Paint Trim Or Walls First
While theres no single right answer, most professional painters agree its best to start with the walls. That said, the order can depend on your tools, experience, and how precise you want... In this guide, youll learn the best order to paint walls, trim, and ceilings, along with essential tips on prepping, selecting paint, and choosing the right supplies.
We know that painting a room for the first time is a learning process, but one element of it is clear: getting the order right for painting trim, painting a ceiling, and painting walls will not only give you a smart result, but save time and effort, too. In short: the answer is to paint trim first. Many DIYers debate whether to paint trim or walls first.
Rich ONeil of Masterworks Painting advises, Paint all the woodwork firstthe first and second coatsthen move onto the walls. Get it right and your room looks professionally done even if this is your first big paint job. Lets walk through both orders, what actually happens in real life, and how to choose the best one for you.
The answer is decisive: You should paint your trim first as it will be easier to cut a straight line on the wall next to the trim, whether you are doing that by hand or with the assistance of tape, says Monica Mothershead, senior merchant of paint at The Home Depot. You should usually paint the trim first and the walls second, because that gives cleaner edges and lets you cut in and roll without worrying about smudging freshly finished woodwork. Prep properly: sand, caulk, and prime trim, remove or mask hardware, then paint trim and let it dry before cutting in walls.
The definitive sequence for painting a room begins at the top and moves downward, starting with the ceiling, followed by the trim, and concluding with the walls. Most of the time, paint interior trim first, then paint walls. It saves time because wall paint can easily cover small trim overlaps and create a crisp finish line.
Paint walls or trim first? Discover the best painting order, with tips for clean lines, less mess, and a smoother DIY project.
