How do you touch up interior trim?

Author: Miss Deborah Sporer  |  Last update: Sunday, August 31, 2025

How to Refinish Interior Trim
  1. Remove the Trim. For best results, you should remove the trim before refinishing or painting it. ...
  2. Sand. Gently sand and scrape the trim to remove the old paint and finish following the sanding directions above. ...
  3. Stain or Paint. ...
  4. Reattach the Trim.

Can you touch up baseboards?

You can get away with touching up baseboard more so than any other trim work. I agree filling in chips and repainting the entire piece is best but it's worth a try to see if touch up will be acceptable.

How do you touch up paint without it showing?

Get as close of a color match as possible. Paint your touchup area but take the extra on your brush and ``dry brush'' it in a large area, 8-12 inches, around your touchup so the paint kind of fades out to the dry wall. It'll hide your touchup much better.

How do you touch up chipped paint on trim?

Instructions
  1. Scrape Away the Loose Paint Edges. With a paint scraper or a 5-in-1 tool, scrape away loose edges of the painted area. ...
  2. Brush Away Loose Paint. ...
  3. Apply the Wood Putty. ...
  4. Allow the Wood Putty to Dry. ...
  5. Sand Down the Wood Putty. ...
  6. Check the Chip Repair for Smoothness. ...
  7. Apply the Primer.

How to touch up edges after painting?

Load your brush or roller with just enough paint to cover the touch-up area. Start in the middle of the touch-up spot, and work your way out to the edges. Without reloading the applicator, feather the edges by making light strokes that extend slightly past the edge onto the surrounding wall.

Trim Caulking Secrets That Will Change The Way You Caulk!

How to touch up interior trim?

How To Refresh Trim and Windows
  1. Step 1 – Clean. Clean all the trim including baseboards, crown moulding, and window casings that you plan to touch up. ...
  2. Step 2 – Protect the Room & Yourself. ...
  3. Step 3 – Remove the Excess Paint. ...
  4. Step 4 – Sand the Wood. ...
  5. Step 5 – Paint the Trim.

How do I get a smooth finish with touch up paint?

It is easy to smooth out touch-up paint with lacquer thinner. Simply wipe and dry the area, dab a small amount of the solvent onto a cotton swab, and massage the paint glob away slowly.

How do you fix paint mistakes on trim?

If you do accidentally get paint on the trim, no fear! Simply use a razor blade or putty knife to scrape off the dried paint. You may need to touch up the trim with a fresh coat of paint afterward. Another wall painting mistake that's all too common is paint streaks and drips.

How do you paint over chipped paint on baseboards?

You can follow these steps to repair your chipped baseboard moulding:
  1. Scrape and sand loose paint. ...
  2. Fill the damaged areas. ...
  3. Lightly sand the coat. ...
  4. Fill in tiny holes and dents. ...
  5. Do a final sanding. ...
  6. Caulk gaps between the wall and baseboard moulding. ...
  7. Paint the baseboard moulding.

How to fix a spot where paint peeled off?

  1. Using a scraper or 100-grit sandpaper, remove any loose, cracked, or peeling paint from the damaged area. ...
  2. Using a putty knife, apply a thin layer of patching material to the damaged area. ...
  3. Use 220-grit sandpaper to smooth the patched area and make it even with the surface.

How to touch up interior paint?

With a paintbrush or roller (ideally the same application tool used for the original paint job), start with as little paint as possible, applying a very small amount at a time. Slowly roll or brush over the imperfection, making sure to start in the middle and apply the lightest amount of paint to the outer edges.

What is the best paint brush for touch-ups?

Foam brushes can be quite effective for touch-ups on intricate surfaces. We find their soft, malleable structure allows for a careful application, especially when dealing with tight spaces or detailed work. Related Articles: Best Paint Brush Set.

Will a second coat of paint cover brush marks?

Brush marks are caused by strokes that leave the paint with a rough texture and visible brush strokes. The rough texture and visible brush strokes can be easily covered in a second coat of paint by using a slightly different technique than you used for your first coat.

What is the rule for baseboard trim?

A baseboard height that's approximately 7% of the wall height provides for a solid and definable base without being too big. The overall proportion of baseboard to wall height will be comfortable and pleasing. So in a room with a 9 foot high ceiling, a baseboard that's about 8 inches tall works.

Should you caulk or paint baseboards first?

Yes, caulking trim before painting is usually best, as any imperfections will be filled in by caulk. Then, once painted, the surface should look perfect. Caulking your trim after painting is still possible, but you'll need to use more caution to not damage your recently completed painting project.

How to touch up wood baseboards?

  1. Step 1: Clean the baseboards before patching and painting. ...
  2. Step 2: Patch the holes in the baseboards. ...
  3. Step 3: Smooth and sand the baseboards. ...
  4. Step 4: Painting Baseboards with Tape and Drape! ...
  5. Step 5: Use a paint shield to keep paint off the walls while painting baseboards. ...
  6. 74 Comments.

What is the best tool for painting baseboards?

Paintbrush: A paintbrush is an essential tool for painting trim. A short, angled brush is ideal for painting trim. The angled bristles assist with painting corners and edges tidily.

Will primer cover chipped paint?

A bonding primer or an oil-based primer is recommended for surfaces with peeling paint issues. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific primer you're using. If there are any visible cracks, holes, or imperfections on the surface, use a suitable filler or spackling compound to repair them.

What is Zinsser Peel Stop?

Peel Stop® is a clear, flexible bridging sealer for surfaces where peeling, flaking, dusting or chalking is a problem. Use indoors or out to form a breathable membrane over questionable or faulty substrates. Peel Stop® tightly bonds to old paint and problem areas forming a sound surface for new paint.

How do you fix imperfections in trim?

Small dings, scratches, and cracks can be repaired using wood putty. For larger areas with more extensive damage that requires it to be rebuilt, such as deep gouges or broken corners, epoxy filler is a better option.

How to fix a patchy paint job?

How to Solve a Patchy Paint Problem?
  1. Allow the substrate to completely dry: Ensure your walls are entirely dry before painting.
  2. Wait on your first coat: Patience is key here – let that first coat set well.
  3. Stir the paint extremely well: A proper mix is vital, and using a mechanical stirrer yields the best results.

What is the general rule for painting trim work?

The general rule when painting both trimwork and walls is to paint the trim first. Apply two coats of paint to the trim and let it fully dry before painting the walls. Another trimwork painting rule is to choose a color that's different from the wall color. Be sure to use the same color for all trim.

How do you touch up paint without it looking patchy?

Without primer, the touched-up spot will stand out, and it'll look a right mess. The trick is to blend the new paint with the original surface. Priming will also prep your surface for paint and seal any stains - especially those that wouldn't come off.

What paint finish is easiest to touch up?

Flat finishes often require fewer coats than semi-gloss and gloss paints. They are also easier to touch up; there is less contrast between the touch-up paint and the rest of the painted surface. On interior walls, flat finishes are ideal for low-traffic areas such as formal dining rooms and master bedrooms.

How do painters get smooth finish?

If you want your paint to have a smooth finish, the technique you use is very important. Keep your brush at a 90-degree angle while applying the paint and feather as you go. Between coats, sand the wall lightly using a very high grit sand sponge of at least 220 grit.

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