How to Finish Around a Drawer Cut in Drywall

Spread a drop cloth on a work bench or on a clean section of floor. Place the wood trim boards face up on the cloth.

Don a face mask.

Apply two or three coats of interior paint, stain or polyurethane to coordinate the trim with nearby moldings or the drawer. Use a paintbrush to apply paint or polyurethane. Apply stain with a paintbrush and then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. Allow the finish to dry before proceeding.

Close the drawer and measure its width and height.

Pencil the length measurements onto the trim. Cut two pieces of trim to the same width as the drawer, and two pieces of trim to the same height as the drawer.

Place a protractor on top of the trim and draw a 45-degree angle to mark the ends of each piece. The top and bottom edges of the trim will be two different lengths once the 45-degree angles are cut. The shorter edge must match the width or height of the drawer.

Put on a face mask and protective eyewear.

Saw the trim to size, using the pencil marks as a guide. Use a hand saw, circular saw, table saw or another saw with a wood-cutting blade.

Arrange the trim segments into a rectangle, just as they'll be mounted around the drawer, to ensure the angles are correct and the pieces meet up properly, without any gaps or overlap. If necessary, cut a new piece of trim or trim one of the segments to ensure a perfect fit.

Sand the cut edges of the trim segment with medium-grit sandpaper to remove splinters and smooth the sharp edges.

Nail the trim to the wall to create a border around the drawer. Use three finishing nails per segment. Insert one nail in the center and place a nail approximately one inch in from each end.

Apply wood putty over each nail head. Select a wood putty that matches the color of the wood.

Dab a bit of paint, stain or polyurethane over the putty. Touch up the corners where the trim segments meet if you removed a bit of finish during the sanding process.

Position the keyhole saw blade parallel to the trim and cut away drywall that's visible inside the square that was created by the wood trim.