I have a confession, one that I know a DIY’er should be ashamed of. I have kept my problem to myself for some time, but now the truth must come out since I am redoing my studioffice and had to confront my problem head on. I dislike painting trim and woodwork! Dislike is not a strong enough word – I truly, absolutely – hate it! I’d rather go to the dentist than have to paint trim, especially window trim! Urghhhh…
I have lived in my house for 18 years and have only painted the trim in my kitchen, hall bath, and the baseboard and one doorway in my studioffice where I added the Faux Transom, yes I know – downright shameful.
All kidding aside -I do hate to paint trim and am lucky that the builder used a good oil based paint on all the trim in my house and it has held up great. I have cleaned all of it with soap and water over the years, but have never painted it. What I don’t like about the trim – it is Antique White and I have always wanted White White since the day we moved in. That tells you just how much I hate to paint trim!
With the new colors I am doing the studioffice in- the antique white just won’t go. I had to FINALLY paint the window trim. I figured I would tackle it first, before I did anything else to the room, that way I wouldn’t find a reason not to get it painted.
The reason I dislike painting windows so much is that there is way too much detail and you have to be careful not to paint the sashes shut. Lots of up and down of the sashes, waiting for them to dry, moving the sashes again, then once they are done, you get to move on to the jambs. Painting window sashes in the Winter is not necessarily a good thing, either.
I tried to find something to be happy about and then I remembered I could take the mullion grids out – they don’t need to be painted. That made the job a teeny bit easier.
I normally would use painter’s tape on the wall to protect it from getting any trim paint on it, but my brother-in-law who is a professional painter told me there is no reason to do that. All you need is a 1-1/2-inch stiff angled brush that are made to cut-in. I bought a Purdy one at Lowes. It made a HUGE difference. The stiff bristles are very precision like and don’t splay out.
To help keep the glass paint free as I painted, I learned a tip many years ago to add a thin coat of Vaseline on the glass right where it meets the trim. I found it too greasy and tried chap stick. It was less greasy and easy to apply with a Q-tip When all the paint is dry and you clean the window, any paint that may have gotten on the glass wipes away easily – no razor blade scraper needed.
I also knew I was going to paint the walls a color called Pink Petal White. It sounds pretty, but in reality it just looks like white, but has a very faint cast of pink to it. Since the walls were going to be painted white, I wanted the white trim to stand out from the white walls so I used an extra shiny gloss white paint made by Glidden.
Call me crazy, but this is an oil based paint. Since there was oil base already on the trim, I knew I would have to prime it if I used latex, so I went with this super shiny gel oil paint. It is very thick – so thick that a paint stirrer will stand upright in it. It took awhile to get used to painting with it, but I got the hang of it and am very happy with the results. The only downside of using oil based paint – it smells, takes forever to dry, and you need mineral spirits to clean your brushes. I was willing to put up with the downside to get the super shiny finish it produced.
I also put a thick rubber band around the paint can, so I could wipe the excess paint off the brush instead of using the rim. This helps keep the rim clean so the lid can go back on the can perfectly when you are done painting.
Back before the holidays, I was asked if I would like to try out the new Precision Tips Q-tips. I raised my hand high and said yes, yes, yes. They are part of my paint toolbox. When I worked in display, I traveled with my display co-workers to other stores to paint feature walls. We always had a big box of regular Q-tips in our supplies so that we could quickly clean up edges and paint bleed through on the hundreds of walls we painted.
The pointy tips are perfect, much better than the way I used to use the regular shape ones – wetting the tip and twirling it into a point so I could easily clean up where I got a smudge of wall paint on the ceiling right where the ceiling meets the wall. Having the pointy tip makes it easy to swipe right into the crevice along the ceiling line and clean up the smudge without affecting the wet paint on the wall. Without the pointy tip you would end up wiping some of the wet wall paint off trying to take care of the smudge.
I keep them in my pocket when I paint – as I seem to always get paint where it doesn’t belong. Here I accidently got a few brush marks on the wall when painting the trim. A quick swipe with the point in the crevice cleans up the paint perfectly and doesn’t touch the wet paint on the trim.
