Trim paint questions

[thiswillbe]

I realized this weekend that ALL the trim in my old/soon-to-be rental house really needs to be painted. Do you have a favorite white? I'm swimming in options, but don't know how to pick.

Many of the rooms are getting painted as well, and I'm leaning toward a warm-ish beige neutral (like Behr Weathered Sandstone or Natural Linen; I'd love other recs, though!!). Floors are hardwood, mostly.

A couple extra questions, if I may:
-- What's the best finish for trim?
-- Will I need to repaint the kitchen cabinets to match the new trim color? They're kinda a dingy white now.
-- Will I need to repaint the interior doors?

[thiswillbe]

Jul 21, 2013 17:28:39 GMT -5 nursecramer said:

What color is it right now? Honestly, I would just touch it up where it needs it with as close of a matching color as you can rather than repaint all of it, because it is a massive job, and you're right, if you repaint it all then you should also do the doors and possibly cabinets, too.

It's white, but in bad shape. Also, the white was put over a very dark blue (50s house with some interesting color choices in the past), so the blue is showing through in places. I haven't had any luck finding a match, and even if I could match it, I'm afraid it would still look dingy since the white appears to have yellowed over time.

[TBM]

I was looking for white paint ideas online, and came across several 'best white paint color for...' type articles, with designers giving their favorites. Many of them recommended specific colors for trim vs walls.

[pitterwoo]

Jul 21, 2013 17:21:51 GMT -5 thiswillbe said:

A couple extra questions, if I may:
-- What's the best finish for trim?
-- Will I need to repaint the kitchen cabinets to match the new trim color? They're kinda a dingy white now.
-- Will I need to repaint the interior doors?

Trim should be semi-gloss for wipeability.
If you paint trim you will probably need to paint doors to match.  You may or may not need to paint your kitchen cabinets.  They don't necessarily need to match the trim color.

[midwest07]

I painted all the trim in our house with Sherwin Williams Alabaster.  It was kind of random that I picked this color, but have seen a number of blogs that used it.  It's a nice basic white, with the right touch of creaminess so it's not blinding. 

I use the SW ProClassic Interior Latex Enamel in semi-gloss.  SW also has gloss and high gloss in this line, but semi-gloss works for me.  I was painting over wood trim that has little crevices throughout so I didn't want to highlight that.  If you were starting with a really smooth surface, then gloss would work too.

Yes it will be a pain, but I would also paint your doors and kitchen cabinets to match the trim color.  If you don't, those areas will look dingy in comparison.  The good thing is they are already white, so you might be able to get away with just one coat, or two at most if you are having an issue covering the old blue.

ETA:  I just saw this is for a rental house.  Then I might change my mind and say don't do the kitchen cabinets unless they look really bad once you paint the trim and doors.  That's a lot of work for a rental.

[Susie]

My trim color pick is SW Alabaster.  Finish:  semi-gloss.

Interior doors:  yes, I think they should match the trim.

Cabinets:  Depends.  I'd start out not, and then decide whether they look like they need it.  If they look intentionally different, they may be fine.  If they look "close but not quite," they probably need to be repainted.

[magdala]

I used Vermont Cream by Behr in a Satin finish for all the trim in the house

[munkii]

We used (and are using) SW Crisp Linen. The online swatch looks really pink, but it's not. It's used in all the trim on these images, and it's what we've experienced: www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/hgtv-home-by-sherwin-williams/color-palettes/urban-organic/

[kermit]

I'll third SW ProClassic semigloss in Alabaster. I did my whole house in it and it looks great.

[kellikans]

our trim is painted BM Chantilly Lace in semi-gloss.

[mkbt]

We just used SW Pro-Classic out of the can, no tint.  I love it!

[penguin23]

I used SW snowbound for all of my trim and doors. Its white (not super bright) and we have it with SW Dill, SW silvermist, BM revere pewter, SW sensitive tint and a Behr light pink. I used semi gloss and trim and door paint from SW. I would think you could paint your kitchen cabinets any color, unless they are the same shade of white you have now and you want to stick with white.