Painting the wood trim can significantly improve the overall look of your room by adding character and warmth. Plus, it’s a relatively easy and inexpensive way to update your space. So how do you go about painting wood trim? And what kind of paint should you use?
To paint wood trim, sand uneven spots with sandpaper and wipe off dust with a damp sponge. Next, tape off the area you’ll be painting, apply a primer, and allow it to dry completely before painting with oil or water-based paint.
Let’s look at how to choose and apply the best type of paint for your wood trim, the materials you’ll need, and some tips for painting over stained trim. You’ll also get a step-by-step guide on how to prep and paint your trim.
What’s the Best Type of Paint for Wood Trim?
You can use one of two types of paint on wood trim: oil-based or water-based. While both are excellent options, each has pros and cons.
Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paints are durable and provide a smooth, even finish. They’re also suitable for painting over stained wood because they block stains from seeping through the paint.
However, oil-based paints take longer to dry and require mineral spirits or paint thinner for cleanup. They also have a strong odor that can linger for several days after painting.
Some areas have banned oil-based paints because of the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) they emit. Check with your local municipality for any restrictions before using oil-based paint.
Water-Based Paint
Water-based paints such as acrylic (also called latex paints) have low VOCs and odor. They also clean up easily with soap and water and dry quickly. And they’re less likely to yellow over time than oil-based paints.
However, they don’t always provide as smooth of a finish as oil-based paints and aren’t as good at blocking stains.
Finish
The two options for trim are semi-gloss and satin. Shinier paints, like high-gloss, can highlight imperfections and are more difficult to touch up.
Semi-gloss
Semi-gloss paint is reflective enough to make your space appear brighter but isn’t as shiny as high-gloss paint, so it’s great for small rooms or areas where you want to make a space appear larger.
It also hides fingerprints and other smudges better than a satin finish. However, if you choose semi-gloss paint, note that more coats will result in a higher sheen.
Satin
Satin is a good choice if you want to add some dimension to your woodwork without a lot of shine. It’s also a good choice for high-traffic areas because it’s more durable than a flat or eggshell finish and easier to clean. And it still has some shine to it, so it won’t make your room feel too dark.
However, it’s not as easy to clean as a semi-gloss or high-gloss finish, but it does hide fingerprints and smudges better.
Color
With color, there are no hard and fast rules. Instead, it depends on your wall color and lighting, your style, and the overall look you’re looking for in the space.
An untinted white or off-white paint, like this one from Prestige Paints (on Amazon), is always a good choice because it goes with most color schemes and makes the space feel brighter.
But if you want to add some contrast or make a statement, consider painting your trim in a bolder color. Just keep in mind that darker colors can make your space appear smaller.
Other Materials Needed for Painting Wood Trim
After selecting your paint, it’s time to gather the rest of the materials you’ll need for the project. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need:
- Paint Primer: A primer, like this one from Zinsser (on Amazon), helps the paint adhere and blocks stains from seeping through the paint. Choose one that is compatible with your oil or water-based paint.
- Painter’s Tape: Choose a high-quality painter’s tape to protect surfaces you don’t want to be painted, like walls, floors, and molding. This one from ScotchBlue (on Amazon) adheres well and removes without leaving residue.
- Sandpaper (120, 100, and 80 grit): This creates a smooth surface for the paint to adhere to and can remove old paint.
- Drop Cloths: Protects surfaces from paint drips and spills.
- Sponge: Used for cleaning the trim before sanding and painting.
- Tack Cloth: Used for wiping down surfaces to remove dust.
- Spackle: To repair any cracks or holes in the trim.
- Putty Knife: To apply spackle.
- Paint Trays: Holds paint while you work.
- Paint Sticks: To stir the paint.
- 2-Inch Angled Paint Brushes: An angled brush, like this one from Purdy (on Amazon), is best for painting trim because it can get into tight spaces and provides more control than a roller.
Step One: Prepare the Trim for Paint
Now that you have all the materials, you can start prepping the trim for paint.
