Painting Trim Painting trim is one of the many ways you can liven up interiors or exteriors. Use an accent color that complements the main colors of your wall and ceiling surfaces, or paint your trim white to embolden and emphasize the other colors. Typically, working with trim requires a brush and is slower going than painting large surfaces such as walls. Take your time &nbash; it's worth the patience.

Follow These Steps

Steps 1 - 3 of 3Print Project SheetEmail a Friend

  • Step One

    Protect your wall and floor surfaces with a wide wallboard knife, with a plastic shielding tool or masking tape.

  • Step Two

    Be sure to wipe the paint off your wallboard knife or shielding tool each time it's moved to keep paint from getting on trim and surrounding areas.

  • Step Three

    Paint deep-patterned surfaces such as ornate trim and moldings with a stiff-bristled brush, like a stenciling brush. Use small circular strokes to help penetrate into the recesses.

Skill Scale
Easy
Time Required
You can paint all the trim in an average room in about three hours.
Videos
View information, on-demand videos featuring these other related projects and features.
Quick Painting Tips How to Paint a Room Painting Techniques Applying Paint Masking
Shopping List:

tools

Paintbrushes

Flat wallboard knife or plastic shielding tool

Clean rags

materials

Latex water-based paint or oil-based enamel trim paint

Print