Painting our 90s honey oak trim

A design dilemma: restain, paint, or keep the honey oak wood. While I love the resurgence of natural wood tones, modern design leans towards cooler wood tones, departing from the warm, orangey wood prevalent in the 90s. The competing honey oak in our home - doors, floors, trim, and cabinets - hold a timeless beauty. Yet despite its charm, it creates a 90s vibe, making the space feel heavy and outdated.

I looked into restaining the wood, but stripping the wood with harsh chemicals and removing the stripper by scraping and sanding sounded daunting and potentially unhealthy. So, we opted to paint the trim instead. While I know the topic of painting beautiful honey oak trim can be controversial, let me tell you, we did not regret it. It completely transformed our space. This guide details our process, with tips and tricks to achieve a professional-looking finish.

Prep Like a Pro

Before you dive into transforming your trim, proper preparation is crucial for a smooth, professional-looking finish.

1. Remove or Secure Loose Nails: Identify and remove any protruding brad nails for a smooth finish. If the trim feels loose, secure the trim by adding additional brad nails for stability.
2. Fill Holes & Gaps:  Use wood putty to fill any holes or gaps in the trim, ensuring a level surface for even paint application.
3. Sand (if necessary): Lightly sand the trim with sandpaper to smooth out rough patches or bumps. Focus only on rough spots, avoiding unnecessary sanding of the entire trim.
4. Remove Hardware: Before painting window trim, remove any hardware like handles, hinges, and locks.
5. Clean: Eliminate dust, dirt, and grime using a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner. A clean surface promotes proper paint adhesion.
6. Protect your surroundings: Don't repeat our messy mistake – mini rollers can fling paint farther than expected, and tiny paint splatters are no fun to clean. So go wide with masking. Instead of a thin strip of painter's tape, use at least a foot of masking paper or plastic sheeting on the floor, walls, and any fixtures you want to keep paint-free.

Select a Prime and Paint in One

Skip the primer. We saved significant time using a paint and primer in one – specifically, Sherwin-Williams Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint.

Why We Love This Paint:

• Self-Leveling: Creates a smooth, even finish without brushstrokes.
• Durable: Dries hard and withstands scrubbing and cleaning.
• Stain-Resistant: Repels spills and messes easily.
• Mold & Mildew Protection: Provides peace of mind in moisture-prone areas.
• Low VOCs: Meets strict emission standards for healthier indoor air.
• Customizable: Available in customized tints with a wide range of flat, matte, satin, and semi-gloss finishes to match your vision.

Investment Worthy: While it is expensive, the time saved and the exceptional quality make it worthwhile, in our opinion. Our trim looks professionally sprayed – a transformation that speaks for itself!

Our Method for a Flawless Finish

Though time-consuming, our painting technique achieved a beautiful, professional-looking finish on our trim. If you've got a partner to help with this process, it will move faster. However, it's totally manageable without one.

Tools:

• Purdy XL Cub 2-in Reusable Nylon- Polyester Blend Angle Paint Brush
• Purdy WhiteDove 4.5-in x 1/4-in Nap Mini Woven Acrylic Fiber Paint Roller
• Purdy 6.5-in Jumbo Mini Paint Roller
• Paint Pail with Brush Holder
• Paint Pail Liners
• Craft Masking Paper
• Painters Tape

Method:

1. Thin Coat Application: We applied a thin coat of paint with the angled brush, avoiding heavy strokes for a smoother finish.
2. Roll Away Brush Strokes: Immediately following the brush application, the second person rolled over the painted area with the mini roller to eliminate brush strokes and drips to achieve an even coat. Note: don’t let your roller get too gunky with dried paint or your finish might look tacky. Unfortunately we had to go through LOTS of mini rollers.
3. Multiple Coats: We applied four thin coats; maybe you won't need this many, allowing each to dry completely before the next. This step added some time to the project, potentially due to our thin coat application and rolling technique, which can lift some of the paint.
4. Caulk (if needed): Addressing uneven trim makes a world of difference for a polished, finished look.

The meticulous effort may seem daunting, but trust me, it's worth it. This method resulted in a stunning transformation: a professional-looking, flawless finish that instantly modernized and opened up our home. You'd think the trim had always been there, expertly integrated, not a quick fix or DIY project. And no brushstrokes!

But remember, this isn't a race. Tackle one room or area at a time to avoid burnout and sacrificing a clean finish. While it may be time-consuming, embrace the process. Seeing your vision come to life, piece by piece, can be incredibly therapeutic and rewarding.

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