How to Paint Room Trim

Painting a room is a project that most people can tackle on their own. It can be easy to paint the walls, but things may get tricky when it's time to paint the trim. Painting the trim requires a delicate touch and some patience on the part of the painter.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small angled paintbrush
• Primer
• Semi gloss finish paint
• Wet sponge

1. Remove the trim from the walls if it is not impractical. Otherwise, you can paint the trim directly on the wall, it just requires more time.

2. Paint the ceiling and the walls first. Before you paint the trim of a room, the other areas of the room should be completed.

3. Get a small angled paintbrush, approximately 2 inches wide, to paint the trim. Use this paintbrush to apply a coat of primer. This is necessary if it is an unfinished piece of wood trim.

4. Allow the trim to dry for several hours if you used the primer. Pick out a semi gloss finish paint for the top coat.

5. Use careful strokes to paint the trim. Start at the top of the baseboard and then make your way down. Keep a wet sponge handy in the case that you get paint on the walls or the floors. Paint only small sections at a time and then go back over them if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• It is usually easier to purchase trim that is already primed and ready to be painted. This type of wood can save you time and energy.
• If you do decide to paint the trim first, you need to cover the area with masking tape while painting the walls. This protects it from paint stains that can occur.