How to Trim Out a Window

Diagnosis: Window Trim Psychosis

Before I can paint my dining room, I’ve got to trim out a window:

Installing Trim on a Raw Window

And this sliding door:

A sliding glass door in need of trim

Because, guys, I’m getting very close to deciding on my paint color… I’ve narrowed it down to these few. Dining room paint is imminent. I’d better get started on that trim!

How to Trim Out a Window

I looked online for how-tos, but I didn’t find anything specific for trimming out raw windows and doors (in 2015, when I wrote this post), so I made up my own procedure. The hardest part was making the sill. I had never used a router before, but, surprise! (That’s sarcasm. It wasn’t a surprise.) I’m awesome at it. You just clamp your wood and run the router around the edge. Here’s a nice video that shows you how to do it (from 2019).

Routed edge of window sill

I ripped down some one-by-twos with my jigsaw to fit the inside around the window. (Yes, a table saw totally would have been the proper tool, but I don’t have one of those.) (Also, I really like having fingers and I feel like a table saw might try to take those away from me.)

A window without window trim

Then I just had to put on the outside trim. I’m pretty good at that now, after trimming out my hallway.

Window with newly installed trim.

Close up of window sill and trim

I followed the same basic procedure for my sliding door except I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do at the bottom. (Doors don’t have window sills. Because they’re doors.) So I just pretended to know what I was doing and made it look pretty.

Sliding glass door with trim

They came out great, right? The sliding door has built in blinds, but I started thinking about what I wanted to do with the kitchen window. I decided that 2 inch wood blinds would look awesome. Hey, guess what?

Tape measure showing window depth

There’s not enough space to mount 2 inch blinds. Obviously, this was the perfect time to figure this out. You’ve heard of pre-planning? This would be its much less effective cousin post-planning. I’m going to try to avoid post-planning in the future because it leads to this:

How to Trim Out a Window. Again.

Psycho that I am, I ripped off all of my newly installed trim to build a deeper window frame. And if I found no useful how-tos on trimming out a normal window the normal way, you can bet I found zero tutorials on this craziness…

Deep window trim on window

See? I built a little scaffold to create a deeper window box.

Installing deeper window trim

Window with deeper trim

Close up of deep window trim

And now I can fit those blinds! Some day, I will buy them and maybe even install them…

Tape measure showing deeper window

I think I may be the first person to ever trim a window like this. I am an innovator! I am a problem solver! I am freaking brilliant!

I tried to check myself into a window treatment center, but they said that’s not what they do there. Little bit misleading…

***Time Travel Links! To see how my dining room turned out, click here. Also, I eventually did buy a table saw. You can see me using it (the wrong way) in this post, but I also do use it the right way sometimes and my fingers are all still attached (as of 2021…).

Subscribe and I'll love you forever.

Every time you share, an angel gets their wings.

28 Comments

  • LaFawne

    As usual, amazed at your creativity. I love having unique stuff that is not in every other house on the block, you seem to be the same way! Long live “make it your own selfers”!!

  • Miz Kizzle

    You are a home renovation superhero. I’m too lazy to attempt anything like what you do. In fact, there’s a room ustairs that I haven’t entered since the spring. It’s probably time to go up there and close the storm windows, and chek to see if anythingks taken up residence in there.

  • jengland

    This must be my lucky day! 2 posts from you in the same month and Walmarts’ Black Friday ad is out. I’m on my way to buy a lotto ticket!
    P.S. I am truly impressed by your router skills and window framing adventures.

    • My Crappy House

      Right? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s only been 8 days! I have to go lie down.

      (If you win lotto, we go halvsies, right?)

  • Katherine

    I never cease to be amazed by your skills. I wouldn’t know where to begin with a router or a jigsaw….and I am ashamed of myself. Beautiful work!

    • My Crappy House

      Don’t be ashamed! It’s never too late to learn! Ask Santa for a jigsaw for Christmas. (Or ask The Holiday Armadillo!)

  • Carole Strom

    That is such a creative idea! I’m impressed. Put 2″ blinds in my bedroom- love them; now, one window at a time for rest of house. Your home is looking terrific- what an accomplishment!

  • Angel

    great job! would love to see some how-to videos of your posts. a tool list would be great too (for those of us that aren’t quite so naturally gifted, but would like to learn!)

    • My Crappy House

      Thanks! I don’t really consider my blog to be a serious DIY blog (I mean my DIY is serious for sure, but I like to have fun with you guys…), so I probably won’t post any how-to videos, but I would be MORE than happy to describe any of my projects to you in detail. Just shoot me an email directly and we can talk! (Use the “contact” tab at the top of my blog.)

  • Jenny

    Glad you got there in the end. For future reference on how-to’s you can always try doing a search Addicted2Decorating. I don’t think there is anything Kristi hasn’t tried and like you she sometimes does it her way. She is very good at detailed How-to’s, so that might help give you some ideas, to work your own how-to.
    Having said all that, your window trim looks great.

    • My Crappy House

      I bet Kristi hasn’t done window trim like this… I’ll admit I half-heartedly search for tutorials because I usually have my own ideas on how to do things. I think I do OK!

  • Le

    Soooooo funny! I think you should always post-plan. It entertains me more. =) Laughed out loud in the conference room. Gave away the fact I wasn’t working on my laptop. oops.

    • My Crappy House

      Oh, man. If I gotta do everything twice for your amusement, I’m going to be at this for a VERY long time…

    • My Crappy House

      You might think so, but each color is up there twice and, depending on how far from the window they are, they look totally different. I can’t help obsessing. It’s my thing.

  • Mom

    OMG you are awesome (obsessed ah I mean meticulous). Living with your father (the ittle do king) I was just happy to get the holes around the window closed. PS I had a dream last night that you finally painted the dining room Royal Blue. Mwahaha

    • My Crappy House

      Obsessed. I know it. I own it. I got it from you! (Yeah, I know I didn’t. I got other stuff though…)

  • Lynn

    Post-planning is my middle name. It’s been the source of tons of “fun” for my husband over the years. He can fix anything and everything. And has, thanks to me. What can I say? I’m a giver.

    You’re awesome. Can’t wait to see the floors, blinds and paint!

    • My Crappy House

      You’re so awesome giving your husband challenges that he can rise to! Some husbands don’t get to fix anything at all. Poor guys…

Leave a Reply to Vespee Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *