A beautiful door can complete the look of a room perfectly, so once it is in place it is important to maintain it in order to keep a quality finish.
It is a good idea to protect your door as soon as possible. This will help to prevent any scratches or scuffs to the woodwork. You may decide that you want a natural looking finish, in which case you should apply a few coats of a high quality wax or varnish. If you wanted a finish to match a colour scheme, then you should prime and then paint the door. Always use a high quality paint that is designed for wood. In either case always follow the manufacturers instruction to get the best finish. It is worth taking your time as this will create a wonderful entry and exit point to the room. Always sand or paint in the direction of the grain of the wood, as this will give it a smooth and seamless look.
You may not notice unless you look closely, but a door can attract all manners of dirt, especially if you have pets or young children. This will eventually make the door look dull and unloved. The key is not to leave it for too long, as stains will be harder to remove as time goes on, which may then call for a complete strip down and re-paint / refinish of the wood. Use a soft cloth, warm water and a mild soap to gently work with the grain to remove any dirt build-up. A small, unused paintbrush is perfect for getting into the trims and grooves of your door, to remove any stubborn dust.
Do not forget to give your door handles and hinges a regular polish too, as this can have an instant lifting effect if they have been looking a little dull.
