Paint Wood Trim Tutorial–ORC Week 2
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I’m sharing a detailed tutorial today for exactly how to paint wood trim. You might be familiar with my painting process because I’ve shown you how I transform furniture. Well, it’s important to follow all the steps and paint trim the old fashioned way so that it really lasts. Methods that skip steps will chip and look bad after only a couple years. It seems all I’ve been doing this week is painting trim! If you’re joining me from the One Room Challenge, you can say hooray with me as I check that off my to-do list for my kitchen makeover.
- Paint walls
Paint baseboard trim white- Place interesting decor in dining room corner
- Paint light switch & outlet covers white
- Purchase curtains for dining room window
- Paint fabric curtains with a modern design
- Perhaps buy a dining room rug
- Plan a task that doesn’t start with “P”
Paint Wood Trim Tutorial
I wanted to make an easy to follow tutorial so I created a video! It’s not filmed in my kitchen where the makeover is happening, it was hard for me to set up in there with the kids and cooking and everything. So I filmed in our nursery, which is expecting its newest occupant any day now. I’m sure you’ll enjoy seeing my big pregnant belly in the video, as well as my two year old son wearing a princess dress.
So to recap, there’s basically 7 steps to paint wood trim successfully.
- Use an electric sander or coarse sandpaper to sand wood finish and remove grime.
- Wash off the wood trim and let dry. Be sure to get sawdust out of every crevice and all the dust off.This was my water when I finished washing my trim. Yuck!
- Prime with a stain blocking primer. I recommend Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 Indoor/Outdoor Primer in either quart
size or gallon size. Use a precision paintbrush and drywall taping knife to eliminate the need for painters tape. I recommend the Wooster Brush and this 20″ Drywall Taping Knife. I got my drywall taping knife from my local home improvement store on sale for only $8!
- Use high quality paint made for trim. Increased durability if you choose a paint with one or more of these qualities:
-high gloss
-oil based
-enamel - Let paint dry for the time detailed on your paint can, usually 4 hours.
-Oil-based paint dries inside out (dry to the touch means the wait is done)
-Latex-based paint dries outside in (even if it feels dry, it might not be) - Use latex caulking to caulk seams and nail holes showing in your trim. I recommend this Acrylic Latex Caulk. You’ll want to caulk between coats of paint because dust sticks to caulk more. If you do it last, you will regret it. Painting your last coat of paint over the caulking will give you a professional finish.
-TIP: use hot water to smooth over the latex caulking using your finger. If you happen to use silicon caulking, use rubbing alcohol. - Paint your second coat, being sure to smooth out brush strokes and use enough paint on the brush.
Thank you for stopping by to read! Tell me if you have tried to paint wood trim in your home or want to in the future. It is a tedious task, but worth it for sure!
Melissa I adore the direction that your room is headed towards! You did SO much better than I did in my room this week.
I would love for you to share this post at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. I think our readers would really enjoy it!
Good luck in the upcoming week!
Thanks Laura! I will link up and share. 🙂
I love it. I wish you could see all the oak trim in my house, it is literally everywhere. I always want to paint it but i am so afraid to take on such a huge task especially if I have to take it down and put it back up. Your tutorial makes it look so much easier.
Thanks Ashley! I have oak trim EVERYWHERE in my 80’s house, too. I’ve been slowly painting the entire upstairs to white. It really updates each space! I haven’t removed any trim, I’ve been painting it exactly like described in this video still on the wall. However, it has taken me about 12-14 hours per room. If you ever take it on, I wish you all the best. It is tedious, but so worth it!
Hey Melissa – your room is coming together beautifully. Thanks for sharing your fab painting tips. we may need to use them for our ORC project!
Thank you!
What a great tutorial. Painting trim can be a messy job.
Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. We are so glad you are here!
Laura
White Spray Paint
TOHOT
You nailed it! My dad’s 77…he’s an old school painter and he’d be so proud that you are using oil based paint. I’m going to snoop back and find the beginning of your ORC project.
Thanks so much for joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday. We are thrilled to have you. 🙂
I’m gonna need this for the day I tackle all the brown trim in our house! Great tutorial. Thanks!
Hi! I hope you still read these comments!
Two Questions:
1) Why did you sand vs. just using a primer? I read another tutorial that said you don’t need to sand if you just prime it well (maybe 2 coats).
2) Why do you need to use an oil based paint on trim? Is that good to do even if you just prime, or does it depend on IF you sand?
Hey Andrea! GREAT QUESTIONS!
Both of your questions answers are the same: durability. Sanding the surface gives the primer more to adhere to and therefore more durability. The more durable your primer is, the better adhesion your paint has. Oil-based paint, like enamel, dries to create a glossy finish. Since trim gets used and abused heavily, you want the most durable finish possible. Glossy finishes hold up much better to dirt, nicks, and scratches. I actually didn’t use an oil-based paint to paint my baseboard trim (just my windows) because I didn’t want to hassle with the mineral spirits clean-up. The latex paint I chose was high gloss and was specially formulated for doors and trim, though.
Hope that gave you the info you were looking for! Thank you for reading!
Melissa
Hi Melissa! I have been searching for someone who has the same kitchen as I do and you do! Yay! My question is where do you keep all of your “stuff”? Your counters are so clear and I can’t seem to find enough space to store everything in this kitchen.
Tanja, I feel your pain! It has been many years of organization to get my kitchen to function well because there are so few drawers and so little space. Anything that’s seasonal or used infrequently I keep above the fridge. The cupboard up high by itself stores all our glasses, mugs, bowls, and plates. The other upper cupboards are all pantry food items. The lower corner cupboard by the stove holds all my pots, frying pans, rice cooker, wok, george foreman, etc. The drawer below the stove holds flat pans and roasters. The cupboard between the stove and fridge holds blender items, salad spinner, strainers, misc. The cupboard by the dishwasher holds tupperware, mixing bowls, and baking supplies. The skinny cupboard near under the sink holds oils and vinegars (the small drawer above organizes my spices). The cupboards below the sink hold garbage, recycling, extra bags, cleaning supplies, and my dish drainer. The other two drawers hold all utensils and pot holders/towels. My best advice to you is to avoid accumulating kitchen appliances and specialty gadgets. I also at one time stored food in a buffet type dresser in my dining room next to the kitchen to free up cupboard space. Best of luck to you organizing! 🙂
Hi!
When you are sanding, are you sanding in all of the crevices as well? Or just the main part?
I didn’t make a huge effort to sand in the crevices, but I did go into the crevices with a sheet of sand paper after running my sander over the main flat part. 🙂