I have been asked so much about what white trim paint colors would look good so I decided to dedicate a post to answering that question.
*This post may contain affiliate links. For more detail see my full disclosure.
Wood Trim vs. Painted White Trim
Ah the age-old argument of do I paint my wood trim white.
Personally, my take on that argument is to do whatever makes you happy.
Don’t do what future homeowners of your home might want.
Don’t do what someone you have never met tells you on Facebook.
Do what makes you happy.
White Trim vs. Colored Trim
This is one I do have an opinion on. I am not a fan of colored trim. I think you can make white walls and white trim different without having to paint trim a different color.
Let me ask you a few questions:
- Have you ever seen a room in a magazine with colored trim?
- Do they use colored trim on the designed homes on HGTV , such as the HGTV dream home?
- Have you ever seen colored trim at a show home or a model home?
The answer to all of these questions for me is no. High-end designers don’t do this so therefore maybe we shouldn’t either.
BUT, if YOU love the look of colored trim then don’t let me stop you from doing this. Decorating our own homes is our self-expression so if you love it then do it!
White Walls and White Trim
So if you don’t do colored trim what do you do if you have white walls?
Use slightly different color whites. Some whites pull cool and some warm. You can use them to contrast with each other. Or use a pure white on the trim with a creamy white on the walls. The possibilities are endless there.
Here is an example of using two different color whites in a room.
Would you like your own color samples from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore? It’s so easy! You can purchase them from Amazon!
The Best White Trim Paint Colors
Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Alabaster was actually Sherwin William’s Color of the Year in 2016! It pairs nicely with dark colors, such as Urban Bronze and Gray Area. Sherwin Williams says the color sets the tone for healing, calm and restfulness so would be great in a bedroom.
Sherwin Williams Creamy
Creamy is a great neutral color. It does have a bit of yellow in it so if you hate yellow you should not go with this color. Creamy also has a very high LRV so if you are looking to brighten a room this would be a great option!
Sherwin Williams Dover White
Dover White is another very popular color for trim. It tends to pull a little more orange than yellow but as far as neutrals go, this is the perfect warm white color.
Benjamin Moore White Dove
This is probably the most popular color to use on trim. It has a touch of gray in it so it’s a very soft white, not a stark white.
Benjamin Moore Decorators White
Decorators White is more of a white that leans on the cooler side. If you are using greige paint colors then I wouldn’t pair the color with Decorators White. This pairs nicely with paint colors on the cooler side.
Benjamin Moore Simply White
Simply white is the opposite of Decorators White, it pairs nicely with warm tones and looks beautiful in any room. It has slight undertones of yellow.
If you want to check out paint colors in your home without buying a gallon of paint, check out Samplize. This company will send you a 12×12 inch peel and stick paint sample for your wall so you can see what it looks like in all the different lights of your home. When you are done just peel it off! Super easy and no damage to the wall. Check out Samplize here.
Related Paint Color Ideas Posts
The Best Cool-Toned or Blue Gray Paint Colors
The Best Warm Gray or Greige Paint Colors for Your Home
Darya Suleske
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
If I"ve painted the walls Chantilly Lace and the beautiful craftsmen trim is a white that gets the trim completely ignored, can I paint the trim White dove? Do the doors need to be White Dove too or can they stay the boring unknown white?
atlaneandhigh
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
You can totally paint the trim White Dove but you might find that the doors next to the newly painted trim next to another white on the walls is too much. Try it first and see what you think for a few days and then see if you want to paint the doors as well.