I am loving the newly painted shiny window trim, the only downside of painting trim is that now where the newly painted trim meets the old around the doorways – the old color looks dingy. Once you start painting trim – you have to keep going and going so it all looks the same. I think I see more trim painting in the near future.
Now that I have the trim paint behind me, I can move on to the more interesting and fun aspects of decorating.
Here is a sneak peek of one of the fabrics I plan to use in my studioffice.
How do you feel about painting trim in your house? Any tips or painting tricks to share.
incredible blog.
good post.
excellent.
awesome blog. i like it.
great
nice post
Any suggestions for preventing scratches in fresh paint from pets? My kitties like to sit in my bay window. I painted it previously and gave it a few days to dry but it still got scratched up when I allowed my cats to use it again, so I want to repaint. I just don’t know of a way to keep my cats away indefinitely, and I wouldn’t want to do that, really.. I know it takes paint quite a while to fully cure (30 days or more in some cases). But keeping my cats away that long will be a struggle, lol.
Great Idea for life hack
I would like to paint the trim on the window over my sink, but how do you reach it? Sit in the sink? Being 90 years old isn’t the easiest way to reach over the sink either? Kate
Hi Kathryn –
Wow… still painting at 90. You Go Girl!!!!! :-) Painting the window trim above a sink can be tricky. I stand on a stool and then the counter, but always stay aware that I am standing on the counter and have someone standing behind me while I paint. I have sat on the edge of the sink with my feet inside the sink when doing the lower sections. Not sure there is any other way besides standing on a ladder to reach the trim. Hope you can find a safe way to get your trim painted. Having a spotter behind you is the safest way.
Thanks for sharing very helpful trick on diy window trim painting.
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Hi Diane,
I agree with you I’m not satisfied with simple paint in my kitchen specially window.
You are really good work on trim painting next time i’m use this and suggest our neighbors to use it.
Thanks for sharing great post on trim painting.
Simply paint on the glass and cut and rub the glass. You spare a huge amount of time. I am right now investigating on the off chance that it is alright to utilize can splash paint to paint my wood window mullions and edge.
Funny I ended up on this page for painting trim, I was thinking that if anyone asked me about painting trim, my advice would be, RUN!!! And don’t look back! lol, what a job!
I agree… it is not a fun job especially if you your windows have mullions. :-)
Great ideas…thnks for sharing
Just paint on the glass and cut and scrape the glass. You save a ton of time. I am currently looking into if it is ok to use can spray paint to paint my wood window mullions and frame.
@regards
admin
How do you feel about painting trim in your house? Any tips or painting tricks to share.
incredible thoughts ,.decent sharing…
I have discovered utilizing vinegar and water a powerful degreaser/deglosser. Regardless I sand the surfaces daintily before painting and between layers of paint.
nice work.colour combination are very gud .like your post
great ideas ,.nice sharing…
I utilize this traps for painting my window after the perusing your post it’s truly astounding.
Good work. First of all i want to say thanks for your hard work. This post is really very helpful & Thank you very much for sharing
This is something good”” “WINDOW TRIM PAINTING TRICKS” I must utilize the elastic band on the paint can for whenever I paint. It is a splendid thought. No more paint running down the side of the can. I additionally like the thought of utilizing the q-tips to tidy up smears. Be that as it may, it doesn’t seem as though you put tape around any of the edges. Wouldn’t this keep you from expecting to utilize the q-tip by any means?
Hi –
No tape is needed. Once the Vaseline is on the glass right up to the edge of the wood. You paint the window trim. When the paint is dry, you simply wipe away the Vaseline. Any paint that got on the Vaseline does not dry so you can easily wipe it away.
hi,
I use this tricks for painting my window after the reading your post it’s really amazing.
Hi
This is great idea fr window painting
Regards
Rosy
I’ll throw in a couple of pennies.
1. Ensure that your trim is caulked with a high quality caulk smoothly applied. This will allow you paint to glide on the caulk producing a smooth line.
2. ensure that the brush is appropriately loaded with paint.
