Trims and Doors

Best Advice for Painting Interior Doors, Trims, and Baseboards

You can repaint an entire room but something might still look off. Many homeowners don’t know how to correctly paint a room’s doors, trims, and baseboards. We’ve put together some quick tips to help you get the job done right when you want to give your interior doors, trims and baseboards a fresh coat of paint that compliments your wall color

The Best Trim and Door Paint

There are many interior paint options, but not all of them are created equal. You need high-quality paint that’ll do the job, and guarantee a smooth finish. Do not get flat or eggshell paint for trims or doors.

Semi-gloss is the most popular choice when it comes to painting trims and doors. Why? Semi-gloss is more durable, easier to clean, and has a strong sheen. For a high-end finish paint job, consider Benjamin Moore's Advance Interior WB Alkyd—ideal for doors, trim, and cabinetry.

If you get a bit of dirt or grime on semi-gloss, use clean water and a wet cloth to wipe away any dirt, grime, and drips.

Chantilly Lace

OC-65

Super White

OC-152

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Decorator's White

CC-20

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Oxford White / White Heron

CC-30 / OC-57

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What Are the Best Tools for the Job?

You need a high-quality brush to achieve a smooth finish without brush marks, as well as a roller .
An angled brush is great for painting trims and baseboards with grooves, and for getting those clean lines. You also need a smaller roller to make the job easier.
Any roller frame should work just fine, as long as it’s comfortable to hold.

If you have any holes in your trim, doors, or baseboards, then you should take care of them before painting. To do this, you should use wood filler or spackling. Spackling doesn’t require sanding and can be easier to use for beginners, though.

When filling in holes, you should put a bit of spackling on your finger then gently push it into the hole. Rub your finger over the top of the spackling for a bit until it’s smooth. It should dry out within an hour. If there’s still a small hole, then fill it in with more spackling.

Once you’re all done with that, you should be ready to paint.

How To Paint Doors, Door Trims, and Baseboards

It’s a good idea to paint your baseboards and door trims before walls. Most people look to paint their door trims white, so if you accidentally get some paint on the walls, you can cover it up later.

Here’s our step-by-step list to painting door trims and baseboards:

Put painting tape around the perimeter
Start by putting your brush in the paint
Use long brush strokes on any sloped or detailed areas. You should be good with just one or two coats of paint.
Put your roller in the paint and go over any flat surface.
Go over the tape with your brush and then immediately peel the tape off.
Repeat this same process for the doors.

Are you painting kitchen or bathroom cabinetry? For the best results, try our Cabinet Coat Enamel paint.

What is the Best Color to Paint Interior Doors?

Now that you know how to paint your doors, you might be wondering what color you want to paint them.

A lot of people like to paint their doors white, and it’s not hard to see why. White doors look classy and clean.

We’re going to go over some color ideas. But before we do, just remember some general rules to keep everything looking good:

While all doors don’t have to be the same color, something about them should be consistent. Like keeping all the closet doors white and all the bedroom doors black.
Your doors don’t have to match the color of your trims.
You can either contrast your doors and trims or match them.

Our Top Color Picks

White: Classic and clean.
Wythe blue: Gentle on the eyes and lets you play around with decor.
A bold red: Pops out and looks gorgeous.
Black: Simple and breathtaking when the sun shines on it.
Charcoal: A beautiful color that’s sleek and neutral.

Should I Hire a Professional?

Hiring a professional definitely has its advantages. The project will achieve higher-quality results, on top of being completed faster. Book a consultation with a color consultant at one of our Benjamin Moore Vancouver stores today. Are you looking for professional painters in your neighbourhood? Check out our painters directory

You can do it yourself, but it may take longer and you might mess up a bit.

If you have the means to invest in a professional painter, then you should definitely do it. Professionals will make the room look absolutely perfect.