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Beauty content creator Sarah Bryant updated the interior of her 1910 Brooklyn rental’s metal front door with blue paint, a rounded pediment and a border made from peel-and-stick tiles on magnetic sheets. Apartment Therapy reported the project took two days and cost about $200; the magnetic backing lets Bryant remove and reuse the tiles.
Beauty content creator Sarah Bryant transformed the interior of her 1910 Brooklyn rental’s metal front door with blue paint and a border of peel-and-stick tiles attached to magnetic sheets, according to Apartment Therapy. The renter-friendly approach lets her remove the decorative tiles without a removal process and reuse them later, while the full makeover took two days and cost about $200, the report said.
Bryant told Apartment Therapy that the door was a steel one painted over many times, with unused chain locks and a beige peephole and doorbell combination. She wanted the entry to feel happier and was also interested in creating the look of an arched doorway. Before painting, she removed the chain lock, filled its holes with metal filler and worked through the accumulated paint. Sandpaper was not enough for the job, she said, so she used a metal file.
She painted the inside of the door in Bothy Blue by Farrow & Ball and added a rounded pediment above it, carrying the same paint color across the pediment to make the doorway appear taller. Bryant also used Rub ’n Buff in Antique Gold on the doorbell cover. Yellow-and-white peel-and-stick tiles form a border around the door, with magnetic sheets attached to their backs so they hold to the metal surface.
The magnetic backing took some testing. Bryant said thinner sheets were not strong enough to hold the tiles, so she switched to sheets she described as 30 millimeters thick. Apartment Therapy reported that the thicker backing supported the border and could be removed without a separate removal process. The source did not provide a breakdown of the project’s roughly $200 cost.
A Reversible Option for Rental Doors
The project shows one way a renter can personalize a frequently overlooked surface while limiting permanent changes. Because the door is metal, the magnetic backing gives the tile border a removable attachment method; that could make it easier to take the decoration down when moving, rather than scraping adhesive from the door. Bryant said she plans to reuse the tiles after removing them.
The method depends on the door being compatible with magnets and on the backing being strong enough for the tile material. It is not a universal solution for every entryway, and renters should check lease terms or ask their landlord before changing a door’s appearance. Bryant’s account describes a decorative update, not a change to the door’s locks or security function.
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The Door Before the Makeover
Apartment Therapy framed the project around a common rental-design limitation: renters may leave the inside of a front door plain to avoid risking a security deposit or because they are unsure what alterations are allowed. Bryant said the door’s worn paint, leftover chain-lock hardware and beige fixtures made the entry feel at odds with the rest of her home.
The makeover combined several separate treatments rather than relying on the tile border alone: paint, a painted pediment, a refinished doorbell cover and removable tiles. The report says the work was completed in two days for about $200. It does not give a detailed schedule or itemized spending, so those figures describe the project overall rather than the cost or duration of each step.
““The magnetic sheets used for backing the peel-and-stick tiles were easily the best hack.””
— Sarah Bryant, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Limits of the Magnetic Tile Method
The report does not say how the magnetic sheets perform over months or years, whether the tiles remain secure with frequent door use, or whether removing them leaves any marks. It also does not identify the tiles’ brand, weight or exact dimensions, making it difficult to determine whether the same backing will work with other products.
Bryant’s reported use of 30-millimeter sheets followed an unsuccessful test with thinner backing, but Apartment Therapy does not give the thinner sheets’ measurement or the door’s magnetic strength. The account is a single project, not a comparative test of products or a guarantee that this approach will work on every metal door. The source also does not say whether Bryant received landlord approval or whether the lease addressed the decorative changes.
Removal and Reuse Remain Untested
Bryant said the magnetic backing means she can take down and reuse the tiles, but the report does not describe a later removal or move-out inspection. Whether the border comes down cleanly and remains reusable will depend on the materials and their condition; that outcome has not been documented in the source.
For renters considering a similar update, the practical next steps are to confirm that the door is magnetic, test whether the chosen backing can support the tiles, and check lease rules before making changes. Apartment Therapy’s account does not provide further project updates or a follow-up on the tiles’ durability.
Key Questions
How were the tiles attached to the rental’s front door?
Bryant attached magnetic sheets to the backs of yellow-and-white peel-and-stick tiles, allowing them to hold to the metal door. She said thinner sheets did not work well enough and that she switched to sheets described as 30 millimeters thick.
Can the tile border be removed and reused?
Bryant said she can remove the magnetic-backed tiles without a removal process and reuse them. Apartment Therapy reported her plan, but did not document a later removal or test how many times the tiles can be reused.
How much did the makeover cost and how long did it take?
Apartment Therapy reported an overall cost of about $200 and a project duration of two days. It did not provide an itemized budget or a breakdown of time spent on each step.
What other changes did Bryant make to the door?
She painted the door’s interior in Farrow & Ball’s Bothy Blue, added a rounded pediment painted to match, and used Rub ’n Buff in Antique Gold on the doorbell cover. She also removed an unused chain lock and filled its holes, according to the report.
Will this method work on any rental front door?
Not necessarily. The magnetic approach requires a door that attracts magnets, and the backing must hold the tiles securely. Renters should also check their lease or ask the landlord before altering the door; the report does not establish that this method suits every door or rental agreement.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
