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The Easiest Door Trim

 This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.
office with rustic coffered ceiling, bench and chalkboard. View to the kitchen

Work in this dining room/turned office was completed a couple of months ago and what can I say, I've been happily doing all my paper work in here! I've been enjoying all those little and big details that were added to this room and I've been feeling like hey, I have it all in here. :)

Yes, I thought this room had all the bells and whistles a room could possibly have, you know... Window trim, new chunkier baseboards, a big wall of build-ins, a coffered ceiling and even a big black chalkboard. Really, what else?

Ha, looks as I was wrong!

It was Mr. RLC the one who brought it to my attention. Like two weeks ago while we were having a cup of coffee, he looked up to the wall he was facing (above picture) and said: "Hmm why didn't you add trim to that doorway?" "It looks like it's missing it."

I couldn't believe he was saying that! :D  He doesn't pay much attention to that kind of stuff. But, the little seed was planted. ;)

before and after of baseboard

Well, I had trouble with those doorways since the moment I pulled out the old baseboards. There was this big gap all around the door that for the most part, the new baseboards covered.

Now, my general rule is to leave that inside part of the doorway, above left picture, flat. No trim, no nothing there. But, since I had that big gap in there, my only solution was, again, add baseboard all around it and leave it just like that.

*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
marking baseboard to be cut off with Dremel

Now that Mr. RLC pointed it out, I started to think on how to add the trim around the door.
And well, let me show it to you because it's the easiest door trim I've ever done.

I didn't want to damage the baseboards, now you know, they're covering that gap. ;)
However, the baseboard is conformed of two parts: a 1 x 8 board and the baseboard cap above it.

I brought a scrap piece of 1 x 4 to use as a guide for where to cut that cap to fit the casings or 1 x 4's in.

how to cut baseboard in order to install door trim with Dremel Multi Max MM45

I was feeling lazy and didn't want to pull up any trim. :)
The Dremel Multi-Max oscillating tool was the perfect solution for this type of job. I followed the lines I drew, and the Dremel cut them like butter.  I had to be careful not to cut the 1 x 8 board or lower part of the baseboard.

Dremel Multi-Max MM 45 - baseboards and door trim how tos

The corner little piece got loose, but that wasn't a problem. My main concern was to have clean cuts and that's what I got, as you can see.

Dremel Multi-Max MM45 - Oscillating tool
Dremel Multi-Max oscillating tool |

I love my Dremel, I think this is the handiest most versatile tool I have in my stash. It's like, whenever I have trouble with a project, this is the tool that gets me out of it.
You can use it in those hard to reach spots, it cuts thru metal, drywall, wood, tile, you name it. And you can use it with lots of accessories for a great variety of applications.

Makita pin nailer used to install door trim

The 1 x 4's or side casings & head casing were installed using my  Ryobi 15-Gauge AirStrike Cordless Angled Nailer. For the small pieces of trim I used my new Makita Pin Nailer and that was lots of fun! Its lightweight, compact and ergonomic design makes it my favorite for small wooden projects. And hey, it's battery operated. ;)

Makita 23Ga pin nailer
Makita 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer |
I used to have lots of trouble installing small trim with a regular nailer. The little returns of the half round trim broke apart when trying to install them with brad nails. I was gluing them in place and waiting for the glue to dry to continue with the sanding and painting.  Well, not any more!

Those 23-gauge micro pins or little nails are tiny! They don't even have a head, perfect for attaching those small pieces of wood.

how to install door trim

It's hard to see the little holes created when driving one of these 23-gauge micro pins, the arrow is pointing at one of them. While the holes on the 1 x 4's created by the 15-gauge brad nails seemed huge, but well, a totally different application.
1 x 4 and 1 x 2 plus half round to create an easy door trim

The half round trim was added at the lower part of the header piece or horizontal 1 x 4.
On top of the same header piece, the 1x2 is attached, leaving a 1/2" overhang on both ends.

The final details are filling all the holes and gaps with wood putty and giving all the trim pieces a good sanding before priming and painting them.
baseboard meets door trim solution

Here is how the lower part looks now. I still need to add the shoe molding at the very end.
Office space with lots of molding and large chalkboard

If you don't have trouble with your floors, you can install a plinth block for a better transition from the baseboard to the door trim, as the Handyman's Daughter did below:

before and after of door trim with the addition of a plinth block
Via: The Handyman's Daugher |

work the trim around doorways with Makita pin nailer and Dremel Oscillating tool

And you know what? Mr. RLC was right. That doorway needed some trim! :D
Stay tuned for a little something I added to that small wall on the left side of the door.



For more door and window trim ideas check these out:

how to trim a doorway between dining and living room -


two closed by windows get trimmed, blue dining room


window trim install







I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the promotional program described above (the "program"). As a part of the program, I am reciving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

*This posts contains Affiliate Links for your convenience*




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9 comments :

  1. Oh my word, you make it all sound so easy. Love all of your trim.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is, Marty! Well, having the right tools helps a lot! Thanks for stopping by. 😊

      Delete
  2. I love the trim. I need to do the doorway from the hall to the greatroom so I was glad to read this. Plus now I what Dremel to get.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Woohoo it looks like you're ready to tackle It, Debra! You're gonna love it!

      Delete
  3. Soo pretty! I love, love the new trim! xxx Maria

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Fantastic!
    Of course, I don't have those tools...and don't do these kinds of things....but you are amazing to do them! It looks wonderful...
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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