Your home’s trim plays an important role in tying your interior design together. The trim color you choose can make a dramatic impact on the overall look and feel of each room. When selecting trim colors, you’ll want to consider the existing wall color, furniture, and decor elements to create a cohesive aesthetic.
Certain trim colors work especially well in specific rooms and styles. Balancing light and dark tones and complementing the wall color is key. Whether you prefer bold contrasts or subtle accents, your trim should enhance your home’s architectural details and match your personal style preferences.
We’ve rounded up the 9 best trim colors to use in your interior design:
Classic White Trim
A crisp white trim is a timeless choice that works with virtually any style. White has a clean, brightening effect that makes rooms appear larger. It creates contrast against darker wall colors and pops against vivid shades.
White trim also provides an elegant backdrop that allows your decorative accents and furnishings to shine. Use it on walls, trim, millwork, and ceilings for a cohesive light and airy look. White pairs nicely with any color scheme from neutrals to bold jewel tones.
In traditional spaces, white trim adds an upscale yet understated elegance. For modern and contemporary styles, it keeps the look light and streamlined. White trim works equally well in minimalist, rustic, industrial, and eclectic spaces too.
Black Trim for Drama
For a striking, high-contrast look, black trim is a bold yet versatile option. Black adds architectural definition and makes your millwork details pop. It creates an elegant, sophisticated aesthetic.
Use black trim with light wall colors like white, light gray, and soft pastels. The contrast showcases the lines of the trimwork. Black trim gives a modern edge to minimalist spaces and pairs well with metallic decor accents.
In contemporary rooms, black trim and accents add visual drama. For traditional and rustic styles, black millwork makes a refined statement. And for those seeking an edgy, urban aesthetic, black trim adds a dose of sophisticated industrial flair.
Natural Wood Trim
The beauty of natural wood trim is it provides warmth and texture while connecting your interior with nature. Unfinished, stained, or painted wood trim imparts cozy rustic charm.
Wood trim relates harmoniously to natural materials like stone and textiles. Use it in living spaces, bedrooms, and especially kitchens and dining rooms where you want an inviting farmhouse or craftsman style.
Light wood trim retains an airy feel. For bolder contrast, opt for espresso-colored stains. Distressed wood trim adds antique character. Painted wood can be customized to any color for a stylized cottage look. Keep walls light and layer in nature-inspired textures and patterns to complement the authenticity of real wood.
Soft Gray Trim
A warm dove gray makes an excellent alternative to stark white trim, providing a softer, more subtle contrast against your wall color. It creates a calming, relaxed vibe in any room.
Unlike bright white, soft gray recedes visually, leaving walls and decor as the focus. Use light gray trim in tranquil bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms where its quiet versatility enhances any color scheme.
Gray offers flexibility to go from light and airy to richer charcoal shades depending on the look you desire. Pair light gray trim with blue-grays on walls or deep intense shades for dramatic contrast.
Navy Blue Trim
Looking for trim that makes a bold statement? Navy blue has you covered. Darker blue trim contrasts beautifully against light walls for impact. It enhances white, cream, gray, tan, yellow, and robin’s egg blue walls.
Navy blue trim gives a preppy, classic look to coastal spaces. Use white trim in tandem with navy blue walls for the ultimate beach house palette. In traditional rooms, navy trim adds a regal touch to balance pastels and camel hues. Modern rooms also welcome navy’s sophisticated moodiness.
Distressed, whitewashed navy trim provides character to shabby chic spaces. Glossy or matte navy millwork makes an elegant pairing with brass accents and warm wood furniture.
Black and White Trim Combo
For high-impact drama without overpowering, consider a crisp black and white trim combination. Frame windows, doors, baseboards, and architectural details in contrasting black and white for a bold checkerboard effect.
This versatile combo complements any wall color from pastels to rich jewel tones. It has a glamorous edge for modern spaces, a retro appeal for mid-century styled rooms, and a timeless sophistication for traditional homes.
Use black and white trim to highlight architectural features in minimalist rooms and make a statement in eclectic spaces. Against colorful walls, it becomes an artful frame that provides beautiful definition.
Matte Brass Trim
Metallic trim infuses any room with glamour and shine. Brass trimwork and accents lend a hint of Art Deco flair. Brass ranges from soft champagne to bold shiny copper tones, giving you options to match your style and color scheme.
Brushed brass has an industrial edge that complements concrete, black metals, and raw wood. Polished brass ups the glam factor. Use it in contemporary rooms and classic spaces to make detailed molding shine.
For an earthy feel, try matte brass. It matches beautifully with terra cotta, seaglass greens, and ochre yellows. Pair brass trim with marble, travertine, and natural stone elements to accentuate the veining.
Vintage Silver Trim
Silver trim evokes the charm and sophistication of historic architecture. Antiqued silver leaf details and trim offer an elegant finish with just a touch of shine. Less bold than polished chrome, softly brushed silver has romantic, ethereal appeal.
