For interior trim, use an acrylic enamel or waterborne alkyd paint. These paints dry to a hard, durable, and easily cleanable finish designed to resist dents and scuffs. Choose a semi-gloss or satin sheen, as these offer the perfect balance of washability and subtle shine.
For trim, satin is the superior choice over eggshell. Satin provides higher durability, withstands frequent wiping, and offers a slight, elegant luster that makes architectural features stand out. Eggshell is generally too soft for high-traffic trim areas and is best reserved for walls.
The traditional choice for painting doors, trims and skirting boards has always been oil based gloss because it's practical and hardwearing. Gloss paint holds up better for cleaning. Doors and the trims can get grubby which makes gloss type paints the preferred option, but some argue it's outdated.
Choosing Paint Sheen Based On Use And Traffic
It's forgiving on imperfections, easy to clean and gives you that soft, elevated look. Semi-Gloss (Trim Paint): Best for baseboards, moldings, doors, cabinets and high-traffic zones like hallways and mudrooms.
Semi-gloss baseboard paint is a great choice for baseboards for several reasons. First, having a higher sheen on your baseboards makes them stand out! It provides a striking visual contrast to the more matte walls. Second, semi-gloss paint is one of the most durable paint sheens.
The current trend for baseboards favors minimalist, clean, and seamless designs. The most popular styles are tall, flat-stock profiles with square or slightly eased edges, frequently painted the exact same color as the walls to elongate the room visually.
Generally, a matte finish is considered more artistic and professional for display items like portraits, gallery walls, and wedding albums. A glossy finish looks more like a classic, high-energy photo print.
If you're looking for the exact height to go with, you can use the 7% rule – choose a height closest to 7% of the overall height of your room. So here are some examples: For a room that is 7ft in ceiling height (84 inches), you would use a baseboard height of roughly 5.88 inches or taller.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
Here are five paint colors that real estate professionals and designers consistently recommend to help homes sell faster and for more:
The best interior trim paints combine easy water cleanup with the scuff resistance, leveling, and hard finish of traditional oil-based paints. Professional and DIY consensus points to Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel and Benjamin Moore ADVANCE as the top two performers.
You'll only need one coat of primer, but plan on applying two (possibly three) coats of paint when painting baseboards and trim, and be sure to let each coat dry thoroughly before moving onto the next.
Long, smooth strokes in the direction of the grain will help to avoid brush marks. For flat trim, you may use a small roller as it can be faster than brushing. The primer may not completely hide what's underneath – this is fine!
When Would you Not Use Eggshell Paint? It would help if you did not use this finish in high-traffic areas or on constantly touched objects—for example, kitchen cabinets and bathrooms. Instead, you would use a gloss because it's washable and withstands moisture better.
New unfinished moulding and trim will need to be primed. For existing trim, spot prime over any areas that you filled in with spackling compound and allow it to dry completely. Recheck the areas and add another coat of primer if needed. Sand the areas so that they're smooth.
Eggshell and satin are both excellent mid-sheen paint finishes, but they differ primarily in durability and shine. Eggshell has a softer, less reflective glow that easily conceals wall imperfections. Satin is glossier, more durable, and much easier to clean, making it better for high-traffic areas.
Beige tones, hues of white, and grey should be the colors of choice for your furniture, curtains, drapes, and other home accessories. Neutral colors not only give that plush look, but they also give you that warm feeling.
There are three main types of “impossible” colors: Forbidden colors. These are colors our eyes simply cannot process because of the antagonistic way our cones work, for instance “red-green” or “yellow-blue.”
Top 10 Timeless Paint Colors for Your Home
Minimalist and flat baseboards are currently the most popular. The contemporary design focus is on clean lines and subtle elegance rather than ornate millwork.
The best way to paint trim is to follow a strict "Prep over Paint" routine to ensure an even, long-lasting finish.
Baseboards do not have to be exactly the same throughout your house, though maintaining a consistent profile, height, and color across connected open spaces is highly recommended. You can safely vary baseboards based on room function, ceiling height, or historical accuracy, provided you do it deliberately.
Older heritage homes look fabulous with a semi-gloss trim, but can easily handle a satin finish. Newer or modern homes tend to suit a satin finish.
Longevity of Matte vs. Glossy. Both matte and glossy paper offer durability, but their longevity depends on how they are used and stored. Matte paper tends to be more resistant to fingerprints and minor scratches, making it a great option for frequently handled materials.
Matte offers a softer, more refined look with minimal glare, making it ideal for storytelling and everyday use. Gloss delivers a more vibrant, high-contrast finish that makes colours pop and images feel more striking. Neither option is universally “better” – it depends on what you want your Photo Book to feel like.