If your home is feeling dark and a little too much like something King Henry VIII would have found stylish back in the 16th century, you might want to consider transforming dark wood trim into something lighter and brighter. A fresh coat of white paint can work wonders for any interior, even if you’re only painting the trim. All it takes is a few hundred dollars, a weekend, and careful attention to detail.
Taking wood trim such as baseboards, chair rails, and door and window frames from dark to white isn’t quite as simple as painting a wall. However, it’s not an impossible task for a careful DIYer. Here’s how to paint your dark wood trim white and be thrilled with the results.
1. Pick Your New Color
Painting your room’s dark wood trim white requires some forethought and proper planning. One of the best ways to begin is by using a visualizer tool to see how your new lighter trim color will work with the rest of the room. Check out the HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams color visualizer or the Glidden Paint Color visualizer tools.
2. Gather the Necessary Supplies
For this job you’ll need sufficient quantities of your selected paint. Calculate that figure by first adding up the trim’s length and width, then multiplying those totals together for the total square footage. You’ll need approximately one gallon of paint for every 400 square feet, so adjust accordingly and then double that for two coats. You’ll also need primer, sandpaper, clean-up supplies, plus wood filler, a putty knife, painter’s tape, drop cloths or tarps, a paint tray, and paintbrushes.
Get all your supplies together before you start the project. That’ll save you time and energy, and keep frustration at bay, when you realize you forgot something midway through!
3. Clean and Fill in the Trim
Before you start painting, you’ll need to prepare the trim so it takes the paint cleanly. Use a sponge and a mixture of water with a few tablespoons of a mild soap or laundry detergent to wash the trim. If it’s heavily scuffed, you might need more specialized cleaning supplies, such as a “magic eraser” sponge. Clean the trim as well as a few inches of the adjacent wall space so that the painter’s tape will stick properly.
After you’ve cleaned the surface, fill in any nail holes and nicks with wood filler and a putty knife. Then sand down the trim surface so that it will grip the new coat of paint. After you’ve sanded the trim, wipe off the area with a clean, lightly moistened sponge to remove the grit. Let the trim and surrounding areas dry completely, then tape off the trim to protect the wall from drips and accidental brush strokes.
4. Prime the Trim
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to apply a primer coat. This is especially true if you had a lot of areas to fill in with wood putty. Achieving a uniform coat of a light color over a dark one is a tricky proposition without a good coat of primer applied first. You’ll need to wait a day in between applying the primer and starting to paint the trim in your chosen color.
5. Paint!
Now it’s time to paint, but it’s important to follow best practices to ensure thorough, even coverage and a stunning finish. Stir the paint carefully with the paint stick then pour a small amount into your paint tray. Working with a small amount at a time helps avoid waste due to dried-out paint.
Use a brush of the appropriate width for the trim you’re working with, then carefully paint with short strokes on one small section at a time. After you achieve an even coat for that section, take one more pass with the brush in a long stroke to “erase” visible brush marks. Then move on to the next section.
Keep your tape in place until you’ve applied the last coat and it’s completely dried. You can use your putty knife to carefully break off any paint that’s attached to the tape’s edge so that removing the tape doesn’t pull paint off the trim.
Painting and Your Home’s Value
A carefully executed paint job will help stage your home for a quicker sale. It can even help you present your home in the best possible light for a valuation and appraisal. Just make sure you take your time and exercise care when applying the paint for pristine, even coverage. And if you’re not confident in your painting skills, consider hiring a professional to get the job done right.
