In the past, white has been the standard color for trim, and people have put very little thought into what to do with their trim from a decor point of view.
Leaving the trim in its natural wooden state with a layer of varnish to protect it has also been a popular option in years gone by; however, painting trim in a colored paint is a trend that has been gradually taking off, and we are now seeing homes with trim in all sorts of shades.
Here we will look at some of the best paint colors for trim and what wall colors to pair it with.
Black
Black is a color of paint that many people shy away from when decorating their homes, which is understandable because it is a strong shade that makes a really bold impact.
However, black is a timeless and classic color that can work with almost any color scheme, so it is actually a really great color choice for paint.
It works especially well for trim because the very nature of trim means that we just get a flash of that color rather than being surrounded by it as you would be with wall paint.
If you have pale walls, then black painted trim will make a really striking contrast. For monochromatic interiors, paint the walls white and paint the trim black, with additional black touches in the space, such as black photo frames and black curtains.
Black trim can also work nicely to give a tonal effect with gray walls, or it provides depth in rooms with neutral warm-colored walls such as beige and tan.
You can also add drama to a room with black trim if you are finding that a space lacks interest. Black trim looks great with olive green walls as well as gray-blue walls.
Gray
Gray is a hugely popular color in interior design right now, and the trim color is no exception. Gray works as a neutral in home decor, so this is a color that works really well to update a space without making too much of a drastic statement.
You can adjust the shade of gray you choose for your trim based on how much of an impact you want to make. White walls with dark gray trim will make for a striking contrast, while medium blue walls with medium or pale gray trim will offer a more subtle aesthetic.
One look that is trending currently is the all-gray layered look. You can achieve this by selecting various shades of gray and using them all around the room. For example, pale gray walls, dark gray trim, medium gray sofas, and dark gray cushions.
If you take this route, be sure to keep your gray shades in the same tone so that they don’t clash. For example, you will want to stick to all cool gray shades with blue undertones or warm gray shades with brown undertones.
Off White
If you want to play it safe and not drift too far from the classic white-painted trim, then off-white is a nice option. Off-white shades can vary from colors like pearl that are very close to pure white, right through to cream that is almost verging on beige.
Off-white trim can be used with any color scheme, so it is a really nice color choice if you want to paint the trim in the same color throughout every room in your home for the sake of both visual continuity and practical ease.
This will ensure that the trim in every room will match the different color schemes of each room, and you won’t need to put any additional thought into it.
Off-white offers a much more subtle, warmer, less clinical feel compared to pure white. It also looks more high-end and will give your interior an understated modern style.
Blue
Blue is a really easy color to be around, thanks to its association with the ocean, the sky, and the feeling of calm and serenity that it can exude. This makes blue one of the most popular colors to use in both interior and exterior design for homes.
If you are thinking about trim colors for the exterior of your home, then blue is a nice option that can work with a range of other shades. Blue trim is a popular choice with white siding and gray siding, adding a touch of personality without being too bold.
For interiors, blue can make a great color choice for trim, especially in coastal style themes. Paint walls in white or off-white, and frame them with a nice vivid blue paint color on the trim.
You could also look at painting trim in darker shades of blue such as navy, if you want to make a statement in an elegant room. Navy trim would look contemporary and sophisticated on walls that are painted in pale to medium gray or on beige walls.
Green
Many shades of green have seen a revival in interior design over the last five years, from sage green and emerald green to mint green.
The newest addition to the green trend is olive green, which is rapidly becoming the most sought-after color for interior walls and interior accessories. To upgrade your interior look, consider painting your trim in olive green or pale olive green.
Walls in pale shades of gray will look earthy and natural with olive green trim, and you can add to this with rainforest prints or house plants as decor items. Beige walls will also look warm and comforting yet modern with olive green trim.
In a children’s nursery or playroom, you could add a splash of color by painting the trim green and leaving the walls white. This can work really well for playrooms that accommodate male and female siblings as a color that doesn’t lean towards one gender.
Pink
If you want to add a touch of pretty femininity to a space but you don’t want to go as far as painting the walls pink, then painting trim in pink is a good compromise. This can give the space a nice lift while still keeping the whole color scheme quite subtle.
There are so many shades of pink paint available that can look classy and elegant, such as soft rose, dusky pink, and blush pink. If you want to create a sultry or romantic atmosphere in a bedroom, then paint the walls gray and highlight this with blush pink trim.
In a nursery, you could paint the trim in a slightly more cheerful shade of pink but stay away from bright bubblegum pinks, as this can look tacky very easily.
Yellow
Yellow is such a joyful color to be around, which really is a wonderful shade to bring into the home. Yellow goes especially well with gray in modern interior decor themes, and it is also a dominant color in Scandinavian-style interiors.
If you have neutral walls, for example, white or very pale gray, then you can afford to make a bold statement with your trim and opt for a bright canary yellow shade of paint.
Don’t go overboard with this color because less is more in Scandinavian-style design. Instead, pick out the yellow trim with occasional hints in your accessories, such as a pair of yellow cushions on a sofa or a yellow-painted wooden accent chair.
White
White is the go-to color for trim, and it’s easy to see why. White works with any color scheme, so you don’t have to put any thought into it, and you can safely paint all of the trim in a property white, safe in the knowledge that it will work well in every room.
White trim is also easy to touch up if it gets scuffed because you can find pure white paint anywhere, so even if you run out of your initial white paint, you can just use a different brand.
Painting trim white will allow it to blend in amongst pale walls, or in dark-colored rooms, it will stand out and create a sharp border.
If you are planning on selling your home or renting it out, then white is the safest color choice of paint for trim because it is inoffensive and won’t put anybody off from moving into your house.
Beige
Beige is a warm neutral color that can help to add a feeling of coziness to a room. Use it on the trim in rooms where the atmosphere feels cold, for example, where walls have been painted in a cool shade of gray. Dark gray works really nicely with pale beige trim, as the contrast is distinctive.
Beige trim will look classy with white or off-white walls and elegant with dark blue walls. If you want to make a statement, then use a shade of beige that will contrast against the wall color.
For example, with white walls, you will want a dark shade of beige bordering on brown, or for dark walls, choose a pale off-white shade of beige.
If you have oak wood trim, check out our guide on paint colors that go with oak wood trim.
