If ever there was a contentious issue in home painting circles, it’s which color to use for trim. Some will tell you that painting trim effectively means ensuring it blends in with the rest of your décor. Elsewhere, others argue that your trim simply must stand out as a bold feature in its own right.

Truth is, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to paint trim. It depends entirely on what kind of look you are going for, and what suits your personal preferences.

But if you find yourself struggling for inspiration, a few pointers from the pros could prove invaluable. None of which need to be followed to the letter, as much of the joy of interior painting lies in experimentation.

Plus, it’s worth remembering that as painting trim is a fairly simple interior painting job, you can always change your mind and try something else.

Achieving Harmony with Complementary Colors

For most, the goal is to paint trim in a way that makes all aspects of the room’s décor look better. Something that brings the space together cohesively, with a sense of perfect balance and harmony.

In which case, what you are looking to do is choose a color that accents the current color scheme within the room. Not something that dominates its aesthetic, but instead boosts its overall appeal.

Achieving harmony in this sense begins with considering the most dominant color in the room right now. The color you choose for your trim needs to be something that pairs well with this dominant color, without creating a clash. After which, you’ll want to choose something that is either slightly darker or lighter than the dominant shade.

Whites, creams, browns and even blacks are go-to options if in doubt, which usually work well with all interior color schemes. Stained wood can be an even more versatile choice, if you have to time to strip the wood back to its raw form and apply a coat of stain.

When to Go with White

Opting for white trim is never a bad thing – there’s no color more timeless.  Even if your interiors are already predominantly white, opting for the same color for your trim is fine.

But if your walls are painted in a particularly bold or eye-catching color, opting for white can be the best option of all. White trim is fantastic for framing other colors and making them stand out even more. The bolder and more elaborate your existing color scheme is, the easier it is to make your trim work with the most basic of colors.

What Type of Paint to Use?

You can use just about any type of paint for painting trim, but semi-gloss delivers a beautifully balanced finish. It has just the right amount of sheen to make it visually attractive, while at the same time being much easier to clean than matte paint.

This is particularly useful for things like baseboards, which have a habit of taking a pounding on a day-to-day basis. The durability of semi-gloss makes it ideal for surfaces that are prone to accumulating dirt, grime and scuffs.

Full gloss is also an option, but can sometimes be a little too reflective and detract from the desired result.

Tying Rooms Together with Trim

Last but not least, one option to consider is connecting the rooms within your home with a consistent trim color.  This involves selecting a color for your trim that will work with all the existing color schemes throughout your home. Something that becomes much easier to accomplish when you focus primarily on neutrals.

This can be a great way of bringing a sense of consistency to your interiors.  Choose a color you would like to be referenced throughout your home – something neutral but with a distinct touch of color.

Ask the Experts at Homm CPS…

At Homm CPS, we offer a comprehensive range of affordable interior painting services of the highest quality. We can help you choose the ideal color scheme for your home’s interiors, or handle all aspects of the painting process on your behalf.

With our help, you stand to save time, money and effort – all with the added bonus of an extensive warranty on all work carried out.

For more information on any of the above or to discuss your requirements in more detail, contact us anytime for a quick quotation.