How to Paint Dark Wood Trim White (And Why It Might Be Worth It)
Are you staring at that dark oak trim in your home wondering, “Should I paint it white?” You’re not alone. A lot of homeowners in Elgin, Algonquin, and St. Charles are asking the same thing—and for good reason. I was there myself 3 years ago! I had almost black stained wood, which we decided to paint white! So sould you ire someone or do it yourself? Lets dive in to How to Paint Dark wood Trim White
Painting your stained wood trim white is one of those updates that modernizes your space, increases brightness, and can even boost your home’s resale value. But… it’s not as easy as grabbing a brush and going to town. So lets dive in:
📝 Table of Contents
- 🌟 Why Homeowners Are Painting Trim White
- ⚖️ Step-by-Step: How We Do It
- 💸 What It Costs
- ❓ FAQ Section
- 🚀 Final Thoughts & Local Bonus Perks
🌟 Why Homeowners Are Painting Trim White
Dark trim can make rooms feel smaller and a little stuck in a 90s time warp. While stained wood has its charm, ( I am a huge fan of white oak and hickory myself) but today’s trends lean toward cleaner, brighter, more open looks. White trim helps with:
- ✨ Brightening the space
- 🔄 Modernizing your home’s look
- 🏡 Increasing appeal to future buyers
“We’re not saying this trim is stuck in 1994… but if it had a mixtape, it’d be all Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey.”
⚖️ Step-by-Step: How We Paint Trim from Dark to White
1. 🔧 Prep Work
- Fill nail holes
- Caulk gaps with elastomeric caulk
- Mask floors with 12″ masking paper
- Sand to dull that glossy shine (don’t skip this!)
2. ⚖️ Prime Time
- Use Stix® Waterborne Bonding Primer
- For oak: two coats of primer help fill grain
3. 🎨 Paint It Like a Pro
- Two coats of Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel or Advance® by Benjamin Moore
- Light sanding between coats for smooth finish
- you can brish or roll it for great looking finishes
4. 🗃️ Final Touches
- Reinstall hardware
- Tidy up details for that pro finish
“Painting trim without sanding is like painting a car without washing it first—just don’t.”
💸 What It Costs
Expect between $800 and $1,350 per room for full prep, primer, and paint. It varies by:
- Room size
- Trim condition (oak needs more work)
- Amount of detail or obstacles
- Price increses withmore items to paint such as full windows, full doors and frames etc.
“In a typical laundry room, it’s about an hour per door frame and with the base trim figure 3–4 hours, 450 ish total per room, with paint.”
❓ FAQs: Painting Dark Trim White
Q: Does white trim get dirty fast?
A: I say no more than it does now- you just see it faster —but it’s easy to clean with urethane-based paint.
Q: Can I skip sanding?
A: You can- but your funeral! No way!!! You’ll regret it when the paint starts peeling.
Q: Is pine easier to paint than oak?
A: Yup. Becasue Pine is smoother looks better less primer to cover the wood grain. Oak may need extra primer to hide grain.
Q: Will this improve my home value?
A: Absolutely. White trim is what buyers expect today.
🚀 Ready to Update Your Trim?
Whether you’re freshening up a laundry room in St. Charles or modernizing a whole home in Algonquin, we’re here to help.
🏠 Why Choose D’Franco?
- ✅ Google Verified / Google Guaranteed
- 📅 Free touch-ups within one year
- 🌿 Free color consultation with an interior designer
- 💼 All workers vetted and background checked
✨ Bonus Perks
- ⭐ Check Out Our 4.9-Star Google Reviews
- 🎓 Learn more on our YouTube Channel
- 💼 Ask about our Give $200, Get $200 Referral Program
🔍 Need help or a quote?
Click here to schedule your free estimate and let’s make your home feel brand new.
