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Adding foils to your door hangers is a great way to bring life and a little bit of texture to your design. No foil on hand? That’s okay! In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a faux gold foil look!

This project is bold, textured, and layered with the prettiest greens and a pop of metallic gold. And the best part? It looks fancy, but with the right techniques, still beginner-friendly. 

It might look messy in the middle. That is normal. It will get uglier before it gets better. Just keep going. Trust the process!

Supplies You’ll Need for This Faux Gold Foil Door Hanger

Here is everything mentioned in the tutorial so you can gather your supplies before you begin. You can find most of these items at your local craft store, or on my Amazon storefront. 

For the Wood Base

• Round wooden door hanger blank, approximately 16 inches
• Optional: 12-inch wooden letter (from Hobby Lobby or Walmart) if you’re not tracing your own

For the Paint Colors

I always use DecoArt Americana — they’re a classic!

• Hauser Dark Green
• Jewel Green
• Teal Mint
• Light Buttermilk
• Vintage Brass Metallic (for faux gold foil look)
• Burlap (light tan for distressing letter)
• Dark Chocolate (optional for added depth)

For the Brushes

• Large flat tip brush
• Small flat tip brush (about ¼ inch wide)
• Dry brush with frayed bristles for texture

Other Supplies Used 

• Something to hold your paint, like an egg carton or an ice-cube tray
• Water cup
• Paper towels
• Hair dryer or heat tool
• Baby wipes
• Graphite paper (dark or white)
• Ballpoint pen for tracing
• Printed monogram template (created in Canva or similar)
• Optional: Paint pen for edge detail

Step #1: Prep Your Paint and Brush

Pour your green shades into a foam egg carton. This keeps your colors separated and prevents them from drying out too quickly. Lightly dampen your large flat brush. It should feel moist, not dripping. This helps the paint glide smoothly without flooding your surface.

One thing to remember: this is abstract painting. We are not staying inside the lines. We are going with our gut, so it doesn’t have to be perfect!

Step #2: Start the Abstract Color Blocking

Begin with Hauser Dark Green. Paint random sections across the door hanger. Go all the way to the edges so you do not leave raw wood showing. Feather the paint upward using light strokes.

Feathering means applying heavier paint at the base and letting it fade out as your brush runs out of paint.

Do not aim for perfect shapes. Avoid perfect blobs. Let the colors flow. (If you are a perfectionist, this might feel uncomfortable. That is okay. Trust the process!)

Step #3: Add Jewel Green for Depth

Without rinsing your brush, dip it into the Jewel Green. Add it to areas that do not have the dark green. Let the colors overlap and lightly blend.

If the colors start looking muddy, stop and dry your project before continuing. You want layering, not blending everything into one color.

Check for balance. If one area feels heavy, add color elsewhere to even it out.

Step #4: Add Buttermilk for Background Interest

Rinse your brush, then lightly feather in Light Buttermilk in a few scattered spots. This creates contrast and gives the background more dimension.

Don’t worry if it looks strange. We will layer over it later!

Dry your surface before moving to the next step. 

Step #5: Add Teal Mint for a Pop of Color

Now bring in Teal Mint. Add small pops in areas that need brightness. Cover any remaining wood grain. At this stage, you are building layers. If you lose too much of one color, you can always bring it back later.

Step back. Look at the whole piece instead of focusing on one spot. That makes a big difference!

Step #6: Create the Faux Gold Foil Effect

Now for the fun part!

Using Vintage Brass Metallic, lightly feather small sections where you want gold accents. Instead of smooth brush strokes, use a gentle pouncing or stippling motion. This creates texture and mimics real gold leaf.

Allow the gold to become slightly tacky. Then lightly pounce again in the center of those areas to create a crumpled foil look. Keep your strokes mostly vertical for a cohesive design.

Let it dry completely before moving forward.

Step #7: Bring the Greens Back to the Front

Switch to a smaller brush. Revisit Hauser Dark Green and Jewel Green to deepen certain areas and bring them forward. The goal isn’t to add new sections, but enhance what’s already there. 

If one color feels too dominant, balance it with another. This is where the magic happens. Layering builds richness and depth!

Step #8: Add Texture with a Dry Brush Technique

Grab a dry brush with separated bristles. Dip lightly into one of your green shades and remove most of the paint on a paper towel. Lightly streak over areas of the same color.

This creates beautiful texture and visual movement. You can streak over the gold, too for a layered, artistic effect. Do this with multiple greens until you feel satisfied with how it looks. 

Step #9: Transfer Your Monogram

Create and print your monogram using Canva or another design tool. Place the graphite paper shiny side down on your door hanger. Position your printed letter on top and trace with a ballpoint pen.

Carefully lift to check your transfer before removing everything.

Step #10: Paint the Monogram

Using Light Buttermilk and a small flat brush, paint inside your traced letter. Apply one coat, dry it completely, then apply a second coat for full coverage. This bold letter will be your focal point, so make sure it stands out against the background.

Step #11: Distress the Letter for Dimension

Texture makes it feel custom and handmade!

Using a dry brush technique again, lightly apply Burlap over the letter for subtle distressing. Add just a tiny touch of Dark Chocolate if you want a rustic look. If you go too heavy, layer a bit more buttermilk on top to soften it.

Step #12: Optional Edge Detail

Using a paint pen, draw a thin line around the edge of your door hanger.

For smoother lines:

• Do not move your wrist
• Keep your arm straight
• Lean back in your chair to pull the line

You can add small slash marks or dots for extra character. Totally optional. But super cute!

Yay! You Just Finished a Faux Gold Foil Door Hanger!

And just like that, you have a bold, layered, abstract green and gold monogram door hanger that looks high-end and unique. Remember, painting is supposed to be relaxing. If you feel stressed, pause. Dry your project. Step back and look at the whole piece. 

Sometimes we are our own harshest critics.

Want More Step-by-Step Door Hanger Tutorials?

If you loved this abstract painting technique and want more guided door hanger lessons, encouragement, and feedback from women just like you, come join us inside the Painter’s Clubhouse!

Inside you’ll find:

• Monthly door hanger tutorials
• Step-by-step video lessons
• A private Facebook community
• Live Zoom calls with all kinds of door hanger fun
• Real encouragement from real women

It is more than painting. It’s connection. Confidence. Creative joy. You do not have to figure this out alone.

Learn more about the Painter’s Clubhouse here.