9 Best Trim Colors for Your Interior

By
Sarah Lyon
sarah lyon, writer for the spruce
Sarah Lyon
Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 04/07/22
white paint trim

Interior Impressions

Wood trim adds immediate visual interest to a space, and we couldn't be more into incorporating it where possible. But even if you're lucky enough to have this feature in your home, you may be a bit stumped when it comes time to do some painting. Should you paint the trim a moody black? What about a crisp white? Or is it best to go tone-on-tone and match the trim to your wall color? And can you still have fun with paint if your room features patterned wallpaper?

To help you narrow down the decision making process, we asked the pros to weigh in. Below, they share their personal preferences with regard to picking a paint trim color, so keep reading to hear their opinions. We've also highlighted specific paint colors to make it easier than ever to replicate some of your favorite designer looks.

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  • 01 of 09

    Farrow and Ball Pitch Black

    Farrow and Ball Pitch Black trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Anne Sage

    Here, black trim pops against black and white wallpaper on one side and patterned paper with a mix of rust and neutral hues on the other. Nina Grauer of Dekay & Tate Interiors is a major proponent of a wallpaper and painted trim combo. "We love this," she says. "Adding wallpaper to painted trim is an amazing way to create a ton of visual interest and a bold design statement. Generally speaking we would say stick to smaller spaces or maybe accent walls for this type of look, but, we are also huge fans of wallpapering the ceiling, so you really can have fun with it!"

  • 02 of 09

    Clare Blackish

    Clare Blackish trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Becca Interiors

    Black window trim pops against white walls in this dining space. "This is a bold move that can create a lot of contrast in a house, and works especially well with modern, minimally-designed spaces or highly graphic styles, like art deco," Grauer comments. Designer Lauren Lerner agrees that this technique adds an element of fun. "Painting your baseboards and trim a different color than the wall adds an unexpected touch to the space and allows that detail to stand out against white walls," she says.

  • 03 of 09

    Farrow and Ball Vert De Terre

    Farrow and Ball Vert De Terre trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Becca Interiors

    In this space, we see multiple trim colors at play. A soft gray green makes a statement around the perimeter of the room, while black trim frames the windows.

  • 04 of 09

    Clare Dirty Martini

    Clare Dirty Martini trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Erin Williamson

    In this living room, tone on tone trim shines and accentuates the wall molding. A soft green makes for an excellent backdrop when decorating with jewel tones; the juxtaposition is ultra sophisticated. "Full monochromatic looks in rooms are becoming more and more popular, and can help create a really cohesive sense of space and visual identity," Grauer shares.

    Continue to 5 of 9 below.
  • 05 of 09

    Benjamin Moore Winchester Sage

    Benjamin Moore Winchester Sage trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Hugo Goudswaard / Getty Images

    This room features wood trim, while the upper beams are painted a beautiful green. Pairing green and wood helps bring the outdoors in and makes this plant-filled space feel extra lush. Leaving some wood trim visible is A-OK, designer Amanda Thompson of ALine Studio shares. "This is always a safe bet, and likely a good one to consider if you're on a budget or want to keep to a more organic, neutral look for your home."

  • 06 of 09

    Behr French Colony

    Behr French Colony trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / House Nine Design

    A tone on tone trim in a blue gray hue makes for a peaceful bedroom zone. "If using color, I like to match trim to walls to give a modern look to a space," designer Lauren DeBello comments. And this tactic comes with additional benefits. DeBello adds, "In a small room, painting the trim and walls the same color will open the space up and make it appear larger."

  • 07 of 09

    Farrow and Ball Snow White

    Farrow and Ball Snow White trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Jane Beiles for Design Lines Signature

    We see a lot of instances of darker trim and lighter walls—such as the case of black trim against white—but opting to paint a room's trim in a shade that's lighter than the wall color is also fair game. Here, an ivory trim complements a grayish green wall.

  • 08 of 09

    Benjamin Moore Super White

    Benjamin Moore Super White trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Hulya Kolabas for Think Chic Interiors

    We see this concept at play again in the above space, which features gray walls paired with a crisp, white trim.

    Continue to 9 of 9 below.
  • 09 of 09

    Benjamin Moore Ballet White

    Benjamin Moore Ballet White trim inspiration and paint swatch

    The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / JNR Designs

    Neutral lovers, this one is for you. A beige trim and white walls go together for a classic look.