Trim paint is most often semi-
Anyone not recommending an enamel for trim/doors is flat out wrong or they use it to save money. Yes, regular wall paint will technically work, but it doesn't have the hardness required for high touch surfaces.
Yes, you can paint trim and baseboards the same color as walls. However, for better results, use an eggshell kind of matte finish for the wall and a satin finish for the baseboards.
Trim paint and paints made for specific applications tend to reflect the quality of the ingredients in the price. More expensive coating tend to have higher quality or more hardner.
A flat finish is perfect for walls, but when it comes to the other details, you'll want to add more dimension. Use a satin finish for trim and a gloss finish for doors.
Paint the Trims Next
Once you're done with your ceiling it's time to move onto the trims. This is one of the trickiest parts to get right. A huge plus of painting the trim before walls is that you don't have to worry about a drop or two getting onto the wall.
It is important that you choose the right paint for the type of door you will be working on. Most paints and varnishes are fine for internal doors. But, if you are be painting an exterior door then you need to use weatherproof paint. Another thing to consider is whether the paint is oil or latex-based.
Is it better to paint trim with a roller or brush? Brushing is generally the best option for most trim. You can use a mini 4” roller for flat stock trim boards to work more quickly but for trim with complex profile designs a brush allows you more efficiently paint all the edges and grooves.
The best paint finish for trim
Semi-gloss is a great choice for these areas. A semi-gloss paint finish will read "shinier" than an eggshell.
Thanks to gravity's pull, wet paint can "sag" downwards as it dries, leaving an uneven or blotchy finish. Trim paint is generally somewhat thicker than regular wall paint to help prevent this.
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.
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.
Spray The Trim With A First Coat
It's time for your first top coat, which should be a high quality trim paint! At Culver's Painting, we use Sherwin Williams' Pro Classic or Emerald Urethane. These premium products are specially designed for woodwork and will provide a beautiful and durable finish.
Because the woodwork in your home is a different material than the drywall, two different products will need to be used. This means that even though the paint for the walls and the trim are the same shade, you will still need to pay the price for two different paint products.
Tip: If the trim hasn't been painted before, you'll need to use a good-quality primer. The “paint and primer in one” options available these days are wonderful for walls, but I would still go with a dedicated primer for something that will see so much wear and tear.
The trim in a room can really help to define its style, so you will want to choose a sheen that really helps the trim stand out against the walls. Gloss and semi-gloss sheens are particularly popular for interior trim because these paints offer a reflective quality and they also tend to last.
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.
Give the Finishing Touch
However, the trim often gets beat up, so it is also important to factor this in. For these reasons, an eggshell finish for trim is typically the go-to for the pros.
When painting smooth ceilings, the best strategy is to roll parallel with the main source of natural light, such as a big window, as it helps prevent roller lines. If you roll perpendicular to the dominant light source, the roller lines can form a slight shadow. The same applies when spraying.
A smaller foam roller for painting, sometimes called picture roller, can help you handle painting requirements for different types of molding, trim frames, and other smaller painting tasks. You can achieve a neat trim with these 3 to 4 inch roller designs.
With each stroke, immediately use a clean, high-quality brush to lightly drag through the wet paint, which will smooth out any roller stipple. This needs to be done quickly, so have your brush already in hand while rolling. Don't touch it! If you see streaks or runs after a few minutes of drying, leave it alone.
Both methods have their pros and cons. Painting doors standing up is less space-consuming and allows you to paint both sides at the same time (if they're dry to the touch). Painting doors while they're laying down, however, can minimize drips and runs.
We recommend Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Paint. It is a mix of oil and latex paint that creates the best paint for trim and for baseboards.