A buddy of mine does work similar to me and we realized we do things differently. When painting a room one of us paints the walls and then the trim. The other party paints the trim first and then the walls. I am hoping a painter can break the tie in this discussion, which approach works best?

Thanks,
Bob

I always paint the trim first (around doors, windows, baseboards etc.). I don't have to worry if I get some on the walls because they will be painted after.

Trim first.

Wondergirl anywhere near Wheaton? I'm the one who wanted to do trim first but my bud did present a good argument.

Ballenger, I sent you mail.

My mom has painted our family residences most of her adult life, like, 60+ years. Trim first for her too.

In coloring books, first outline the picture with crayons, then fill in. Jigsaw puzzles - put together the border first, then fill in the picture. Same for painting a room.

I'm a library cataloger and obsessive-compulsive...

I always did the walls first, then the trim... but I have always been back-a~~wards :)

We paint the trim first then the walls, I find it easier to cut in the walls to the trim

Nice thing about varnished wood is you don't have to paint it all the time.

Once was varnished for 20 years but my wife got "new" ideas and once you paint you'll always paint.

We paint ceiling, walls, then trim.

I paint the large surfaces first because it is much easier to mask-off on the large surface as compared to masking off the edge of the trim that meets the wall.

I think this gets us pretty close to a dead heat but Clough does more painting than most who answered. I'll see if my friend will concede the bet. Thanks.

Paint trim first let dry tape of trim and paint wall

Always paint your trim first because you can cut in the wall and get a nice clean edge. Cut your walls in with a nice 4" brush and start just a bit off the trim and move it in for your clean edge when your spreading the paint.