Hey friend, grab your coffee (or your paintbrush) and let’s chat. If you’ve been hanging out over on Instagram, you already know I’ve been knee-deep in a project that’s been surprisingly satisfying—painting the trim in our hallway. And by hallway, I mean the stretch of doors that lead to our bedroom, my office, Kaitlyn’s room, her bathroom, and the linen closet. So basically, a lot of trim.
Now, before you start thinking, Wow, Trisha, that sounds like a thrilling way to spend your free time, let me tell you—there’s something weirdly therapeutic about taking a space from “meh” to YES, finally! with just a little paint. So if you’ve been eyeing your own trim, wondering if it’s worth the effort, let me break it all down for you.
First Things First: Why Now?
If you’ve been following along, you might remember that whole water leak saga. Yeah, that one. While I wouldn’t call it a fun experience, it did push me to finally make some upgrades I’d been putting off. And that’s the thing about home projects—sometimes they start out of necessity, but they can end up being the little refresh you didn’t realize your space needed.
So instead of sulking over what happened, I decided to use it as an excuse to finally give our trim the glow-up it deserved.
The Prep Work (A Necessary Evil)
Listen, I know prepping isn’t the fun part. If I could skip straight to painting, I absolutely would. But I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that taking the time to do it right actually makes a difference. So, here’s what went down before I could even crack open a paint can:
✔ Cleaning – I mixed up my go-to solution: 1 part water, 1 part white vinegar, and a squirt of dish soap. Got everything wiped down and looking fresh. (Apparently, professional painters swear by Clorox wipes too—might try that next time.)
✔ Filling Holes & Sanding – Little nail holes? Gone. Weird scuffs and dents? Smoothed out. Used my trusty 220-grit sanding block to get everything feeling chef’s kiss smooth.
✔ Final Wipe-Down – Because nothing kills a good paint job faster than dust and debris sneaking their way in.
Tools & Supplies I Used
If you're ready to tackle your own trim-painting project, here’s everything I used (minus the paint) to get the job done right. You can find all of these on my Lowe’s Storefront for easy shopping.
Prep & Cleaning:
My go-to cleaning mix: 1 part water, 1 part white vinegar, 1 teaspoon dish soap
Microfiber cloths for wiping everything down
Clorox wipes (if you want to try the pro trick)
Spackling and putty knife for filling nail holes and imperfections
Painting Tools:
Synthetic angled paintbrush (perfect for cutting in)
Mini foam roller for a smooth, even finish
Paint pail and liners for easy cleanup
Brown paper drop cloth to protect floors and surfaces
Everything here made the process much smoother—check out my Lowe’s Storefront to grab what you need and get started on your own project.
Finding The Color
If you’ve ever stood in the paint aisle, holding up 17 different swatches, questioning every decision you’ve ever made… same. Picking the right color is no joke.
I’ve had my fair share of oops moments, so now I go straight to Samplize—real paint samples, no mess, no commitment, just stick ‘em up and see how they look. After testing a few, Ethereal Mood won us over. It’s this chameleon of a color—kind of green, kind of beige, a little moody, but not too dark. Basically, everything I wanted without realizing I wanted it.
And because I don’t mess around when it comes to durability, I went with Sherwin Williams’ Urethane Emerald Paint—aka, the MVP of high-traffic areas.
The Painting Process
Once everything was prepped and the perfect color was locked in, it was finally time for the fun part. Here’s how it went:
Taping – Took my sweet time with this step because I hate fixing paint bleeds later.
First Coat – Started with a synthetic brush, and let me tell you, that first stroke of fresh paint is always so satisfying.
Second Coat – Applied with synthetic brush and then went over it with a foam roller for that ultra-smooth finish. (Pro tip: foam rollers are where it’s at for trim—trust me and add a little water to that roller - you'll thank me later.)
Peeling the Tape – The moment of truth! There’s something ridiculously rewarding about pulling off painter’s tape and seeing those crisp lines.
And just like that, the hallway trim went from fine, I guess to I can’t stop staring at it.
The Verdict? Totally Worth It.
Was this a massive, life-changing transformation? Nope. But that’s the thing—small updates like this can make your home feel fresher, more intentional, and a little more you. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about tackling a project yourself and seeing the results right away.
So, if you’ve been thinking about painting your trim (or any small upgrade), consider this your sign to go for it. And if you need a little nudge, I’m always here to hype you up.
Tell me—what’s a home project you’ve been meaning to get to but just haven’t started yet? Let’s commiserate (or motivate) in the comments.
And as always, for the behind-the-scenes chaos that didn’t make it into the blog, head over to Instagram.
With a humble heart,
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