Give the Finishing Touch
For these reasons, an eggshell finish for trim is typically the go-to for the pros. It has a light shine and will stand up to scuffs and dings from say the vacuum or children playing. Plus, it is easy to scrub clean.
More Trim Paint Questions. What is the best paint finish for trim? Semi-gloss paint is always best for trim, doors and cabinetry because it's so easy to wipe clean. You can also choose gloss paint because it's also so easy to clean, but it's significantly shinier.
Satin is my go-to sheen for bathroom walls, interior doors, trim, baseboards, and exterior walls. Semi-gloss paint is great for frequently cleaned areas and rooms that deal with excess moisture. It's highly durable and has a semi-high level of shine.
While the satin finish is a default choice for homeowners when it comes to renovating interior walls, furniture etc, Semi-gloss finish is ideal for use on window trims, kitchen cabinets etc.
'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.
Of the two, satin is more durable and is slightly less likely to scuff or mark than eggshell and it's easier to clean when it does get marked. This makes it a better choice, especially for woodwork such as painting skirting boards, than eggshell for high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
Semi-gloss is the best finish for trim because it's not only because it's easier to clean and more durable, but it also helps to reflect the light in a room, creating a subtle contrast that allows your trims to pop against your walls.
Tips. Paint molding one sheen higher than the walls. If your walls are eggshell, use semi-gloss. If your walls are semi-gloss, use gloss for all of the trim including crown, baseboards and other moldings.
If you are painting your walls and trimming the same color, here are some of the things I recommend: When choosing the paint finish, paint the wood trim in satin (or high or semi-gloss for more “shiny drama”) and the walls in eggshell or flat.
Trim paint is most often semi-gloss, meaning it has some shine, but not the intense shine of a gloss or high-gloss. There are a few reasons for using a glossy paint on trim, rather than eggshell or matte: The glossier the finish, the easier it is to wipe clean.
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.
The best paint sheen would be semi-gloss or any other type of higher gloss paint for white trim. It has high durability and is easy to clean! Unfortunately, the higher gloss paints usually reflect more imperfections on the surface.
Semigloss is the best paint finish for interior doors and trim. The reason being, semi-gloss can take up quite an abuse and stand up to nicks and scrapes better than any other sheen, flat or eggshell finish. The large surfaces gather dust just like your furniture.
Semi-gloss paint is paint with a sheen that reflects an above-average amount of light. It is shinier than satin, pearl, and eggshell, yet flatter than high gloss. Unlike satin, semi-gloss is rarely ever used on walls.
Do you paint walls or trim first? From a professional point of view, with interior painting, it makes the most sense to paint your trim first, then ceilings, and then your walls. It's much easier and faster to tape off trim than to tape off your walls. And you definitely don't want the hassle of taping them both.
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin.
Should my trim be lighter or darker than my walls? There are no set rules on whether your trim should be lighter or darker than your walls, it completely depends on your overall design and vision for your chosen space.
In my opinion, satin paint is the best finish for interior trim and doors. It has such a sleek finish, it's still durable and easy to clean, and it's not going to show nearly as many imperfections as a high-gloss paint would.
Joanna often uses Sherwin Williams Alabaster for her trim, and occasionally Sherwin Williams Pure White. Use one color for trim throughout your home and you'll have a home where rooms just flow from one into the next. Every home needs a go-to neutral wall color.
BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65
Unlike SW Extra white, Chantilly Lace is more of a true white. It doesn't have any blue undertones, no warmth, it's just white. So obviously that makes it one of the best white paint options for baseboards and trim. I find that Chantilly Lace goes with everything.
SW Extra White (color review) is one of Sherwin-Williams' most popular paint colors – one of their top 5 best sellers and one of the Top 50 Paint Colors. Many houses in North America use Extra White in one way or another, especially as a white trim color. It's also used as a base for many Sherwin-Williams colors.
From the perspective of a Color Designer/Consultant, I typically specify eggshell on walls for multiple reasons that benefit the people who are dwelling in the home. Eggshell paint cleans easier, covers better, wears better, and lasts longer than flat paint.
Eggshell paint is not well-suited to doors or trim around windows and doors. Semi-gloss is the best option for those frequently touched surfaces, because it is highly durable and easy to clean. Satin can be used as well.
Satin has a slightly higher sheen than eggshell, meaning that it is more reflective and durable.