Clean the Trim
You want the surface to be clean before sanding so that the sandpaper will work more effectively. Clean the trim with a damp sponge. If there is dirt or grime build-up on the trim, use an abrasive sponge to remove it.
Sand the Trim
If the area is uneven or blemished, sand it down with 80-grit sandpaper and smooth it with 100 or 120-grit. Use 120-grit sandpaper to remove the shine from areas that are already smooth.
Spackle the Holes
Fill in any holes or cracks with the spackle. Allow the spackle to fully dry before smoothing down the surface with 120-grit sandpaper. Then wipe the area with a tack cloth or damp sponge to remove dust.
Tape Off Trim Edges
Apply painter’s tape to protect the edges of the trim along the wall and ceiling. Press the edges firmly with a putty knife or your fingers so that paint doesn’t seep under the tape.
Use one long strip as often as possible instead of multiple shorter strips so that you don’t have to worry about paint bleeding through the cracks.
Step Two: Prime the Trim
Be sure the primer is compatible with the paint you will use; otherwise, the paint may not adhere correctly.
Before applying the primer, mix it thoroughly with a paint stick to help avoid any streaks in the primer coat. Then, fill a paint tray with enough primer to cover the area you will be painting.
Use Angle Brush
Use your angled brush to apply the primer to the trim, being careful not to overload the brush.
You want to avoid dripping primer onto the wall or floor, so start with just enough primer to cover about half an inch to one inch of the bristles. After loading the brush, use the side of the tray to remove any excess.
Start at the Upper Corner and Move Down
Once you have a good amount of primer on the brush, start at the upper corner of the trim and work your way down. Follow the wood grain and get into all the nooks and crannies. Doing this helps the primer adhere better and results in a smoother finish on the trim.
Apply the Second Coat
After applying the first coat of primer, let it dry for the time recommended by the manufacturer. In most cases, this is around 24 hours. Then, apply a second coat if you can still see any exposed wood or spackle areas after the primer has dried.
Sand the Trim
Once the primer is completely dry, use 120-grit sandpaper and sand the trim to remove any visible brush strokes or paint drips. Wipe away any sanding dust with a damp sponge or tack cloth before painting.
Step Three: Paint the Trim
As with the primer, start by mixing the paint and pouring enough into a clean paint tray to cover the area.
Use your angled brush to apply the paint to the trim. Again, be careful not to overload the brush. Use short, horizontal brush strokes and work in small sections until you’ve covered a few feet of trim.
Click here for our complete wood-painting guide.
Make Long Brush Strokes
Once you’ve gone over the area with short strokes, without adding more paint to the brush, use a single long brush stroke to smooth the entire area to give the trim a consistent appearance.
Depending on the width of your trim, you may need to make two or three long brush strokes side-by-side to cover the entire area.
Repeat and Finish
Repeat this process until you’ve finished painting all the trim.
Before the paint dries, remove the painter’s tape by slowly pulling it back on itself at a 45-degree. Remove the tape before the paint has dried to avoid peeling paint off the trim.
Tips for Painting Over Stained Trim
If you’re painting over stained trim, there are a few things you need to do to ensure a smooth and professional-looking finish.
- Instead of sanding, degloss the surface with a chemical wipe, like this one from Klean-Strip (on Amazon).
- Before using a deglosser, clean the area with a soft sponge and a detergent, like Palmolive or Simple Green, to remove any residue that could prevent the deglosser from working correctly.
- Let the wood air dry completely before deglossing.
- Then, to degloss the surface, ensure the room is well-ventilated and wear gloves and eye protection. Then, saturate a lint-free rag with deglosser, and wipe down the surface in slow, even strokes.
- Follow the timing on the label to allow the surface to dry completely before painting.
- After the time has elapsed, use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe off any residue thoroughly.
- Once you’ve deglossed the surface, apply a high-quality primer that will block stains, like this one from INSL-X (on Amazon). Using a good primer is crucial because the old stain will likely bleed through the new paint if you don’t.
- Once the primer sets according to the manufacturer’s directions, apply two coats of paint designed for trim and cabinets. These paints are more durable than regular wall paint, so they can withstand wear and tear and adhere better to stained surfaces.