We painted our front door a new color when we refreshed the brick on the house last October, and I mentioned in that post that I used a specialty front-door paint. It’s Benjamin Moore’s Grand Entrance in the shade Tranquility, available in a satin base or an ultra-high-gloss mirror finish. After reading the product description and seeing examples, I couldn’t resist trying the high-gloss option for the first time.
Photos only hint at how luxurious this finish looks in person. The images here show the color and the shape of the door, but they don’t fully capture the deep shine and reflective quality that make the finish feel so elevated—especially against the extra-matte-painted brick.
This paint is glossy enough that you can see clear reflections. It’s the kind of finish that draws comments—our FedEx driver actually ran his hand across the door and said it looked incredible. For the record, I bought this paint myself; this isn’t a sponsored post. I’m just enthusiastic about the results.
I’ve now used this product on both sides of our front door and on several other exterior doors around the house. After painting four doors with this same color and product, I’ve picked up a few reliable tips and tricks. I also made a short video of the application process, which shows the shine more clearly than still photos.
If you’re considering this type of paint, it’s helpful to know there are ultra-premium alternatives that cost a lot more. For example, Fine Paints of Europe offers exceptionally glossy products at a much higher price point. I wasn’t ready to spend that much, so I tried Benjamin Moore’s Grand Entrance, which gives a similar mirror-like effect at a more moderate price. It’s still an investment, but when you break the cost down by doors covered, the price per door feels reasonable.
A major thing to understand about high-gloss finishes is that they show every imperfection. Prep work is essential. Sand any bumps, fill cracks, remove dirt and cobwebs, and make sure surfaces are smooth before you start. If you skip these steps, the gloss will amplify flaws rather than conceal them. I learned this after hearing about someone who paid for premium paint and a hired painter, only to have the finish look worse than the previous coat because of poor prep. The paint isn’t the issue—surface preparation and application technique are.
I was initially cautious about high-gloss paint because of warnings from pros who say it’s the most difficult sheen to apply. Still, I felt the contrast with the matte brick would be stunning, so I tried it—and I’m so glad I did. The glossy doors read as intentional and polished, and they paired beautifully with the other materials around our home.
For application, I used a high-quality 2″ angled brush on every part of each door. You might consider spraying or using a small foam roller, but with very glossy paint you’ll often end up with stipple or texture from rollers and sprayers. Long, smooth brush strokes create a subtle, pleasing texture and avoid the mottled look that can come from other tools. A professional painter I spoke with also recommended brushes for doors with this level of gloss.
When painting paneled doors, follow a consistent order for the cleanest finish:
- Start with recessed areas, painting along the grain and contours.
- Paint the raised panels next, maintaining smooth, continuous strokes.
- Finish with the large rail and stile sections, working in the same directional flow to blend brush marks.
One practical tip: when painting doors with glass, I prefer painting the glass edges and then scraping away any paint from the glass after it dries, but this particular high-gloss formula dries very hard. If you get paint on the glass, remove it within a day or two; waiting longer makes scraping much harder and dulls razor blades quickly.
The back door that used to be white now reads as a bright, glossy blue that stands out against the neutral exterior. I’ll share a wider shot in spring when the yard looks greener, but for now the glossy doors add welcome pops of color and a refined finish to both the front and back of the house.
If you’re planning to try high-gloss paint on doors, remember: prepare the surface thoroughly, use a quality angled brush, follow a consistent painting order, and address any paint on glass while the paint is still relatively fresh. With patience and care, the result is a striking, mirror-like finish that feels well worth the effort.
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