How To Paint Outdated Glass Door & Window Frames In 7 Easy Steps

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When we moved into our new house, I knew the sliding glass door frame would need to be repainted. As someone with a light, boho decor style, I knew the dark red stain wouldn’t match my vibe. I’ve been putting off the project because I thought it would take forever and be challenging. Last weekend I decided to tackle it, and I was so shocked at how simple it was! And the best part - it only took two hours.

I’ve broken the project down into seven easy-to-follow, budget-friendly steps:

1. Clean with Krud Kutter. You’ll want to get all of the fingerprints, oil, and dust off to help make sanding easier.

2. Lightly sand (I did this sanding by hand to minimize mess) with 120 grit and clean again. This time, focus on getting all the sanding dust off so the paint goes on smoothly.

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3. Tape the outer edges of the window. To save time, I don’t tape the glass. If you get paint on the glass, you can use these razors to gently scrape it off (and it won’t scratch your glass!).

4. If the frame is wood, paint it with Melange Jett Black ONE (use code MAGGIE10 for 10% off your Melange purchase!). If the frame is metal, either get good circulation and protect your home from overspray or remove the doors, take them outside, and use spray paint. The project should only take 1-2 cans, and I recommend using Rustoleum (the only spray paint I’ll ever use!).

5. Remove the tape and let the paint cure/dry for at least 24 hours (but read your paint instructions to confirm the time needed).

6. After the paint cures/dries, open and close the door repeatedly, as it may be sticky and hard to operate for a while (but eventually, it should loosen up).

7. For added protection, you can seal with polycrylic. When using Melange ONE, you don’t need to seal - the paint has sealant in it!

I am SO happy with the way this project turned out. It might just be a small amount of paint, but it makes a HUGE difference and helps the room look more modern and updated. You could easily tackle this in one day - and you could do multiple windows in one weekend!

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