How to Properly Paint Trim

Painting the trim is a popular project. It can change the look of a room, and it is a subtle way of making the room look put together and elegant. If you are putting trim on for the first time, you can spray it before you install it. Otherwise, you will want to paint it with a brush. Continue reading to learn how to properly paint trim. 

Start by Gathering Your Supplies

First, you need to gather everything you need to get started. You only need a few basic items, including the following:

• Painter’s tape
• Drop cloth
• Paint brush
• Sanding sponge
• Shop-vac
• Caulk and caulk gun
• Spackling paste

The extent of your project can vary depending on how much trim you are painting and how much prep work you need to do. Normally, a bedroom that is 15’ x 15’ will take between four and six hours for prep and painting the trim. 

Prep the Room

Once you have your supplies, you should prep the room. You can place a drop cloth on the floor. If you are painting baseboards, you can tape the floor up to the bottom of the trim. If you have carpet, you can place the tape on the carpet right up under the baseboard. For your crown molding, window trim, and door trim, you will tape around it so that paint won’t get on the walls or the ceiling. 

Clean and Prep the Trim

You can use your shop vac to get any dust off of the trim, and if it is really dirty, you might need to use warm water with soap to clean it. Make sure that the trim is clean and dry before you move on. Once it is clean, you should fill in any nail holes with your spackling paste. You can fill in any space between the trim and the walls with caulk. Once this is done, sand your trim. This will smooth the spots where you filled in nail holes, and you can also smooth the surface so that the paint will go on evenly. 

Prime and Paint the Trim

Once you finish prepping the trim, you can get your primer. Most people use water-based latex paint inside of the home because it is easier to use and gives off fewer chemical fumes. 

Use your paintbrush and start applying the primer. Make sure that you do long strokes that move the length of the trim. You want to paint it evenly and avoid having drips or streaks. Let the primer dry, and then you can start painting. You can brush on the first coat, and be sure to take your time and avoid drips. 

When you finish your first coat, you need to let it dry. Then, you can move to the final coat. Just as with the first coat, make sure that you apply the paint evenly and avoid any dripping or running. Once you finish, make sure that you let the paint dry before you clean up.