How To Paint Window Trim

Painting interior window trim is an affordable option for freshening up your space.

A homeowner painting white window trim with gray paint.

You can easily and cost-effectively update any room by giving window trim a fresh coat of paint. Whether you choose a monochromatic look or opt for dynamic color contrast, painting window trim is a fun DIY project you can do in a day or less!

Types of Window Trim

Different materials used to make interior window trim include:

Wood: The most common type of interior window trim. A high-quality latex semi-gloss paint like ben^® Interior Paint is recommended for wood window trim. ADVANCE^® Interior Paint is also a great option for its durable, furniture-like finish. For wood, use Fresh Start^® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer.
Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF): Due to its affordability, MDF is becoming more popular. Use Fresh Start^® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer, and use ben^® or ADVANCE^® for the top coat.
Vinyl: A commonly used material for interior framework. Use Fresh Start^® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer, and use ben^® or ADVANCE^® for the top coat.
PVC/plastic: Use a high-adhesion primer like STIX^® Waterborne Bonding Primer. Use Fresh Start^® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer, and use ben^® or ADVANCE^® for the top coat.

Helpful Tip

Many homeowners opt for a shinier finish for a design accent on window trim: think satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss.

Materials List: How to Paint Window Trim

ADVANCE^® Interior Paint or ben^® Interior Paint (for wood, MDF, or vinyl)
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Damp cloth

Fine-grit sandpaper (220-grit)
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Fresh Start^® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (for wood, MDF, or vinyl)

Large paintbrush, like a 2 ½-inch angle-sash paintbrush
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Medium-grit sandpaper (120- to 150-grit)
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Sanding sponge

Small paintbrush, like a 1½-inch angle-sash paintbrush
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STIX^® Waterborne Bonding Primer (for PVC/plastic)

Materials List: How to Paint Window Trim

ADVANCE^® Interior Paint or ben^® Interior Paint (for wood, MDF, or vinyl)
checkmark icon

Damp cloth
checkmark icon

Fine-grit sandpaper (220-grit)
checkmark icon

Fresh Start^® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (for wood, MDF, or vinyl)
checkmark icon

Large paintbrush, like a 2 ½-inch angle-sash paintbrush
checkmark icon

Medium-grit sandpaper (120- to 150-grit)
checkmark icon

Sanding sponge
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Small paintbrush, like a 1½-inch angle-sash paintbrush
checkmark icon

STIX^® Waterborne Bonding Primer (for PVC/plastic)

Learn how to paint window trim to beautify any space.

Anatomy of a Window

Use this glossary to help with our step-by-step guide to painting windows below.

Trim: The molding around the window, just beyond the frame, that shares a border with the wall. Trim and molding are often interchangeable terms.
Frame: The interior casing that holds the window in place. The frame sits inside of the trim, and serves as the outer perimeter of the glass. A window’s frame is also known as the sash.
Grille: The narrow strip of material (often wood, metal or vinyl) used to separate the window’s glass into panes. It can also be referred to as a grid.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Paint Interior Window Trim

1

Clean and prep your space

Start by moving any furniture out of the way. Remove any mounted treatments, and clean and patch any minor cracks or holes. Thoroughly clean the window trim, frame and any grilles you’ll be painting with a damp cloth.

A homeowner applies painter's tape to a windowpane.

2

Create your tape borders

Tape off the border between the window trim and the wall. If you’re painting the window’s frame, tape the border between the frame and the glass. If you’re not painting the frame, tape off the frame from the window trim. If you’re painting any window grilles, tape off the grilles from the glass.

Helpful Tip

Many professional painters paint grilles without using tape to save time. No matter how steady your hand is, we recommend using tape to ensure a straight line.

3

Sand the surfaces

Create a smooth painting surface by first sanding any surfaces you’re painting (trim, frame, grilles) using your sanding sponge and medium-grit (120- to 150-grit) sandpaper.

Switch to fine-grit (220-grit) sandpaper with your sanding sponge for an ultra-smooth finish. Be sure to clean all sanding debris from the surfaces you’ll be painting.

Helpful Tip

Sandpaper will scratch glass. Be careful not to let the sandpaper scrape against your windowpanes.

4

Prime your window

Prime the window trim (and frame or grilles if you’re painting them), especially if your window material is unfinished. Allow the primer to dry completely.

A homeowner dips a paintbrush into a quart of ADVANCE interior paint in satin finish.

5

Start painting

For narrow strips of trim, frame or grilles, or for painting fine details like a corner, use a small 1½-inch angled paintbrush. Use a large 2½-inch angled paintbrush for bigger areas of the window molding.

Helpful Tip

Start from the inside edge and work your way outward, painting toward the wall.

A homeowner applying a second coat of paint to their window trim.

6

Let dry and repeat

Once the first coat is dry, repeat the painting process with a second coat of paint. Remove your tape immediately after applying the second coat, and allow the paint to cure before putting back any mounted window treatments. Read all paint and primer instructions carefully, as dry time (the length of time before applying a new coat) and cure time (the time before you can return any mounted treatments) may vary. You can find dry and cure times on the paint can or the paint’s Technical Data Sheet (TDS).

Pro Tip Spotlight

If you accidentally get paint on window glass, you can easily remove it:

Boil one cup of white vinegar.
Wearing rubber gloves for protection from the heat, dip a cloth into the vinegar.
Rub the paint spots you want to remove with the hot vinegar-soaked cloth to loosen and wipe away the paint.
If the vinegar doesn’t work, dip another cloth into a bowl of warm water and dish soap. Thoroughly wet the paint spots on the glass with the cloth.
With a single razor blade positioned at a 45-degree angle, slowly push the blade in one direction to scrape the paint away. Make sure to keep the area you’re working on moist with your damp cloth to ensure you don’t scratch the glass.
Once the paint is removed, spray the area with glass cleaner, and wipe it down with a damp cloth. Carefully buff out any streaks using a dry cloth to get your window looking good as new.

Pro Tip Spotlight

If you accidentally get paint on window glass, you can easily remove it:

Boil one cup of white vinegar.
Wearing rubber gloves for protection from the heat, dip a cloth into the vinegar.
Rub the paint spots you want to remove with the hot vinegar-soaked cloth to loosen and wipe away the paint.
If the vinegar doesn’t work, dip another cloth into a bowl of warm water and dish soap. Thoroughly wet the paint spots on the glass with the cloth.
With a single razor blade positioned at a 45-degree angle, slowly push the blade in one direction to scrape the paint away. Make sure to keep the area you’re working on moist with your damp cloth to ensure you don’t scratch the glass.
Once the paint is removed, spray the area with glass cleaner, and wipe it down with a damp cloth. Carefully buff out any streaks using a dry cloth to get your window looking good as new.