The Best Paint for Interior Doors and Trim (Delivered in NYC)
Doors and trim take more abuse than any wall in your home. Hands, shoes, furniture, cleaning, and constant opening and closing all land on them. So the paint you use there has to be tougher than wall paint, and it has to level out smooth so you do not see every brush mark. At New York Paint & Hardware, an authorized Benjamin Moore dealer on the Upper East Side since 1986, here is what we hand people for doors and trim, and why.
Why Door and Trim Paint Is Different
Wall paint is built to hide and cover a big flat surface. Trim paint has a different job: it needs to dry to a hard, washable finish that stands up to knocks and cleaning, and it needs to self-level so it flows out flat instead of showing brush and roller texture. A regular wall paint on a door will scuff and mark far sooner and rarely looks as crisp.
The Paint We Reach For: Benjamin Moore Advance
For interior doors, trim, and cabinets, we point most people to Benjamin Moore Advance. It is a waterborne alkyd, which means it goes on and cleans up like a modern water-based paint, but it cures to the hard, smooth, furniture-grade finish you used to only get from old oil paints. It self-levels beautifully, so doors come out sleek without heavy brush marks, and it holds up to real daily use.
See it on our Benjamin Moore Advance page. If you are unsure whether Advance is right for your project, ask us and we will match it to what you are painting.
What Sheen for Doors and Trim?
Sheen is a look-and-durability choice. For most doors and trim we recommend satin or semi-gloss. Semi-gloss is the most durable and easiest to wipe down, and it gives trim that classic crisp pop. Satin is a touch softer and hides surface imperfections a little better. Flat and matte are best left to the walls, they mark and scuff too easily on a door.
Prep That Makes It Last
The finish is only as good as the prep. A quick, honest checklist:
- Clean: wipe the door and trim to remove grease and hand oils. Paint will not bond over grime.
- De-gloss or sand: lightly scuff a previously glossy surface so the new paint grips.
- Prime bare or patched spots: raw wood, filler, and stains should be primed first.
- Thin coats: two light coats level out far better than one heavy one.
Any Color, Mixed Fresh
Doors are a great place to have fun with color, a deep navy or charcoal door reads as high-end against light walls. As a Benjamin Moore dealer we match and tint any color fresh while you wait, so you are not stuck with a handful of stock shades.
Delivered Same-Day, So You Can Just Paint
No hauling cans across town. Order your door and trim paint from us and we deliver it same-day across Manhattan, mixed to your color and ready to open. Start on our order custom-mixed paint page, or call 212-249-1614 and tell us the color and the door.
Door & Trim Paint FAQs
What is the best paint for interior doors and trim?
A hard-curing enamel like Benjamin Moore Advance. It cleans up like a water-based paint but dries to a durable, smooth, furniture-grade finish that self-levels, so doors and trim look crisp and hold up to daily use.
What sheen should I use on doors and trim?
Satin or semi-gloss. Semi-gloss is the most durable and wipeable with a crisp look, satin is slightly softer and hides imperfections a bit better. Avoid flat and matte on doors.
Do I need to prime a door before painting?
Prime bare wood, filler, patched areas, and stains. For a previously painted door in good shape, cleaning and a light scuff-sand is usually enough before your finish coats.
Can I get paint delivered in Manhattan?
Yes. We mix any Benjamin Moore color fresh and deliver same-day across Manhattan, so you can start painting without a trip to the store.