How to Easily Paint Trim!

If there is one thing I have a LOT of experience with...it is this grasshoppers.....painting trim.  I have literally painted all the trim in my house over two years except for a couple rooms which are haunting me.  Nevertheless, I have definitely come up with the EASIEST way to do this that really isn't so daunting.

First off, things you need:

 

1. The best primer ever, no sanding needed.  I used the water-based version.

Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 water-based primer in white.

 

2.  Next up, you need a good enamel paint.  I used this exact kind from Home Depot.

Behr Interior Eggshell Enamel.

 

3.  You know I am a Benjamin Moore snob (haha) so I would count on no other for my topcoat!

Benjamin Moore Regal Select in Semi-Gloss Finish in white.

 

4.  You need some AWESOME blue tape.  Do not buy cheap!This stuff will be protecting your floors and walls.

Scotch Blue Tape (a thick size) :)

 

5.  My go-to baby.  I refer to her as my "shortie".  :)

Wooster Shortcut 2" brush 

 

6.  Last thing you need to finish it right!  

DAP Caulk in white (I prefer the little squeezy tube so I feel I have more control)

Alright kids, we know what we need, now how do we do it?

Welllllll......

Some before shots of my guest bathroom...

 

First thing I would tell you, if you are going to paint the walls, do this first!  Then you do not need to worry about taping off trim.

     After painting my walls, my trim looked like so.  Now time for the Blue Scotch!

 

I begin by taping around the bottom along the floor very tight to the baseboards so there is no bleed through onto the floors.

I then go along the tops of the baseboards again very tightly to the wall as close as I can get to the baseboard. 

 

After taping off all the trim your steps are as follows:

Using the Wooster brush (clean between paint types)

1.  Two coats of Zinsser Primer (this can be done in one day as it dries very fast)

2. One coat of Behr Enamel paint

3.  One to two coats of Benjamin Moore Semi Gloss top coat based on 

if you think it needs two coats or not.

         

Then your trim will look like so!  Let it dry overnight after the last coat you apply.

Then, when taking off the tape, pull up from the trim so it comes cleanly off.

Ok, last step!  The caulk!  It is very important that you do this step so it comes out looking professional.

Cut the tip at a clean forty five degree angle.  I just use a steak knife.

                                
                                Before Caulk                                                 After Caulk

        

You can clearly see the difference of how important it is to caulk.

 

Tah-dah!  Finito!

Totally worth it!