3. Do not ‘go over’ previous painted (freshly) surfaces. That’s the number one problem for losing a smooth finish, brushing over paint that is starting to dry. Paint with a plan and don’t reinvent your process on each window.
4. For painting with carpet–consider a piece of luan that will hold the pile down and protect. Heres’s a great tip here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB9ck82RvB8
5. Use high quality paints and brushes.
6. To paint latex over oil, you can get by with deglossing the surface with a deglosser then painting with your latex. Deglossers can be noxious. but you have to poison!
I have found using vinegar and water an effective degreaser / deglosser. I still sand the surfaces lightly before painting and between coats of paint.
I must utilize the elastic band on the paint can for whenever I paint. It is a splendid thought. No more paint running down the side of the can. I likewise like the thought of utilizing the q-tips to tidy up smears. Be that as it may, it doesn’t seem as though you put tape around any of the edges. Wouldn’t this keep you from expecting to utilize the q-tip by any means?
Hi Annabel – The tape is not needed if you smear Vaseline right up to the edge of the wood around the window with the pointy Q-Tip. Paint may get on the Vaseline, but it does not stick to the glass or dry. When when you are finished painting and the paint is dry all you need to do is wipe away the Vaseline. No tape to apply or remove. The Vaseline does the masking.
I’m going to have to use the rubber band on the paint can for the next time I paint. It is a brilliant idea. No more paint running down the side of the can. I also like the idea of using the q-tips to clean up smudges. However, it doesn’t look like you put tape around any of the edges. Wouldn’t this keep you from needing to use the q-tip at all?
Hi James – I used a Q-tip to swipe Vaseline around the glass instead of using Painter’s tape. When the paint is dry, I simply wipe the Vaseline away with a paper towel and all the excess paint comes with it, but leaves the paint intact on the wood where there was no Vaseline. It is faster than having to tape all around a large or detailed window.
Okay that would make it easier. Thanks!
Enjoying your post and tips.
I have a color question. Unlike you, I like a creamier color, actually, Valspar polished ivory, for the trim color. But I can’t use that for window trim because of the color of the vinyl replacement windows we installed So, to my quandary, I need to paint the window trim with Valspar white, but do you think it ok to use the polished ivory for interior doors & door trim, and baseboard . Thanks for your counsel.
Hi Bob – Mixing two or more whites is fine to do. I did it in my previous house. I had white tiles on my kitchen backsplash with creamy off white cabinets and trim. The key to making it work is doing it intentionally. Make it your color scheme. White, off white and then choose another color or two to use as your accent color. If you like a neutral room, then pick another shade of white so you have 3 whites. Use them in equal parts and spread each around the room. If the window trim is white on one side of the room then make sure there is white on the color side of the room as well.This could be a picture frame, an appliance, stack of books, etc. This will create color balance in the room.
So well described. Thank you so much.
Bob
i love painting & this blog are helpful for me
Since I have the trim paint behind me, I can proceed onward to the all the more fascinating and fun parts of brightening.
I have a 30 year old home with wood trim. I would love to paint it white, yet I put in every single new window only 5 years back and requested then in wood completion to coordinate the trim, not considering painting the trim at the time. Will my delightful new pella windows be destroyed in the event that I paint them white. What’s more, if that is an alternative, what sort of prep do I require tondo before painting them?
A debt of gratitude is in order for your assistance!!!
Hi Daphne – The key to painting window trim successfully is to use thin coats of both primer and paint. The build-up of excess paint is what you want to avoid. You need to follow the steps on how to paint wood furniture. Sand, clean, prime and paint. Use an angled brush and only thin coats, letting each one dry before applying the next. You have to move the sashes up and down so as they dry the paint on the sash doesn’t bond with the trim.
Sand with 100 grit sandpaper, prime with a stain blocking primer (Kilz brand) and then semi-gloss white paint. To see more details on how to paint wood, the steps are the same as when you paint a piece of furniture. You can find how to do this in this post: https://inmyownstyle.com/how-to-paint-anything
It is not hard to do just take your time and remember… thin coats. :-)
I call it the house beast. I simply painted my kitchen cupboards and now the trim look soiled so yes I will be painting it as well! Also, yes I need to utilize oil paint as well. I think I am holding up until spring when the puppies can stay outside. Awesome treks, particularly about the paint brush, individuals don’t understand the brush is the key.
