7 Ways to Paint Your Trim Fantastic

Painting inside trim seems like a no-brainer. You slap on some glossy white and call it a day. However, in fact, subtle changes in the way you paint trimming can transform a room. As with a lot of things in home design, a small tweak can make a big effect.

These seven trimming treatments vary from safe and classic to bold and sudden, and all of them help set the tone for the room.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

1. Same as the Walls

there’s something modern and soothing about trimming painted the specific same color as the walls. It produces a seamless appearance and works well if you intend to leave your walls cover them with a million pieces of artwork.

The situation for painting a whole room one color

Tim Cuppett Architects

Here the sole contrast is the ceiling. It’s possible to produce subtle contrast from all-one-color rooms by changing the finish on the cut.

Witt Construction

This room is chiefly trim and hardly any wall. The colors aren’t an specific match, but they are close enough to make that soothing, restful appearance.

Dresser Homes

2. Darker Than the Walls

Inside my remodel I decided at the last minute to paint the trim a little darker than the walls. Now — honest to God — I spend some time just sitting on my sofa admiring how it seems. It’s crisp and modern but somehow mellower than the other way round. Plus it works in any style room with any design trim.

Cheryl Burke Interior Design

Does not this modern dining room look more laid back with the dim trim than it would have looked with bright white?

Peggy Braswell

3. Totally Unexpected Colors

Beige and gray are nice. But is lavender against a yellow ocher wall. This room is tasteful and classic and astonishing and unique at the exact same time. Start looking for colors that complement each other on the color wheel and select from those spectrums.

JayJeffers

This dark ecru cut against a greenish yellowish wall is motivated and beautiful. I think that this particular yellowish would drive me mad with a white trim, but here I love it.

Laura Bendik Interiors

4. Black

As classic as bright white, but more elegant and serious. It helps to have slightly more elaborate trim once you use black. It’s almost as though it is supposed to bring the pedigree and background of a house.

Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.

A glossy true black against lotion walls. Notice the high ceilings, large distance and period trimming. This could look weird at a small, darkened area.

5. Organic Wood

Many men and women believe all original wood trim is sacred. It is not. High-quality, well-maintained wood is beautiful, but feel free to paint over organic wood if that’s your cup of tea. It’s just an issue of personal taste.

Wood trimming can look great in a modern space like this one, where it provides a few earthiness and architectural interest to a plain, modern room with white walls.

Hendel Homes

Additionally, it works superbly in an area with interval trimming, like this updated Arts and Crafts beauty.

AHB General Contractors

6. Bright White

Bright white trimming is the default option, but it should be as intentional a pick as anything else. It’s fresh and crisp looking, and it often provides a sense of geometry. It’s the ideal option to put off the olive and beige walls in this dining area.

Patrick Sutton Associates

White on white is airy and fresh and irreproachable.

7. Manufactured

in case you don’t have the woodwork you need, you can always paint it on. This ornate door frame provides a real boost for this boxy room.

Witt Construction

The scallop cut around this ceiling bridges the gap between gingerbread and modern superbly. So sweet.

More: guides to picking the perfect trim

See related