Use vintage silver sparingly on select architectural details as an accent. In traditional spaces, silver trim on millwork, ceilings, and walls provides an ornate vintage vibe. It pairs nicely with powder blue-gray and French blue walls, adding a dreamy quality.
For a distinctive look, use silver leaf cracks and tarnish as decorative embellishments. Vintage silver trim gives any room an upscale timeworn aesthetic.
Rich Wood Stain Trim
Wood trim stained in rich espresso, walnut, and mahogany tones adds gorgeous elegance to any room. Dark wood trim provides beautiful contrast against painted white walls and lighter furniture pieces.
It embodies the essence of fine traditional craftsmanship. Use it to frame windows, accent crown molding, and finish cabinets for a polished yet inviting look. The warmth of the wood grain shows through vibrantly.
For a luxe library aesthetic, dark wood built-ins and bookshelves neatly offset crisp white walls. Or make the wood the star against neutral walls like cream, dove gray, or beige.
Pair rich wood stain trim with antique furnishings, area rugs, and leather chairs or tufted couches to complete the upscale timeless vibe.
Choosing Interior Trim Colors
With so many trim color options available, how do you narrow it down to the right one for your home’s aesthetic? Here are some helpful guidelines for selecting colors:
- Consider the style of your home – formal architecture calls for elegant refined colors like white, black, silver and brass, while rustic spaces shine with natural wood trim accents.
- Match trim color to the overall palette in the room – use colors already present in your wall color, furniture, or decor. Trim should complement, not compete.
- Light wall colors pair best with darker trim and vice versa. The contrast creates definition.
- Limit trim colors to 1 or 2 hues for a clean, cohesive look. Too many colors risk looking disjointed.
- In open concept spaces, continue the same trim color from room to room to maintain flow.
- View color swatches at different times of day. Natural and artificial light impacts how colors appear.
- For resale value, classic neutral trim colors like white and black have the broadest appeal.
- Paint a test swatch before committing. Colors look different on walls than in a sample.
Get creative and don’t be afraid to try something bold – your trim sets the tone for your whole interior design. Use trim strategically to highlight the architectural details that make your house unique. The right trim color palette brings out the character and beauty of your home.
9 Best Trim Colors for Your Interior Frequently Asked Questions
What is interior trim?
Interior trim refers to molding, boards, and decorative detailing inside your home that “trims out” intersections of walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doorways. Common trim pieces include crown molding, baseboards, door and window casings, wainscoting, and chair rails.
What’s the most popular color for interior trim?
White remains the most popular choice for interior trim, especially for baseboards, casings, and decorative moldings. It provides a clean, classic look. Light gray is gaining popularity for its subtle contrast and versatility.
Should you use the same trim color throughout the house?
Using the same trim color throughout creates consistency and flow in an open floor plan. However, it’s fine to use different colors in rooms with clearly defined boundaries. Just be sure colors complement each other.
What trim colors go with gray walls?
Light grays like soft dove, light taupe, and greige pair nicely with crisp white trim. For bolder contrast try black, navy blue, or charcoal trim with medium to dark gray walls.
What are some good trim colors for a dark room?
White, off-white, light gray, and soft cream trim colors will lighten up a dark room. Crisp white provides the most contrast and brightening effect against dark walls or wallpaper.
Should trim and ceiling be the same color?
Trim and ceilings don’t have to match, but cohesive colors create a seamless flow. Choose ceiling colors in the same lightness/darkness as trim for a harmonious look. Different tones can make ceilings seem lower.
Is it OK to have colored trim?
Absolutely! Colored trim adds personality, brightness, and visual interest. Best practice is choosing colors already present in your decor vs. totally different hues that may clash. Navy blue, black, gray, soft sage green, and even metallics work nicely.
What color trim goes with red brick?
White, black, navy blue, and gray work well with red brick’s warmth. Soft pink, pale yellow, or sage green are charming with a more preppy vibe. For rustic charm, use natural wood tones. Crisp white provides the greatest contrast.
What color trim goes with tan walls?
White, black, navy, soft gray, and mahogany complements tan’s neutral warmth. For a beachy look, try light blue. Wood trim in oak or birch enhances the organic feel. Painted wood trim in seafoam green or sky blue accentuates tan’s golden tones.
Key Takeaways on the Best Trim Colors
- White, black, gray, navy, and natural wood trims have timeless, versatile appeal.
- Lighter trim contrasts nicely with darker walls and vice versa.
- Trim colors should complement your room’s existing color scheme.
- Limit trim to 1-2 colors max for a cohesive look.
- Consider your home’s architectural style when choosing trim colors.
- View trim color samples at different times and lighting.
- Bold colored trim can make a stylish statement and show off architectural details.
- Continuity of trim color unifies open concept home interiors.
- Test trim color swatches before fully committing to be sure of your choice.
With an interior trim color that harmonizes beautifully with your rooms, you can create a polished, put-together look for your home. Use trim strategically to highlight architectural details and design elements. The right trim color will enhance and unify your home’s style.