I don’t so much abhor painting trim as I do windows, Diane! Likewise for the reasons you said {the up down of the scarves, not getting paint on the glass}. You’ve given a great deal of helpful tips here that I will without a doubt be remembering. I can hardly wait to see the divider shading and how you utilize that fabric!
This is so useful! Much thanks to you such a great amount for posting!
Yes even i use Duct tape over the top of the can works much better than a rubber band
What is the wall color in the photographs? I love it!
Hi Tiff: The color on the walls in the photos is Sherwin Williams 6141 Softer Tan.
I have a 30 year old home with wood trim. I would love to paint it white, but I put in all new windows just 5 years ago and ordered then in wood finish to match the trim, not thinking about painting the trim at the time. Will my beautiful new pella windows be ruined if I paint them white. And if that’s an option, what kind of prep do I need tondo before painting them?
Thanks for your help!!!
Hi Annette – I have Andersen windows that were painted antique white years ago and I am in the process of painting them white white. You have a slightly different scenario with since yours are wood and stained. You will not ruin them if you take the time to paint them the right way.
I would go over the surface with a sanding block to rough up the wood a bit, then use a stain blocking primer like Kilz Original. It is oil based, but you can use latex paint over it. It also dries in 30 minutes unlike most oil-based primers. It will block the wood tannins and stain from seeping through the paint. Once that is dry – 2 very light coats of a good brand name paint. Let each coat dry before applying the next. Use a high quality 1 – 1/2″ angled brush – I use the Purdy brand. After painting the sashes move them up and down every 15 minutes while they are drying so the windows do not get painted shut. It takes a while to do one window, but once you get the hang of it, it will go faster.
This is so helpful! Thank you so much for posting!
Just bought a 100 year old house and need to paint lots of windows and walls. I will definitely use your tips. I love your wall color. Do you remember what it is called and what brand it was?
I think it was Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige SW 6106. The walls are no longer that color and I don’t have the paint can anymore, but that is the name that comes to mind. Enjoy decorating your new to you old house.
We also have oil based paint trim that I would love to paint white. What do you know about oil paint yellowing over time? I love the finish of oil and it would be a lot less work, since it is painting oil over oil. What do you think? Are you worried about yellowing?
Oil paint will yellow or darken over time, but it takes a looooong time and it is usually when it is in dark rooms. On light and bright areas – less yellowing. If you don’t want to use oil, just apply a good primer over the oil. I use Glidden Gripper or Kilz Original, then use latex.
Duct tape over the top of the can works much better than a rubber band, which has to go under the can. Duct tape is stiffer, so it’s easier to wipe a brush across, and there are no paint-covered flying rubber bands when you are ready to put the lid on :)
Thanks TJ I will try the duct next time I paint. Thanks for sharing the tip.
Saw this tip about the Chap-Stick on the Hunted Interior blog. Hadn’t heard of using that or petroleum jelly before! Luckily our house was built new so I won’t have to paint windows for a while, but I was just this week scraping paint off our windows because the professional painters didn’t do it. We’ve lived here for six years and it finally started annoying me!
Glad to have the reco on the trim brush, too. Even when painting walls, I hate cutting in. I bought a 2″ angled brush before I just painted our powder room, but it did not work well. I’ll have to try out that 1.5″ trim paint brush your brother-in-law likes.
When preparing to paint the ceiling, I come down the wall from the ceiling about 4 to 6 inches with a line of painters tape all around the walls. This gives the illusion of the ceiling being larger. Better yet, I always paint the ceiling the the walls the same color – no more white ceilings!
Hi Regina – thanks for sharing your tip. I bet it kind of looks like crown molding – but a lot easier to do.
I just sweated out trying to tape the windows in my spare bedroom. Started cussing and decided to Google. So glad your blog came up on the hit list. My sister will appreciate the fact that I decided not to give up on redoing the room before she moves in.
