Jan 23
2014

How to make farmhouse window trim with stock lumber! (with photos)

Learn how to make farmhouse window trim using stock lumber! NO fancy miter cuts nor expensive boards required. Easy and authentic!

I cannot believe this vintage farmhouse window resides in my now Salvaged Farmhouse Bathroom!

It’s the first farmhouse window trim I’ve ever played with, so I’m pretty pumped!

But it sure didn’t look like this just a short time ago…

By the way, I do not live in a farmhouse! I live in a typical suburban home that has every builder grade window standard in sight.

But there’s a secret to making this farmhouse window trim transformation so easy….

This farmhouse window trim was created with standard lumber with no fancy miter cuts!

And the outcome is simply outstanding, dramatically changing the entire room vibe into one of vintage farmhouse charm.

So if your own windows are currently wearing traditional builder grade molding, here’s how to create this charming farmhouse style window trim with simple cuts of stock lumber… yourself!

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How to make farmhouse window trim

Why farmhouse window trim?

I grew up in an old, rambling farmhouse with massive old vintage window trim mouldings. And I’ve missed them ever since.

After searching online, I came across plenty of farmhouse window trim ideas, but most revealed complicated tutorials requiring miter cuts and and expensive trim boards. There just had to be an easier way!

Then I came across a variation that showed how to achieve the look using standard wood layers with straight cuts. BINGO!

Combining the concept with my own twist, here’s my version which is so simple, even a non-builder can create this beautiful farmhouse window trim out of any standard modern window with simple stock lumber!

Supplies I used for the farmhouse window trim:

standard solid pine lumber in sizes as show above (I suggest pre-primed)

nail gun

nails for nail gun or brad nailer (I used 1 ¾”)

miter saw

jig saw

workmate or wood clamps

palm sander

measuring tape

pencil

pry bar if you have to remove existing moulding

Remove original window trim

1. Remove existing window trim with a pry bar, leaving all the inner window wood intact as shown above.

Removal is so easy! Gently ease the pry bar between the wood moulding and wall, then pry the moulding off. You can avoid damage to the walls by placing a board behind the pry bar.

Create a window sill

2. Create a window sill (or window stool) / one 1×2 and one 1×6

Cut a window sill with trimmed edges out of a 1×6
Add another board such as a 1×2 if you need more depth to reach the back of the window.
Place both boards on top of existing window sill, then nail into place from the top.

What’s up with these new windows having no decent window sills? Well,I wanted one. So after removing all the outside window trim, I left everything inside the wall and worked over top.

I determined how wide (left to right) to make the window sill by measuring the two side casings in place. The sill was made slightly longer.

Depth (front to back) was determined by how much I wanted the sill to stick out in front of each side casing.

Since I didn’t have a board that was deep enough, I doubled up.

This sounds complicated but it’s really not. It was just like building with blocks.

You can do this all in one piece if you can find a piece of wood deep enough to do the job.

The 1×2 is in the back and the 1 x 6 is in the front.

Add side trim pieces

2. Once window sill is in place, measure and cut two side casings. / two 1 x 4s

The 1 x 4s were cut to fit from the top of the window opening to sitting on the window sill.

Adding that small 1 x 2 to the window sill pushed the sill out beyond the side casings.

Building the window header

3. Dry fit and nail together a window header / one 1×6 / three 1x2s / one 1×1 / one 1×4

Measure the width of the window plus the two side casings. Make the main header piece (1×6) that exact measurement.
Make the two touching boards above and below the main header piece slightly longer.
Lengthen the final two top boards slightly wider than what’s under them.
(note: my top two boards are flush on the left side because I ran out of wall space. If you have room, make the top board the widest.
After dry fitting all the cuts, the header was nailed together before installing to the wall.

Nail together before installing

Stack all the wood, then nail together all the header components before installing on the wall if desired. I found this easier.

Choose kiln dried wood to avoid warping

And just to prove how much of a true newbie I am to this, you can see one exposed nail plus one slightly warped board… proud moment here.

The 1×6 warped, but I didn’t notice until after the build. Neither of these little window trim glitches showed once the header was installed.

Installing the window header to the wall

4. Install the header by holding it into place, then nailing it to the wall.

The window header was held into place, then the center nailed, rotated straight, then further stabilized with more nails. Be sure to nail through any wall studs where possible.

This farmhouse window trim is really coming to life now!

Add a window apron

5. Add an apron underneath the window sill. / one 1×4

Cut a board the same width as both of the window side casings width.
Attach the board underneath the window sill to create the window apron.

The finished farmhouse window trim results!

And here is the farmhouse window trim result! Isn’t it amazing what a few layered plain boards can do?!

Finishing window trim details

6. Sand, prime, caulk, then paint the window moulding with 2 coats of semi gloss white paint.

The finishing details ended up being a fair amount of work but you will save money.

To cut the workload way down, choose primed stock lumber instead. I have since used primed trim to create an interior farmhouse trim doorway and it turned out amazing!

June 2021 – I will update this post with a link once the door trim is more complete!

Adding faux window mullions with vinyl

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7. Add faux window mullions with cut white sign-grade vinyl.

Cut strips of white sign-grade vinyl into long strips at the desired width.
Stick onto window where desired, and trim excess with an exacto blade.

What a difference the window mullions made! Don’t they look totally authentic?

Going faux window mullion bars using vinyl makes cleaning the windows effortless and the outcome is instant!

I LOVE my new farmhouse window trim and you can bet now I am working on the rest of the interior builder grade windows and doorways to emulate this authentic vintage charming farmhouse look!

Think you’ll give your builder-grade windows an instant farmhouse trim makeover with this easy method?