Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors. It's also a good choice for highly trafficked area that gets lots of wear and tear such as a mudroom.
The most common and best sheen for interior trim is a satin or semi-gloss finish. Satin paint finishes have a medium sheen and are durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss paint finishes have a higher sheen and stand out in a room. They are easy to clean and stand up to dirt, stains, mold, and mildew.
Knowing how to cut trim for a door is key to getting the right fit. You'll use the miter saw to cut the top of each piece of side moulding at a 45-degree angle to fit into the head moulding. With the saw blade in the correct 45-degree position for the left trim piece, make your cut.
For Doors: Semi-gloss acrylic latex paint is often the best choice for its balance of durability, ease of application, and maintenance. For Trim: Semi-gloss or satin finishes work well, depending on the desired level of sheen.
Satin paint is typically used on woodwork and metal such as front doors, skirtings and radiators, but it's really quite versatile, so you could also apply it to walls and ceilings to brighten a gloomy room. Its wipeability means it's a practical choice for hallways, kitchen joinery, stairs and floors.
Satin and semi-gloss finishes are popular choices for doors due to their subtle shine and easy-to-clean characteristics. Glossy finishes can provide a more striking look, but they may highlight any imperfections on the door's surface.
Benjamin Moore White Dove is one of the most popular white colors for trim and interior painting. This classic shade of white is perfect for creating a timeless look in any room, while still providing an updated feel. It's also great for highlighting other elements within the space since it won't overpower them.
Avoid using eggshell paint in high-contact, high-traffic areas such as door and window trim, baseboards, cabinetry, and doors. It's best to use semi-gloss paint in these areas.
Gloss. The shiniest option, high-gloss paint is perfect for surfaces that need a striking appearance and durability, such as cabinets and doors. Use a gloss sheen to highlight room elements like: Wood trim.
For durability, varnishes offer the best protection. For ease of maintenance and repair from minor scratches, scuffs and scrapes, we recommend using a door oil or wax. Always check with the door manufacturer's guidance before applying a finish to a door.
The most commonly used door trim casing size is 2 ¼ inches in width and ½ thick, although these numbers will regularly go upwards in the ½ inch range. Although it's standard practice to have door and window casings the same size, there is absolutely no real set of factors forcing this.
The 50 Percent Rule
Generally, vertical trim elements such as door and window casings should be smaller and have less heft than baseboards. So I've found that a good rule of thumb for sizing window and door casings (or door trim sizes) is to keep them at about 50 percent of the height of the baseboard.
Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors. It's also a good choice for highly trafficked area that gets lots of wear and tear such as a mudroom.
We recommend baseboards, crown molding, window trim and doors be in the same sheen. We recommend semi-gloss. Can you paint trim and doors in high-gloss? You can paint doors and trim in high-gloss but the process of painting is high-gloss is labor intensive, demands higher quality paint, and is more expensive.
Satin Finish
It is perfect for high-traffic areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and window trims. This paint finish is more durable and easier to clean compared to flat, but it can also highlight surface imperfections.
'Satin and eggshell finishes are the most popular for woodwork because they balance durability without being too shiny,' says Helen. 'A satin or eggshell has a light sheen that makes a surface feel solid without looking too shiny.
MAGNOLIA HOME BY JOANNA GAINES TRIM & CABINETRY INTERIOR SEMI-GLOSS Paint is a water-based acrylic product designed for surfaces such as kitchen and bathroom cabinets, trim, window frames and doors. It offers the hardness of a traditional oil-based paint in an acrylic formula.
SW 7006Extra White
For a clean and crisp look, this white does the trick. Its high light reflectivity makes it an ideal choice for trim and ceilings. Actual color may vary from on-screen representation. To confirm your color choices prior to purchase, please view a physical color sample.
Another reason why consumers and designers often favor using Eggshell or Satin paint is that they've had a bad experience with the “chalky” look that low-quality flat paints have after a few years.
Eggshell paint offers a soft sheen that adds elegance and is more washable than flat paint, making it ideal for moderate-traffic areas. However, it shows imperfections more than matte finishes and lacks the durability of glossier options, so it may need more frequent touch-ups in high-traffic areas.
Halfway there: satin, low-lustre and eggshell
All of these finishes have a sheen that is between semigloss and flat paints. Satin and low-lustre paints have a slightly higher sheen than eggshell finishes. Paints in this category are warmer and provide a greater appearance of depth than flat paints.
Alabaster. With subtle beige undertones, Alabaster is the perfect mix of warm and cool for a result that makes this hue a go-to favorite for just about anywhere. Whether it's trim or the entire wall, this inviting shade adds a sense of ease.
Alkyd/Oil Based
Oil-based paint is the classic trim paint.
SW Pure White vs SW Alabaster
Sherwin-Williams' Alabaster (SW 7008) is a decidedly warmer and creamier white than SW Pure White. It is still bright and crisp, so it's a good alternative for north-facing rooms or spaces without much natural light. Pure White might appear cooler in those conditions.