5 Traditional color schemes for walls and trim

Many people automatically opt for white trim paint after selecting the ideal wall color without giving it any further thought. Although white molding is a traditional choice for a reason, there are many other choices that can have a greater impact and may be more suited to the design and layout of your home.

There are times when it's best to stick with the fundamentals when selecting wall and trim colors. The following five color schemes are tried-and-true choices that have been demonstrated to look good in almost any type of space.

1. White Walls, White Trims

Let's start with a design element that many consider to be truly classic: white walls and white trim. When painting trim and walls the same color, choose to give the trim a higher sheen than the walls. According to Arianna Cesa, Associate Manager of Color Marketing & Development at Benjamin Moore, in terms of specific colors, “If you are feeling overwhelmed, and don’t know where to start when it comes to selecting a trim color, look to bright clean white paint colors like Chantilly Lace (OC-65) or Super White (OC-152).”

2. Greige Walls, White Trim

Since it can lean either warm or cool, greige has been a well-liked wall color for many years. “A greige like Stonehenge Greige (PPG1024-5) can be paired with a white trim—such as Commercial White (PPG1025-1)—for a fresh, cozy look,” says Ashley McCollum, PPG color marketing manager.

3. Light Walls, Black Trim

Consider a dark trim with light walls if you want to draw attention to architectural details like window frames and original baseboards. It's best to paint the trim before painting the walls, even if the trim is darker than the walls, to prevent the lighter wall color from splattering onto the darker trim. 4. Blue Walls, Cool White Trim

When choosing a wall and trim color combination, Arianna Cesa advises using two colors with a comparable underdone. She suggests, “If you have blue walls, look to white paint colors that have a blue undertone as options for the trim for a cohesive look.”

Using Decorator's White OC-140 for the trim and Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy HC-154 for the walls is one of her go-to combinations for a classic appearance. According to Ashley McCollum, pairing Glidden's Blue Fjord (PPG1163-6) and Delicate White (PPG1001-1) is "the perfect way to jump into the world of color while giving your space a timeless look."

5. Clay Walls, Beige Trim