Even though interior trim doesn’t cover much space compared to walls or ceilings, it’s a small thing that calls big attention to itself. Since trim is normally at least somewhat decorative, stands out from the wall surface, and stretches all the way around the room, it adds more impact than you might expect. Additionally, trim serves to protect the lower portion of the wall from scrapes and scratches, as well as conceal the junction of wall and floor, window, or door. Painting trim, whether around windows, doors, or baseboards, is a project well within the capabilities of most DIYers. But that doesn’t mean merely grabbing a paint brush and a can of semi-gloss white. Here are helpful guidelines to choosing trim paint colors, trim paint finishes, and trim paint brands, as well as painting trim.
Self-Leveling
Nobody likes seeing brush marks on their trim. By its very nature, oil-based paint helps to level out brush strokes, as its longer drying times help the paint settle. Acrylic-latex paints do show brush marks. So, additives to acrylic-latex paint formulated for use on trim help to smooth it out, leaving a smooth, perfect finish.
Glossy Finish
Trim paint is most often semi-gloss, meaning it has some shine, but not the intense shine of a gloss or high-gloss. There are a few reasons for using a glossy paint on trim, rather than eggshell or matte:
The glossier the finish, the easier it is to wipe clean. Baseboards and window trim tend to get scuffed and grungy, so it’s helpful to use a paint you’ll be able to clean easily.Glossier paint highlights decorative touches in trim, such as angles, curves, and lines.While it’s true that the glossier the paint, the less it is able to conceal imperfections in the painted surface, semi-gloss strikes a nice balance between the concealing benefits of flatter paints and the light-reflecting qualities of high-gloss paint.
But although semi-gloss is the most commonly used paint finish for trim, you can opt instead for gloss, high-gloss, or satin if you prefer.
Sag Resistance
Thanks to gravity’s pull, wet paint can “sag” downwards as it dries, leaving an uneven or blotchy finish. Trim paint is generally somewhat thicker than regular wall paint to help prevent this.
Non-Yellowing Properties
Most trim gets painted white. Window trim, in particular, gets blasted by the sun on a daily basis, and UV rays can quickly yellow the paint. That’s why some paint companies advertise non-yellowing properties with their pre-tinted white paint. Without this feature, different window trims will yellow at different rates. Even different sections within the same window will yellow differently.
Alkyd/Oil Based
Oil-based paint is the classic trim paint. If you have a house that is at least a few decades old, chances are good that the trim was painted with oil-based paint. Oil-based trim paint results in superior, glass-like finishes with minimal to zero brush marks. But this does come at the cost of slow drying times, fumes, and solvent-based clean-up requirements. Because of its thick consistency, oil-based paint is good at filling in minor holes. However, oil-based paints are less environmentally friendly than latex paints, and so many localities now ban oil-based paints in sizes above quarts. Only use a paintbrush with natural bristles, as the oil formula will affect synthetic bristles. If you do choose an oil-based paint for your trim, a natural-bristle paintbrush will provide the best results. Be aware that you must use mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean up your brushes after painting with oil-based paint.
Acrylic Latex or Enamel
Water-based paint can produce a good finish and minimal brush marks, but not quite as good as oil-based paint’s properties. Brush marks are likelier to be visible. The surface will not have the rock-hard shell texture of oil-based paints. Still, for many people, the benefits outweigh these costs. Water-based trim paints afford easy clean-up with soap and water. Fumes are minimal or non-existent. You can buy these paints in gallon sizes if needed, and you’ll find a wider range of choices at the paint store. Synthetic-bristled brushes are recommended for latex paint.
White Trim
You can’t go wrong with white trim. Of course, there are many variations on white—some are visually cooler than others—but whatever the color of your walls, white trim sets a traditional, non-obtrusive tone.
Matching Trim
For a clean, modern style, consider painting your trim the same color as the walls, whether that’s gray, a pastel, a vibrant bright, or a shade of white. This is especially good if your ceilings are low, as it visually stretches the walls.
Black Trim
For an unexpected touch of modern style, paint trim black to contrast with white or light-colored walls. This is a bold look that adds drama to a space, but isn’t overwhelming.
Bright Trim
There’s no law that says trim must be subdued. You can add a big splash of color and personality to a room by painting trim a bright color that plays off white or light walls. This is especially fun in a child’s bedroom, but can work equally well in a grownup space that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Behr: Ultra Interior Semi-Gloss Enamel; soap and water clean-up Benjamin Moore: Regal Classic Premium Interior Paint, Semi-Gloss Finish; 100-percent acrylic resin; soap and water clean-up Dutch Boy: DuraClean Cabinet, Door & Trim Interior/Exterior Paint + Primer; gloss enamel finish Glidden: Trim, Door & Furniture paint in high-gloss; oil-based; solvent clean-up Olympic: Interior/Exterior Paint + Primer in high-gloss; soap and water clean-up Sherwin-Williams: ProClassic Waterborne Interior Acrylic Enamel; soap and water clean-up Valspar: Ultra Interior Paint + Primer; soap and water clean-up
