How to Paint a Wall With Raised Panel Wainscoting

Choose the paint color for the wall surface and the wainscoting surface. Make the wainscoting match other woodwork in the room such as the baseboards, window trim, doorway trim and crown molding to create a coordinated appearance.

Apply painter’s tape along the top of the wainscoting where the wall and the woodwork of the wainscoting meet. This will prevent the wall paint from dripping onto the wood as you paint the wall. Apply painter’s tape along adjacent walls, along the ceiling and along window and doorway trim also.

Place the drop cloth over the floor in front of the wainscoting.

Load the angled trim brush with the wall paint and paint around the perimeter of the wall surface to cut in this area. Paint along the bottom of the wall where it meets the wainscoting. Paint around windows and doorways.

Pour paint into the paint tray and load the paint roller. Apply paint to the wall with the paint roller, filling in the wall area inside the perimeter you cut in. Cover the wall with a thin and even layer of paint. Allow the paint to dry for the time recommended on the paint can.

Apply a second coat of paint using the same application method.

Remove the painter’s tape before the paint dries.

Allow the wall paint to dry for at least 24 hours.

Apply painter’s tape along the bottom edge of the wall to protect the wall from the primer and paint you will apply to the wainscoting.

Apply primer to the wainscoting if you are covering bare wood. Load the paintbrush with primer and apply the primer in a thin and even layer over the wood surface. Dab the brush bristles gently into the crevices of the raised panels to apply paint evenly over these areas. Allow the primer to dry for the time recommended on the primer can. If you are repainting wainscoting, sand the wainscoting surface lightly with sandpaper to scuff it slightly. Wipe down the wood surface with the tack cloth.

Load the paintbrush with paint and apply the paint to the wainscoting surface carefully. Use vertical strokes to cover the wood surfaces, dabbing the brush carefully into the raised panel crevices. Keep the paintbrush loaded lightly to avoid applying too much paint to the raised panels. Continue applying the paint until you cover the surface completely. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Apply a second coat of paint, if you desire. Remove the painter’s tape.