Are you looking to update your door and trim paint with a fresh, durable coat? Choosing the best paint for trim in terms of both sheen level and product quality is key to achieving a long-lasting, beautiful finish. Since doors and trim are highly used and get a lot of wear and tear, opt for a top quality product that offers both high durability and sheen. In this blog post, we’re sharing our top door and trim paint products to consider when freshening up your paint.
In This Post
What is the Best Paint for Trim?
The first thing to consider when choosing door and trim paint is the sheen level. Since trim and doors are high-touch areas, it’s best to go with a higher sheen, such as satin, semi-gloss or gloss. These sheens are shinier than what you would paint on an interior wall but, are more durable and easy to clean, which is important when you have kids, pets, and lots of traffic coming in and out of your home. Plus, they make the trim stand out, adding the perfect “pop” of design to your home.
Read more about choosing the best sheen for your door and trim paint in this blog post.
What Paint For Trim is Best?
The best paint for trim is trim enamel paint, which is specifically formulated to be both durable and damage-resistant. Enamel paint comes in both oil-based and water-based formulas, so you can find the best product for your home and family.
Enamel refers to the hardness of the paint finish. A specific trim enamel will be much harder and more durable than a regular semi-gloss wall paint will be. Enamel paint is known for its toughness and ability to withstand the daily activity in a home, such as shoes being kicked off, toys bumping into the wall, furniture rubbing, doors opening and closing, etc. For the most long-term protection, enamel paint is our recommendation for door and trim paint since it is so hard and durable, making it hold up better (and longer!). Specific trim paint usually has some extra self-leveling characteristics built into the product as well, which helps give the paint a smoother final appearance.
Top Door and Trim Paint Products
After years of experience painting interior homes and helping guide DIYers via our blog, we have a few door and trim paint products that we turn to and recommend to our customers and readers. These options offer the durability, hardness, and long-lasting beautiful finish you’re looking for on your doors and trim.
Sherwin-Williams Waterborne ProClassic
Our top product choice for trim paint is almost always the Sherwin-Williams Waterborne ProClassic. It has a hard, smooth-finished appearance and is one of the best covering trim enamel we’ve tried so far. This paint gives a luxurious finish to your trim while withstanding all the wear and tear that comes along. It has a non-yellowing finish and goes on smooth without leaving pesky brush or roller marks. Since it’s a water-based formula, clean-up is easy and it has minimal odor.
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
Another great option for trim paint is the Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel. This paint is specifically designed for trim, so it packs a durable punch while also giving users the benefits of a water-based paint. Its finish is smooth and strong, making it perfect for trim in high-traffic areas, such as door frames or baseboards.
Benjamin Moore Advance
Benjamin Moore Advance Interior paints are a popular choice for door and trim paint. These paints go on easily and leave a smooth finish. They are water-based and have low VOCs. These paints dry hard and provide excellent coverage and hide for any imperfections that may already exist or that may occur.
Benjamin Moore Command
Benjamin Moore’s Corotech Command paint line also has high-quality water-based enamel paint options. These paints are known to dry fast without compromising durability or the overall aesthetic. You’ll get great coverage as well as a smooth, hard finish, perfect for doors and trim.
Regional Options
While these are our top door and trim paint options, you can also find some really great products sold regionally, so be sure to ask your local paint store what they might recommend for trim paint as well. They can help you find paints that work best in your climate.
All in all, choosing the best paint for trim and doors is essential and can make all the difference in the overall look and longevity of your paint job. With our top product picks in mind, you can feel confident heading into the paint store and choosing the best option for your home.
If you’re looking for a professional paint company to help you update your doors and trim using only the best paint products and techniques, we’d love to partner with you.
Reach out via our contact page to book your free estimate today!
