Some procedures for painting a room are easier than others.
If you're getting ready to paint a room, you could be faced with a dilemma: Do you paint the trim or the walls first? To be honest, the choice is up to you. There are distinct advantages and disadvantage to each procedure. Of course, there is a third option. You could paint the walls and trim together. But before you can do any painting, your first step is to prepare the room.
Preparing the Room
Remove or cover furniture to protect it from paint splatters.
Preparing to paint is important because it saves time during the job and prevents costly cleanup after you are done. Move all the furniture either into another room or into the center of the room. Then cover the flooring with a drop cloth. Use masking or painting tape to protect surfaces you don't want painted, including windows and light fixtures. Turn off the power to the room and remove outlet and switch plates. Run an extension cord and use lamps in the room if you need additional lighting.
Painting the Walls First
Painting the walls first basically means starting from the top and working down. That way you will cover up and fix any splatters you make. If you paint the trim first, it might be too wet to protect with masking tape. Waiting to paint the trim also means that you don't need to waste time protecting it before you paint. Because trim work is detailed anyway, you could use a flexible paint shield to protect the walls when you work on the trim.
Painting the Trim First
Painting the trim first requires you to protect it when you paint the walls.
Painting the trim before the walls allows you to feather or brush out any marks on the walls rather than trying to remove them. It is also allows you to overlap onto the walls slightly with your trim color. Then you can create a straight edge when you paint the walls, which is much easier to do on the wall than on the narrow edge of the trim. Painting the trim does require you to protect it before you paint the walls, which means it cannot be painted the same day.
Paint Walls and Trim Together
A new trend in decorating can help you avoid this debate. If you paint the trim and the walls the same color, you can paint them at the same time. Monochromatic rooms are the latest trend. But this does not mean you have to paint everything white. You can use any color you like. In this case, it is best to take a page from the "walls first" argument and start at the top and work your way down.
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