Should You Paint The Walls Or Trim First? Experts Weigh In

If you have ever tackled a paint project at home, it’s likely that you learned a lesson or two the hard way. For me, painting our dining room proved one such education—namely, I discovered that brushing a coat of water-based paint over an oil-based one is a recipe for a peeling paint disaster. Of course, a little research on the front end could have saved me—and is sure to save you—from a multitude of DIY painting sins, which is why we’re taking one of our key home improvement questions to the pros: Should you paint the walls or the trim first?

Which Comes First: Painting The Walls Or Trim?

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. Painting the trim allows you to focus on a smooth finish without being too fretful over any potential runaway paint on the walls; you’ll be painting over those errant strokes later anyway. 

Pointers For Prepping Before Painting

Of course, a successful paint job is largely dependent on the prep work that’s done before you ever crack open the can of paint, notes Will Hudson, The Home Depot’s senior merchant of paint sundries. Here are some pointers for preparing the area before painting begins.

• Get a smooth surface: “First, make sure your surface has all damage and holes patched or repaired and is sanded smooth,” says Hudson.
• Give it a good clean: “After sanding, be sure the surface is clean of any dust/dirt/debris so the tape sticks properly.
• Prepare for tape: "You’ll want to make sure you’re using the right type of tape for the surface too," instructs Hudson. Use a credit card or putty knife to help smoothly secure the tape to the wall, then let it set for 30 minutes to an hour before painting.
• Finish it off: Once you’ve painted, wait until the last coat has dried to remove the tape. Scoring along the edge of the tape with a putty knife or something similar can help prevent the paint from coming up with the tape, says Hudson.

So the next time you’re tempted to break out the paint brushes for a DIY home makeover, consult the experts first. They can save you some time and some potential heartache.