In most cases, the best paint for baseboards is a water-based or Acrylic-Alkyd hybrid paint with a semi-gloss paint sheen is the best choice for painting baseboards and trim. Benjamin Moore Advanced is a popular choice; it can be purchased at one of their paint stores.
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.
A good brushing technique is to apply several coats in different stroking directions. Always paint over wet paint unless you're applying a new coat. Yes, painting with a brush can be a more tedious process. A paintbrush, however, will offer you a greater level of control and finish quality when painting your trim.
THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR TRIMS, DOORS & MOLDINGS
Hands down, satin is the most popular finish for any type of trims, doors and mouldings. Why is it so popular? It's washable without being overly glossy.
An eggshell finish will be more forgiving when it comes to imperfections on your walls, and is durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors.
Generally, semi-gloss paint is used for baseboards, door and window casings, crown molding, cabinets, and doors. Its high sheen allows it to reflect more light, which highlights details in trim, while its durability makes it a good candidate for surfaces that see a lot of wear and frequent cleaning.
Acrylic-Latex Paint. Durable, moisture-resistant oil-based rather than latex paints were once the only way to go for trim. The longer drying time and thick formula helped to prevent unsightly, streaky brush strokes and sagging. However, more acrylic-latex (water-based) formulas are now available for use on trim.
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.
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.
Choose an oil-based paint.
Alkyd or natural oil binders also makes these paints naturally more resistant to moisture and everyday wear-and-tear than water-based products—an asset when trim is located in a water-prone or high-traffic area (e.g., baseboards in a bathroom or hallway).
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.
The short answer is no; you do not need to paint primed baseboards. You don't need to paint your baseboards at all. If you primed the baseboards yourself, you may like the look and choose to leave it as is. If the baseboards came primed (all MDF baseboards come primed), you might like the look, but odds are you don't.
Multiply length x width to get the square footage of trim to be painted. Divide the total by 400 to get the number of gallons of paint you'll need for one coat. You'll likely need less than a gallon for a standard room, so consider buying trim paint in a quart or two.
Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes are best for trim and molding. Semi-gloss has a higher gloss level than a satin finish, but isn't as shiny as high-gloss. High-gloss is good for trim areas that are washed often.
Oil/Alkyd. Good adhesion, excellent durability and stain resistance make Sherwin-Williams oil/alkyd-based paints excellent choices for trim in high-traffic rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
“Most builders or professionals will spray versus brush or roll trim to get a smoother finish, and you want your trim to be smooth to the touch and to not have any orange peel or brush lines.” Since you always tape when spraying, you end up with a very clean line, which allows you to cut in nicely.
The Cleaning Scale
That means that Satin, semi-gloss, and High Gloss will be the easiest to wipe away blemishes without harming the surfaces. That being said, not many homeowners want their interior walls to shine at that level. Usually, Satin, Semi-Gloss, and High Gloss are left to cabinets, trim, and doors.
Classic white works well for plain trim as well as more elaborate molding styles. It's great with white walls or colored walls, so it really is the ultimate no-fail option, which is probably partly why it's such a popular choice.
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.
The most popular choice is a semi-gloss finish. If you're unsure, you really can't go wrong with a semi-gloss paint finish on your trim. Regardless of what color trim you choose, a semi-gloss paint will allow your trim to stand out. It also makes keeping it clean a bit easier.
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.