What Color Should You Paint Your Trim?

“Guess what?  Trim does not have to be white.  Many times we get caught up in the normal and forget to experiment or do something different for a change.  Here are some great ideas of how to decide what to do with your trim.”
Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – Dc Metro Realty Team
Whether simple or ornate, interior trim is a finishing touch that often doesn’t get much thought, frequently being left the color it’s always been without consideration of the multitude of beautiful alternatives. Whether you’re thinking fresh white, a bold hue or somewhere in between, here are ways to treat your trim to get the look you want.
Victorian Living Room by Brett Mickan Interior Design
Brett Mickan Interior Design
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White

Classic white works well for plain trim as well as more elaborate molding styles. It’s great with white walls or colored walls, so it really is the ultimate no-fail option, which is probably partly why it’s such a popular choice.

It can be an excellent way to tie various styles of molding together, and it won’t fight historic details like stained glass, so everything becomes harmonized.

Transitional Entry by Eoin Lyons Interiors
Eoin Lyons Interiors
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When paired with colorful walls and accents, white trim becomes a bold, fresh focal point, as well as a frame to highlight each room beyond, without clashing with the different colors of each space.
Transitional Living Room by Laura U, Inc.
Laura U, Inc.
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White trim is also great for toning down a strong color by stealing surface area away from the walls. This lilac shade is actually very bold, but it doesn’t feel like it swallows the room paired with deep crown molding and window trim in all white.
Traditional Living Room by Hanson General Contracting, Inc.
Hanson General Contracting, Inc.
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Paired with a neutral wall color, white trim highlights the surrounding undertones so the walls don’t look colorless, while still bringing in a slight modern edge. It’s also a good choice in a space with lots of wood, because it keeps the look contemporary instead of rustic.
Contemporary Living Room by Stephani Buchman Photography
Stephani Buchman Photography
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Choose white if:

  • You want to highlight the subtle undertone of neutral walls
  • You want to break up bold walls with a breath of fresh air
  • You have simple moldings you don’t want to highlight
  • You want to leave all the attention on dramatic furnishings
  • You aren’t sure which other color to pick. It’s hard to go wrong with white trim!
Traditional Entry by Dresser Homes
Dresser Homes
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Neutral

When trim is dressed in a midtone neutral shade, it immediately gives it a certain sophisticated, stately appeal. The trim becomes a feature, for sure, but in an understated way.

Contemporary Kitchen by valerie pasquiou interiors + design, inc
valerie pasquiou interiors + design, inc
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Although the look is somewhat traditional, you can use more modern furnishings to add warmth and character. This kitchen has sleek cabinets and modern appliances but still feels homey instead of ultramodern. That’s in large part due to the warm gray trim.
Beach Style Living Room by Catalyst Architects, LLC
Catalyst Architects, LLC
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Neutral trim works especially well with a colored ceiling, so consider using the same color overhead in a room where you want a more intimate feel, such as a sitting room or dining space.
Contemporary Staircase by Optimise Design
Optimise Design
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Choose neutral if:

  • You love a transitional look (one that balances traditional and modern elements)
  • You want an authentic heritage feel in an older home
  • You want to highlight doors or windows for an architectural look without touching fresh white walls
Farmhouse Dining Room by Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses
Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses
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Bold Colors

Bold, colorful trim can be either part of a wild, eclectic look or actually a very livable element in a more sedate home. Because trim usually has a relatively small surface area, painting it a fun hue like lemon, pink or sky blue adds a pop of color (and definite personality) without adding as much drama as a full wall treatment.

Farmhouse Bedroom by Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses
Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses
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Pastel trim doesn’t even feel edgy; rather, as in this case, it creates a romantic feeling that suits a humble cottage-style or dreamy bedroom.
Victorian Kitchen by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.
Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.
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Choose a bold color if:

  • You want to add a new hue without going all-in on the walls
  • You want a quirky, eclectic or unique look
  • You have colorful cabinets in a kitchen and want to tie the room together
Contemporary Entry by Shirley Meisels
Shirley Meisels
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Wood

Wood trim can be anything from rustic to modern, depending on the tone and finish of the wood. Either way, it adds a deeper sense of texture, which can make a room feel welcoming even without much else in the way of decorative elements.

