Best Way To Paint Interior Baseboards: Step By Step

Painting interior baseboards creates a clean, finished look along floors, tying rooms together in house interior painting. Best practices use semi-gloss interior paint for durability and careful taping for crisp lines.

• Low VOC semi-gloss interior paint (e.g., Behr Dynasty, Sherwin-Williams ProClassic)
• Primer (low VOC, bonding)
• Paintbrush Guard ($87) with reusable bags
• 1–2-inch angled brushes
• Canvas drop cloths
• Painter’s tape
• Sandpaper (220 grit)
• Cleaning soap, spackle, rags, paint trays, stir sticks
• Putty knife

• 1. Protect Floors: Cover floors with canvas drop cloths, taping edges to walls above baseboards. Tape walls for clean lines, reusable for eco friendly painting.
  
  
• 2. Clean Baseboards: Wash with safe soap and water to remove dust or scuffs. Dry with rags for a smooth surface.
  
  
• 3. Fix Damage: Fill dents with spackle, dry (1 hour), and sand with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe dust with a damp rag.
  
  
• 4. Prime Baseboards: Apply a low VOC bonding primer with a 1–2-inch angled brush in thin strokes. Let dry (4 hours) to help interior paint stick.
  
  
• 5. Mix Paint: Stir low VOC semi-gloss interior paint, pour into a small tray, supporting sustainable painting.
  
  
• 6. Paint Baseboards: Use a 1–2-inch angled brush, brushing in long, smooth strokes along the baseboard. Work in 2–3-foot sections to avoid drips. Apply two coats, drying 4–6 hours between.
  
  
• 7. Check Lines: Remove tape slowly after drying. Fix any bleed with a tiny brush and wall paint.
  
  
• 8. Clean Up: Wash brushes with soap or seal in Paintbrush Guard bags. Reuse drop cloths and store paint.

• Paint baseboards after walls to avoid splatters.
• Use a cardboard shield to protect floors from brush slips.
• Sand lightly between coats for a glossy finish.
• Work in small sections for control.

Time Estimate: 1–2 days for a 12x12-foot room’s baseboards (prep: 0.5 day, priming/painting: 0.5–1 day).

Cost Estimate: $30–$100 for a room’s baseboards (0.5 gallon interior paint at $50–$90/gallon, primer, brushes, tape, etc.).

Transform your rooms by painting your interior baseboards. House interior painting lets you create crisp edges and with eco friendly tools, you’ll craft shiny lasting baseboards.

Keep the planet happy using low VOC interior paint with minimal waste. Pick up your brush, select a bold color and dive into your painting project today.