Howdy! As a designer, I get a lot of questions. Questions from friends, from clients, even from random people in home decor stores who want my opinion. What everyone seems to be searching for is permission to do what they want. Clients text me “is this still in?”, “can I do this?”, “is this too XYZ?”. Today, we are answering the question, “is painted trim still cool?”
I’ve been a long time advocate, literally since I started this blog (and my design career, actually), of personalizing your decor based on your own likes and wants. I’ll say it again: based on your own likes and wants and no one else’s. You don’t need permission from people on the internet, even professionals.
I remember when I would go to people’s homes in college, they would be like, “did I do ok?”. As if I am the voice of all interior designers lol. So, let’s change the game, shall we? Let’s all collectively agree to just like what we like and have our homes be unapologetically ours.
I know the title of this post hints that I will actually answer if painted trim is still cool, but instead, I’m going to show you awesome pictures of painted trim and let you be the one who decides. Deal? Let’s just stop judging decor styles and instead focus on what decor styles will work for us.
Is Painted Trim Still Cool?
Now, I’m not sure who the first one to try painted trim was, but I wish I knew! I wish I knew the origin of painted trim. How did it come about? What did the first space with painted trim look like? Was it a ground breaking decor style for the time period? How has it changed over time? Seriously, decor is so cyclical and it’s fascinating to see how styles evolve.
In this post, I’ll be showing you neutral trim as well as some spunky stuff. In a rental project I designed, I chose the wall and the trim colors to be different shades of white for some slight contrast. I know the contractors were probably so confused as to why I’m using white walls, and then darker white trim. I would actually have loved to be in the room when they inevitably made fun of me haha. But it matters! Tone matters, hue matter, light reflectivity matters. Tonal contrast is a thing, people. This rental has some architectural detail by using a shade or two darker trim. It looks elevated and palatable for every renter.
Apartment Therapy
Ah, checkerboard floors. That’s an all time favorite flooring option and I’ve actually got a post coming up all about it! A classic black and white floor is all I want. It’s SO classic and so New York. This kitchen took the vintage vibe to the next level by using mint painted trim.
Remodelaholic
Have you ever thought about using painted trim in a child’s room? I LOVE doing that. It adds so much character and personality for so little money, time, and effort. And, best of all, as the child grows, wouldn’t it be easier to change up the trim color than the wall color?
Better Homes & Gardens
Painted trim paired with wallpaper and a striped rug is THE MOVE, ya’ll. For a project I’m designing now, I’ve been looking at a lot of baseboards (interesting, right?). Painted trim can lean farmhouse, so if you’re wanting to take that a step further, opt for tall baseboards like these! The ones in the image above look to be about 10 inch boards.
Hunker
Besides being a farmhouse look, painted trim can also be a city look! Some of my favorite spaces with painted trim are designed in Brooklyn.
Black painted trim is such an urban-chic style and is especially great in small spaces as it gives architectural detail that’s not overwhelming.
Emily Henderson
One of my favorite colors for painted trim is a good gray/green. Think sage-y but a little pastel-y and greige. It’s just so calming in literally every space.
Better Homes & Gardens
Black trim again but with a twist! What if you used the black trim kind of like a picture frame? That’s why it pairs so well with wallpaper, after all. Wallpaper is basically wall art and the trim is the frame. Apply that to your window treatments. You can opt for a natural fiber, nice pattern, or even a soft neutral sheer for some contrast.
Pro tip: pair your painted trim with a unique window treatment so they speak to each other.
House Beautiful
Remember my plea to please not remodel your vintage art deco bathroom? I got so many responses to that on social media, and every single person was in full support of this! Art deco bathrooms are AWESOME, but I can see why people are wary about styling them. They are certainly a look. Adding a painted trim will not only update this style bathroom but also neutralize it!
Better Homes & Gardens
They don’t call me mellow yellow! Yellow is such a vibrant and happy color, and so is this amazing kitchen. A kitchen is a great place to show off some painted trim, as you probably also have painted cabinets! You could do a monochromatic scheme like the kitchen above, or complementary!
Hendricks Churchill
If you love a modern farmhouse and painted trim, Hendricks Churchill is who you want to check out. One of my clients a few months back sent me so many inspiration images of this amazing design firm. I suggest checking out their work if you’re looking for great examples of eclectic modern elements in a farmhouse style.
Ok, so what’s your verdict? Is painted trim still cool? Or a better question would be…does it really matter? Add decor details you want and find inspirational images to confirm your great idea. You have complete creative control:-)
-Kristen
