How to Paint Trim Darker Than The Walls: Tips To Get Perfect Results

What color is the best to paint your room? Paint selection is essential during re-innovating your house or building a new home. We know that everyone puts more focus on painting walls, but what about the trims? Around 90% of people think little about painting trim, which most people struggle with. Here the big question is, “Should we paint the trim darker than the walls?”

We always like to experiment with different colors when painting a house. Since the trim is the area most people don’t focus much on, painting trim darker than walls or making them lighter is always confusing. You can also ask a professional for help. Perfection is very important; we will help you paint the trim perfectly.

How to Choose The Best Trim Color?

Let’s start with a general rule. To create a unified effect, you can paint the same color on the trim in every room. This is what most normal people do. But we are not ordinary people. As paint specialists, we should encourage people to try different painting combinations, like painting trim darker than walls. 

Experimenting with different painting combinations will help you find the perfect paint to match your home’s paint. Here, we’ll show you some unique wall and trim color combinations. Hope you like these paint combinations.

Here are the tips for how to choose the best trim color.

Compliments of Wall Paint

How much do you know about color temperature? This concept is very important to understand paint matching. You can measure the color temperature using white color. You can use dark paint for trim, but white paint is the easiest way to understand color temperature.

painting trim darker than walls

Red and orange are warm colors. If you paint white on the trim, then pick warm white to make it visually impressive. At the same time, paint the trim with a darker color. Whether it is door or window trim, painting trims darker than walls make the paint more visible.

Experiment with the different swatches as much as possible to make them look good with walls.

Consider Contrast or Darker Tone

From the beginning, we are talking about color matching. So, how do you match colors? You can choose warm trim paint or cool paint with respectively warm or cool wall paint. However, the same color as the wall with the same tone should not be chosen for the trim paint as it will look uncomfortable.

A bold trim paint is always a suitable choice. It gives an adventurous look. If you like such a tone in your home, try dark combos like white walls and dark trim or dark walls and white trim. However, this combination is our favorite. 

Paint Trim At First

This is a great question for our readers. What should we paint first, the walls or the trim? If you paint your house, which one would you choose? Forget what we thought about it. You do not need to know. Professionals say that paint the trim before painting the walls. 

Initially, we disagreed with the professional recommendations. However, we find this process more helpful. It allows you to quickly fix any imperfections after painting the walls.

Keep The Trim Paint Consistent 

Some people do not apply the same color in every room. You may feel the importance of using different trim paint in particular rooms. But you should not do that. Do you know why? Maintaining consistency is an important factor while painting trim. This is why we prefer painting trim darker than walls to maintain consistency.

Ok, this is not only our proposal; experts also say the same. Here, we learn it from different paint experts.  

Can I Use Contrast Paint on the Trim?

Yes, this is a great practice when painting baseboards, doors, or window trim. A darker color is mostly used in the walls compared to the trim. Contrast paint is not the same as dark paint but is close to dark.

With an example, contrasting trim paint is easier to understand. So, consider grey or gauzy paint with white wall paint.

Why Should You Paint Trim Darker Than Walls?

To highlight the architectural details in your room, painting the trim darker than the walls is the best process. The trend is to use the same color on the trim but a little darker. The Sherwin-Williams expert team considers dark and white tones for the wall and trim colors to be the best possible home paint combinations.

The light and the dark combination helps modernize a space and creates a very sophisticated and classic focal point. It seems more beautifying. Therefore, the total concept depends on the homeowner’s color choice. If he uses dark paint on the wall, then painting trims darker than walls is not a good choice. 

If you do not like dark colors, follow the color contrast rule. People who think they have to put only darker colors on trim than the walls need to be corrected. You can apply both light and dark paint without problems. Both paints are convenient for painting trim. But to make it more interesting, we have to follow some rules. Dark and white colors are only part of the rule to make your home more attractive.

Why Do We Like Painting Trim Darker Than Walls?

  • It attracts more attention than any other combination of your house interior.
  • Every element of the room looks more noticeable.
  • The room will look more beautiful.
  • It makes the trim section more visible.
  • It will give a better shade of paint.

What Do We Not Like About Painting Trim Darker Than Walls?

  • The dark color on the trim fades quickly.
  • Sometimes the room size feels smaller.
  • The dark color makes the ceiling seems lower.

FAQs

Can I use contrasting colors for trim and walls in every room?

Yes, experimenting with different color combinations for trim and walls is encouraged. Contrasting tones, such as darker trim and lighter walls or vice versa, can create visually interesting and sophisticated spaces.

Should I paint the trim before or after the walls?

Professionals recommend painting the trim before the walls. This allows for quick fixes of imperfections and ensures a smoother overall painting process.

What are the benefits of painting trim darker than walls?

Painting trim darker than walls highlights architectural details, attracts attention, and adds sophistication to a space. While there are advantages, it’s essential to consider potential drawbacks like a perception of a smaller room or quicker fading of dark trim colors.

Final Verdict

We are at the end of the article, and at this end, it is your home. So, it is completely your decision which colors you choose on the wall and window trim. Since painting trim darker than walls has great advantages; however, this color combination could be better. So, you can pick a suitable paint combination by consulting any painting expert.

Remember to share your thoughts on painting trim darker than walls.

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