Anybody have tips for painting trim next to carpet?
I hate painting windows (don’t really mind the other trim), but I LOVE the way it looks when finished! I am thrilled about the Vaseline/Chapstik trick – I cannot wait to try it. I’ve been putting off a painting project because of this and now I’m all excited to do it! Going to invest in a good stiff brush, too. I always wind up using cheap brushes and now you’ve given me a reason to get a good one. Taping off takes SO long! The Q-tips, too – this whole post just made my day.
I got my copy of your book the other day and I’ve really enjoyed it! The photos made me laugh – the 80s and 90s don’t seem so long ago, but wow do the fabrics look dated. Ideas are great, though! So glad I found your blog, and the book as well.
Hi Melissa –
Thanks for the nice note. The best painting tip ever is to get the best brushes. You may spend more on them initially, but if you take care of them -they will lasts years. In the long run you are not only saving yourself money, but getting a better paint finish on all of your projects.
It is funny how fast fabric and color schemes date – every 5-7 years. Pretty soon Oil Rubbed Bronze and Quatrefoil print fabric are going to go the way of flowery chintz and bows. :)
I LOVE that fabric! I used to work in a textiles company and this was one of my favourites! Can’t wait to see it all done up!!
Nancy
I hate painting trim too, that’s why my trim is still Vanilla Ice instead of white~which I would prefer. Love your fabric and can’t wait to see your finished space.
Debbie
Hi Debbie- It is nice to know I am not alone in my dislike of painting trim. It does look so much better now that it is painted. Maybe that will give me the boost I need to do the rest of the house. :)
I admire the patience you have to do all of these updates. Trim, I have done it, don’t want to do it again, but I know I have to sometime in the near future. Great job and always you are so neat and it looks so perfect.
Just found your blog through pinterest. I love the faux transom and your tips. Thanks so much for posting. I’m definitely following you from now on! :)
Hi Momma-la!
Your blog is…as always, awesome! I really did use the rubber band on the paint can thing the other day while painting a mural…and it was amazing! The paint here is awful awful awful oil based stuff and I don’t have a paint can opener, so the old cans were pretty much impossible to open…but now all my new cans are nice and clean :)
You have THE best ideas!
Love’em!!!
Great tip with the chapstick, pinning!! xo
Kate
Hi Kate-
Thanks so much. Always looking for ways to make painting the window trim easier :)
Hi, Diane! I guess I’m one of those crazy people who actually enjoys (loves even?) painting trim. LOL… I don’t mind cutting in walls either; it’s the rolling that I don’t like. I admit though, windows are not my favorite, so thanks for the hints! BTW, yours is one of my favorite blogs!
Hi Nicki – Thanks so much XO Maybe someday I will begin to like painting trim. It does look so nice now – and was worth all the prep and time it took.
Hi Diane,
It is hard to believe you hate it so much when you have such great ideas. I completely understand. My 87 year old house came with yellowed oil based paint on the trim. I decided to go the oil based primer and latex paint approach. I was worried about it yellowing again and glad to be done with oil based paint. Your tips are definitely helpful. Thanks!
Hi Emily-
I think it is the windows that truly drive me crazy since they have all the detail to paint around. I helped a friend many years ago paint her yellowed trim in an old house she had bought. The trim was yellow from age and the fact that the previous owner was a chain smoker. We had to sand everything to try to get rid of the smoke smell before we painted.
Diane you laways come through with the best tips just when I need them. Just repainted my entry and realized all the doors and windows and trim are in desperate need of unifying paint as I have haphazardly painted them with differing white as I finished projects. As most of the commentors, I hate it too. I sent hubs out for all the supplies you recommended. I do all of the painting so I figured he can do the shopping, haha. Thanks for this post. You saved me from making another slapdash hit at the trim.
Hi Pam – Thanks. While you are painting – know that you are not alone – I will be doing the same thing in my entry.
Wow! Those are great tips! I will definitely be using them next week. My husband and I are going to be redoing the bedroom as a Valentine’s present to each other. We’ll have lots of pics and details up on the blog. :)
Hi C.A. What a nice present you both will get to enjoy when you are done painting. I look forward to seeing your photos on your blog.