Traditional Entry by mark pinkerton - vi360 photography
mark pinkerton – vi360 photography
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Wood trim is often stained to match the flooring, but it can vary in tone a bit and still coordinate beautifully, as woods naturally mix and match. Just don’t mix more than three wood tones if you want to stay out of rustic territory.
Traditional Kitchen by Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.
Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.
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Matching wood kitchen cabinets to wood trim creates the sense that this natural element is integrated in the whole space, creating a sense of consistency and some rustic charm.
Traditional Kitchen by Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab
Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab
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A little wood trim on a window is excellent for warming up a space that’s otherwise cold, such as a white kitchen or bathroom (especially if you don’t want to add window drapery). Choose a deep stain to suit a contemporary space, and leave other trim white.
Traditional Living Room by MANDARINA STUDIO interior design
MANDARINA STUDIO interior design
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Wood is also great with wall colors that already add warmth, such as a soft pink. Both have red undertones, so the lack of contrast makes both elements feel like they fit in peacefully.
Traditional Bedroom by Johnson Design Inc.
Johnson Design Inc.
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Choose wood if:

  • It’s already there. Most trim is MDF or the like, so celebrate real wood if you have it!
  • You want to add an element of warm wood but don’t want wood floors
  • Your space needs a little extra texture
  • You love a rustic look or need a masculine counterpoint to feminine details
Victorian Dining Room by Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.
Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.
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Black

Black trim is definitely statement making, yet it’s timeless, so unlike with other bold colors, you don’t have to worry that this dramatic choice will grow dated quickly.

Even more so than white trim, black trim frames each doorway or window like a picture, for instant high-fashion appeal.

Industrial Dining Room by McIntosh Poris Associates
McIntosh Poris Associates
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Black trim is at its most classic and livable when paired with simple finishes like a wood floor and pale walls. It will fight other elements for attention, so you might as well let it be the star.
Contemporary Entry by stephane chamard
stephane chamard
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As stark as black may be, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Painting just your lower trim black (baseboards and door frames), with the crown molding white, anchors the room while letting the ceiling float away for an airy appeal.
Mediterranean Hall by Carson Poetzl, Inc.
Carson Poetzl, Inc.
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Alternately, painting just the crown molding black frames the ceiling, highlighting details like beautiful lighting, medallions and other features. This tactic works well with dark wood doors, as both have a deep richness, making the doors less stark to keep the look balanced instead of ultramodern.
Contemporary Family Room by Catherine Boardman Interiors
Catherine Boardman Interiors
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Choose black if:

  • You want a dramatic look that’s classic and sophisticated
  • You want to contrast wood floors or cabinets
  • Your neutral scheme needs some edge to bring it to life
  • Your beautiful views demand to be framed like portraits

    Read more reasons to paint your trim black

Contemporary Home Office by Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard
Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard
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Gloss

Treating trim with a slight gloss finish is a great way to subtly highlight beautiful moldings while maintaining a clean palette for effortless-looking designer appeal. I often use a consistent paint color for walls, ceiling and trim, using a matte finish for walls and a satin finish for trim, so a hint of light bounces off the trim’s curves to subconsciously draw the eye.

Rustic Entry by Period Architecture Ltd.
Period Architecture Ltd.
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You can also cheat the look further with a slight off-white that almost blends into the wall but stands out just enough to catch your eye when you look at the trim, without the trim’s fighting other more attention-grabbing features.

Trim is often more likely to be touched or leaned on than the walls themselves, so using an easy-to-clean paint finish is practical too.

By Yanic Simard, HOUZZ Contributor