{"id":26596,"date":"2021-08-31T08:34:34","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T15:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=26596"},"modified":"2025-11-25T07:59:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T15:59:54","slug":"what-color-walls-go-with-dark-wood-trim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-color-walls-go-with-dark-wood-trim\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Wall Paint Colors to Pair With Dark Wood Trim"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you live in an older home that has the original dark wood trim throughout, you may be resistant to painting it white like every other house on the block. And kudos for your decision to preserve the classic look. While dark wood trim may have garnered a reputation for being a bit dated, many designers disagree with<\/a> that assumption. If you\u2019d like to keep your dark wood trim intact, you do have options and we\u2019re here to help you discover what color walls go best with dark wood trim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Step one: Talk to an expert!<\/h3>\n

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Is dark wood trim making a comeback?<\/h2>\n

The white trim craze was a byproduct of influencers leaning toward \u201cminimalism and brightness,\u201d says Andre Kazimierski<\/a>, CEO of Improovy, a nationwide provider of on-demand interior and exterior home painting services. However, he believes that people have now begun to gravitate back toward darker wood accents to give their homes more personality<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This sentiment is echoed by Matt Kunz<\/a>, president of Five Star Painting<\/a>, a Neighborly<\/a> company, who says he\u2019s seen an emerging trend where customers are opting for dark-stained wood trim and lighter walls. In the below example, the homeowner updated the trim and interior doors to a high-shine black, and it really pops against the cream-colored wall paint:<\/p>\n

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Source: (Five Star Painting)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wood trim has a timeless, classic appeal and can create a cozy space. The key is to choose the right wall color. Rather than tackle the time-consuming and tedious task of repainting all of your trim white (or paying a professional an average $500 to $1,500<\/a> to complete the task), you can instead DIY paint the walls to complement the existing dark wood and create an eye-pleasing contrast.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe beauty of dark wood trim is that it pretty much goes with any paint color,\u201d says Kazimierski. \u201cOn the one hand, it looks great in a living room painted white, but it looks just as great in a library painted dark green.\u201d<\/p>\n

Color considerations for dark wood trim<\/h2>\n

Not all wood trim is the same shade of brown; it can range from light blonde tones to dark espresso. Paint colors that work well with honey or medium-brown trim might not look as good with the darker trim. And you\u2019ll find variance even among color groups.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, if the wood trim has a warm undertone, then shades of yellow, warm beige, tan, and even red can make a beautiful, rich addition to the trim color and will produce a soft look in the room,\u201d advises Sarabeth Asaff South<\/a>, a former kitchen and bath designer and current home design expert for Fixr.com. \u201cAnd if the undertone is cooler, then taupe, gray, blue, or green will make a nice complement, with a little more contrast to the trim.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to consider what kind of atmosphere you want the room to have. \u201cIf you want the room to feel cozier, try to find warmer colors that pair well with the trim,\u201d South suggests. \u201cIf you want the room to feel more formal, then cooler tones tend to look best.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Source: (Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd. \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Popular paint colors to pair with dark wood trim<\/h2>\n

We asked the design experts to share some of their go-to wall colors for homes with dark wood trim.<\/p>\n

White\/off-white paint colors<\/h3>\n

Sticking with white is a good choice in homes where you have large amounts of dark wood trim, such as thick molding, columns, built-ins, mantels, chair rails, or other millwork. A white or off-white shade will help brighten the rooms and strike a nice contrast.<\/p>\n

Try these popular white paints to pair with dark wood trim:<\/p>\n