Some really great tips. You will be so glad you used oil based paint. Yes it is a pain but it holds up so much better. I love that fabric. I need some to make a lumbar pillow for my bed. Did it come from HL?
Hi Melly- I special ordered it from JoAnn’s Fabrics when it was 50% off. It is a Robert Allen fabric called Cat’s Cradle. Color: Grass
Great tips! The next time I’m painting a room, I will have to try using precision Q-tips!
Hi Molly – they are the best. Now I don’t have to wet the original ones and twirl the tip to make it pointy. I love the person who came up with the idea. A painter? My cat thinks Q-tips in general are lots of fun to play with and hoard :)
Yes, the dreaded trim painting. Thanks for sharing your tips and I can’t wait to see what you do with that lovely fabric!
Dear Diane- I hate doing trim with a passion, as well! Learned about Purdy brushes and doing trim work from ‘Bless his Heart’ perfectionist “Hub of My Life”, years ago. I’m faster, and pretty accurate- but I still loath it! Purchased an 85 year old house, years ago. All the trim was stained and not a good stain. Most of it is now a glossy white—most of it. However, what I did not know was the Vaseline/Chap stick trick…Cut to cloudy skies opening to bright sunshine, with a choir of angels singing!! I hate to do this.. but OMG you have LIGHTENED my load again!!! Doing my daughters room and dreading where window meets wood portion! Is it to soon to say I love you?!!!
Hi Catherine – Oh! that dreaded space when window meets the wood portion :) I hope your daughter’s room comes out beautifully.
I detest trim painting so much that as we recently updated our master br, I bought new pre primed trim, painted it flat before my hubby put it up, and donated the old trim to the Habitat for Humanity Restore!
We did change style/height of trim, too, so the new stuff was a necessity ;-)
Great tips! Painting trim is not my favorite either. I don’t even like painting walls. Give me a piece of furniture any day of the week! … We kicked off the new year with a Be Inspired link party. Hope you’ll come by and share sometime!
I love your fabric! I have the exact fabric in blue and white for my family room curtains and LOVE it. You will not be disappointed.
And thanks for the painting tips! I also hate painting trim but love painting walls.
Great post! I, too, love the transom idea. :)
Your “faux transom” is a brilliant idea!! Just trying to figure out where I could do one.
I don’t so much hate painting trim as I do windows, Diane! Also for the reasons you mentioned {the up down of the sashes, not getting paint on the glass}. You’ve given a lot of useful tips here that I will definitely be keeping in mind. I can’t wait to see the wall color and how you use that fabric!
I always wanted white trim in our old house. I finally did one room’s windows and loved the look…but not the work :-( Never did get around to doing any other window and/or trim painting of those stained & varnished windows and trim. Thanks for all the painting tips.
I call it the house monster. I just painted my kitchen cabinets and now the trim look dingy so yes I will be painting it too! And yes I have to use oil paint too. I think I am waiting until spring when the dogs can stay outside. Great trips, especially about the paint brush, people don’t realize the brush is the key.
My only tip: Get the husband to do it
I hate it too. Happy to paint all the walls and ceilings as well as the furniture, but I’m not interested in anything else.
Hate it
Oh how I feel you! My hubby and I always fight over who is going to paint the trim when it goes up….He wins since he is the one putting the trim up guess it is only fair. I still love your transform as much as the first time I saw it! Thanks for all the tips!
XO
Kristin
Hi Diane, my husband and I bought a 70 year old house, and for the last 2 years have gutted and rebuilt it. I’m the designated painter and one thing that a tradesman taught me was to take a paint of caulk that you use, pull the stopper out of the bottom, and mix your wall color (or trim) in it, then place it back together. Then when you trim everything, the caulk dries the desired color and you have a perfect straight line. It has done wonders for me who can’t paint a straight line. Good luck!
Partner in Crime
Hi Dru-
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing it. Love to find new ways to make the chore easier while still getting professional results.
Wow–good idea!