or the color of the front door. After reading your post, am going with the same color as the door. Since the screen door is green, think it would look odd to paint that space white. Thanks for the tips.
Janet
Did you use a special kind of paint for metal on the storm door?
Michelle
What color did you use for the front door? I love it!
Sonya
Hi, How is your paint holding up on your storm door? It looks beautiful.
We want to do the same, but nervous about paint chipping.
Thanks!
Marie
I am wondering the same thing! How has the painted storm door held up over time?
Thanks!
Kathy Owen
I'm going to take photos this week and do a post about the door. It looks as good now as the day I painted it!
lisa
Perfect! My storm door is very OLD and very UGLY and is dire need of TLC. This is the perfect way to give the old girl a face lift! Can't wait to stop by the store for new paint on the way home!! THANK YOU for a great tutorial 🙂
catherine
What is the blue paint color? I love it.
Kathy Owen
I don't know off the top of my head. I have to see if the paint is still in my workshop or if I used it all!!
Nancy Kay
I also love the blue you chose and was wondering.
Elizabeth
I have read this post about four or five times deciding if I have the guts to try it out. We bought a house last fall and the previous owners had a teal front door (not so bad) with a hunter green (circa 1990's style) storm door. I am sick of the clashing and want to paint it all a neutral - plus the front entryway is so dark, it needs to be brighter! I am going to try to convince my husband that this will be an easy project! Thank you!
Kathy Owen
It really is an easy project Elizabeth...hope you convince your husband. Let me know 🙂
Rhonda
Any suggestions on a metal door that is starting to peel from the heat & sun. I don't know if I can get it all off and down to bare metal.
Kathy Owen
The only thing I can think to do is to sand off all the paint that you can, then apply a good primer and paint. I used Glidden Grey Gripper and Behr paint and primer all in one. Hope this helps. Let me know if you repaint the door!
Dave Bohlander
Since the heat from the sun is already peeling the paint, you might try a heat gun to speed up what's already happening. They're only about $30, so they're a cheap, reusable solution. Alternatively, there are chemical paint strippers that work quite quickly. Just make sure to do it outside because of the fumes!
Kathy Owen
Thanks for the tip Dave.
Sue
Kathy: I cannot tell you how many times I have flipped back to this posting about painting the metal storm door on my house. I had painted the front door a brilliant emerald green/turquoise and wasn't happy that I could not really enjoy it because the black storm door stood in the way. Today I got up the nerve to just "go fer it" Almost step by step following your pictures and notes: taping, priming and now waiting for that to dry to put on my colorful, final coat. My family just kinda shake their collective heads when I tell 'em what I'm up to with paint because there's hardly a surface that goes untouched. Especially since the town I live in has a recycle/reuse area with all the free paint one could ever want...in a multitude of colors, finishes. Don't like what you've done, take it back and find something else. Thank you for your inspirations!
Kathy Owen
Glad I could inspire you. I know what you mean about family. My husband gave up on my a long time ago! I wish I could get free paint...nice.
Sue
Kathy: I cannot tell you how many times I have flipped back to this posting about painting the metal storm door on my house. I had painted the front door a brilliant emerald green/turquoise and wasn't happy that I could really enjoy it because the black storm door stood in the way. Today I got up the nerve to just "go fer it" Almost step by step following your pictures and notes: taping, priming and now waiting for that to dry to put on my colorful, final coat. My family just kinda shake their collective heads when I tell 'em what I'm up to with paint because there's hardly a surface that goes untouched. Especially since the town I live in has a recycle/reuse area with all the free paint one could ever want...in a multitude of colors, finishes. Don't like what you've done, take it back and find something else. Thank you for your inspirations!
Linnya
What I like is that the post disappear when painted dark. I have been thinking of painting my front door but was not sure due to the storm door now I know what to do.
BTW love your trips to the Nashville Market.
chris aka monkey
i was just washing the storm door glass yesterday and with our newly painted orange door the old bronze storm door looks really poopy...i love you lol never thought about painting it thanks xx
Murraywells
Wow nice idea and information you shared with us.
Actually before some time i was thinking to paint my doors.It will be very beneficial for us.Thanku for posting
Megan
It turned out terrific, Kathy! 🙂
gail
looks great! im getting ready to paint my door and screen door. im painting them in split complementary. door will be a nice pop out blue and the screen door will be a light orange! hope it looks as good as yours!
Kathy Owen
oh, I'm liking the color combo!
Amanda
Looks great! We are just starting to get a lot of outdoor updating done. We bought the house then had three babies... Now that the oldest are turning three and the youngest one we are able to get to these projects. I was looking for something about painting the hardware and storm doors. Thanks!
Emily B
This is exactly what I am wanting to do, but am concerned about using a brush to paint the metal storm door we have. I have heard it is difficult to not get drips etc. Did sand yours first? Thanks for info!!
Kathy Owen
Emily, I didn't sand the door and I used a brush, no problems at all. good luck!
Amy Marshall
It looks so different! It looks great with the matching storm door! I'm thinking about painting my front door black one of these days so thanks for the inspiration!
Amy
Kathy
Thanks Amy, I like black but if your door gets a lot of sun and gets hot I wouldn't paint it black. That might be asking for trouble!
Julie
It looks terrific, what a difference paint makes! You have a good eye to realize what colours would look best.
Kathy
Thanks Julie, you're so sweet
Laura @ Our Prairie Home
What a difference paint can make! It really changes the whole feel. Love it! (And love those grandchildren's toys - our first in on the way. :D)
Kathy
Thank you and congratulations on the grandchild. They're the best!
Sandra
It looks great~love the shutters,and painting the posts makes a completely different look~very nice!