Although the walls remain at the centre of our attention while painting a room, it’s just as essential to think about how the paint will suit your space’s trim and moulding. When moulding and trim are concerned, the majority decides to go with neutral shades to complement the room’s colours. And their real concern and consideration are focused on the type of paint finish they should use.
The Best Kind of Paint to Use on Trim
When it’s time to paint trim and crown moulding, you should select paint specifically designed for this very reason. Generally, trim paint is shinier and glossier and is formulated to carry a thicker consistency for a better and smoother application process. Yet, you don’t need to use paint that is labelled as moulding paint.
If you’re considering using regular paint rather than trim paint, you must know the type of finish you’re looking for. The kind of finish you use also relies on a bunch of factors, including the place you’ll be using it and the overall look you want to achieve in the room.
The Best Kind of Finish for Trim
When choosing the type of finish for your trim, you’ll want to consider the type of surface you’re painting and how it’s going to withstand wear and tear.
Semi-gloss:
Semi-gloss is the go-to finish for your moulding and trim. It contains an element of shine similar to high-gloss but comes with a more dull finish, which is better at hiding flaws. Besides, it’s highly durable and easy to clean, making it ideal for high traffic areas.
High-gloss:
High-gloss is a shiny enamel finish that depicts a classy finish, yet it can also highlight any imperfections on the surface. When you consider using high-gloss, you should ensure your surface is without any bumps and perfectly smooth and that the application goes smooth as well. If you don’t do this the right way, you and all your guests can see any brushstrokes and any minor flaws due to how the light bounces off the paint.
Satin:
Satin matte finish serves well to make heavy trim work less dramatic and gives off a more chic and modern look. Satin is also relatively simple to clean and looks excellent in more gothic or minimalistic architecture.
Preparing Your Trim for Painting
The best way to achieve an exceptional finish on moulding and trim is to make sure you begin with a clean and smooth canvas. It’s usually the kind of surface that exposes any flaws, which can eventually impact your room’s overall look. If you find any nail holes, dents, or cracks in your moulding or trim surface, you should immediately repair them using wood filler to flatten and smooth out the surface.
Should You Sand Before Painting Trim
The thing that makes trim and moulding so challenging to paint is that any uneven surfaces will always pop up. These surfaces can be hard to cover up. Prior to painting moulding or trim, it’s ideal to sand down the surface in its entirety to smooth things out. When you start to sand, make sure you’re working in small, doable sections, so you’re not missing any rough edges.
After you’re done sanding, wipe everything down with a wet cloth and then let it dry. Keep in mind that if you have sanded and filled out any areas, you should only be using primer on those areas and spots where the wood is peaking through. If not, you may paint the trim directly without priming your beautiful front door entranceway having light brown flooring.
