How to Paint Trim

Painting wood trim is a quick and easy way to make any room stand out. Choose from several colors across multiple Sherwin-Williams collections for a trim paint that suits your design style.

1. Prep

Use the damp sponge to clean dirt and grime from trim. If needed, use the rough side of a sponge to ensure a clean starting surface.

Sand the surface and then use a damp sponge to wipe away any dust.

Fill in holes, dents and cracks with a lightweight spackling compound.

When the spackle dries completely, lightly sand the spackled areas using 120-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.

Use tack cloth to remove any sanding dust from the trim.

Tip: If the trim is new or already smooth, lightly sand using 120-grit sandpaper until all shine disappears from the trim. If the trim is rough and worn, start by sanding with coarse, 80-grit sandpaper. Then, move to less-coarse sandpaper such as 100- or 120-grit to smooth the surface.

2. Tape

Dust off walls and ceiling around the trim to ensure painter's tape adheres well.

Apply painter's tape to walls and ceilings surrounding the trim, being careful not to stick the tape to the trim itself. To prevent paint from bleeding through the tape, try to use one long piece of tape instead of multiple shorter pieces.

After you have applied the tape, press the tape's edges with a clean spackling or putty knife to ensure adhesion, as this helps prevent the paint from bleeding through the edges.

Tip: Select 3-4" of painter's tape and firmly press it to the wall. While holding this "starting spot" in place, pull out 6" of tape, then firmly secure it to the wall. Repeat until the tape is secured for the length of the trim.

3. Prime

Apply primer to trim, covering any bare wood and spackled areas then allow primer to dry for 24 hours.

After the drying period, if bare wood or spackle is showing, apply another coat of primer to the trim.

After the primer dries, lightly sand the trim using 120-grit sandpaper to eliminate brush strokes or paint drips.

Use a damp sponge or tack cloth to remove all sanding dust.

Tip: Thoroughly mix the primer with a paint stick and pour a small amount into a paint tray. Dip an angled brush into the primer, covering no more than ½-1" of the brush. Use the side of the tray to wipe excess primer off the brush, helping to avoid drips while priming.

4. Paint

Apply paint to the trim using short, horizontal brush strokes. Repeat the motion until a few feet of trim (not the full length) are covered in paint.

Smooth over the series of short brush strokes with one long brush stroke. Do not add more paint to the brush — instead, drag the brush in one long motion over the freshly painted trim. Repeat if necessary, depending on the width of the trim, to create the appearance of long, smooth strokes.

Start painting the next section of trim following steps three and four. Repeat until trim is fully painted.

Before paint dries, carefully pull tape off of the wall.

Tip: Thoroughly mix the paint with a paint stick and then pour a small amount into a clean paint tray. Dip an angled brush into the paint, covering no more than ½-1" of the brush. Use the side of the tray to wipe excess paint off the brush, helping to avoid drips while painting.

Tip: Wider trim may require three or four long, parallel brush strokes. Thinner trim may only require one or two long, parallel strokes.

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