Interior Painting · Aug 2019
Foyer, pool table room and dining room: wood trim painted white
Foyer, pool table room and dining room: wood trim painted white. These are before, in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Aug 2019. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Stained Wood Trim and Dentil Crown Molding Painted White in a Foyer, Billiard Room and Dining Room
This home had dark stained wood trim throughout the foyer, billiard room and dining room. The crown molding has a dentil band, the doorways have fluted casings, and the windows, chair rail and baseboards were all the same reddish brown wood. Against beige walls, the trim made the rooms feel heavy. The in-progress photos show careful masking. Blue tape lines the window glass, plastic covers each pane, kraft paper surrounds the casings, and yellow tape protects the walls above the baseboards. Red paper covers the dark wood floors and plastic wraps the pool table. In the after photos, every piece of trim is a clean, bright white, and the dentil details on the crown now show crisp shadows. The billiard room walls are a light warm gray, the foyer and hall are a soft gray with white six-panel doors, and the dining room is a warm taupe with a white chair rail.
How We Painted This Stained Wood Trim White
- We covered the dark wood floors with paper and wrapped the pool table and dining furniture in plastic before any sanding started.
- We taped the window glass edges, covered each pane with plastic, and masked the walls around casings with kraft paper and tape.
- We cleaned the stained trim and scuff sanded the crown, dentil band, casings, chair rail and baseboards so primer could grip the old finish.
- We primed all of the wood trim with a stain-blocking primer, which stops the dark wood tones and tannins from bleeding into the white.
- We filled nail holes and caulked every joint where trim meets wall, which makes the white trim look like one continuous line.
- We applied two coats of white trim enamel by brush and sprayer, working the paint into the dentil band and fluted casings without drips.
- We painted the walls in each room with their new colors, then pulled the tape and paper and touched up every edge along the trim.
Paint Colors Similar to This White Trim and Soft Gray and Taupe Walls
These are similar colors to consider when painting wood trim white. They are not the exact colors used on this trim or these walls.
Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006
A clean, bright white close to this trim. It makes dentil crown and fluted casings stand out against gray or taupe walls.
Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray SW 7029
A warm light gray similar to the billiard room and foyer walls. It pairs well with bright white trim and dark wood floors.
Sherwin-Williams Balanced Beige SW 7037
A warm taupe close to the dining room walls. It gives a cozy feel above and below a white chair rail.
Questions About Painting Stained Wood Trim White
Do I need to sand stained trim before painting it?
Yes, a light scuff sanding is important. Stained trim usually has a clear coat that paint cannot grip well. Sanding dulls the surface, and a bonding or stain-blocking primer helps the paint stick. Without this prep, the white paint can peel or scratch off easily.
Why does white paint turn yellow or pink on wood trim?
Wood, especially oak and cherry, contains tannins that can bleed through white paint. This shows as yellow, pink or brown spots. A stain-blocking primer seals the wood first. Some very dark woods need two coats of primer before the white finish goes on.
Is it worth painting all the trim in a room at once?
Usually, yes. Mixing white trim and stained trim in the same room can look unfinished. Painting the crown, casings, chair rail and baseboards together gives a clean, consistent look. Many owners paint the trim and walls in the same project, since both need masking and floor protection.
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