Benjamin Moore
Architectural lines make a statement when painted in a medium-tone colour.
When we paint, we usually focus on getting colour onto the wall and paint the trim in a shade of white. In our feature photo the opposite has been done, and it’s worth a closer look.
The lovely open living space in our feature photo boasts pale wall colour (Benjamin Moore’s Barren Plain 2111-60, Aura, Eggshell) and coloured window trim, baseboards, fireplace mantle and doors. This technique is a great option if you have decorative trim in your home, which is found in many older homes. The architectural lines of the trim make a statement when painted in a medium-tone colour. In this instance, the trim colour (Benjamin Moore’s Stormy Monday 2112-50, Advance, Pearl) is the dominant colour in the room, aside from the rich purple bookcase (Benjamin Moore’s Chambourd AF-645, Advance, Pearl). You can see how painting the trim rather than the walls gives a different feel and mood to the room. The space is light and airy while still highlighting the architectural features.
If you have an older home, you may have trim that has a dark stained finish. This is how it was meant to be back in the day and may very well suite your tastes today. You’d want to keep things light by choosing a light, neutral wall colour that supports the tone of wood finish you have in your home.
Some stains have a reddish undertone, some more yellow and some are even grey so keep this in mind when choosing wall colour.
A dark brown wall colour along with dark stained trim might not be the best option, for instance. A light to medium sand colour, however, might fit the bill. Do some testing on the walls near the trim of a window and see how it plays off the light throughout the day and evening before you make your decision.
There are diehard fans of natural wood who are against painting wooden trim, but it can elevate a space in some spaces.
When there is a lot of dark trim and panelling in a room with less than adequate natural light, the room can feel gloomy and small. This can happen in dining rooms in older homes where the wainscoting sits high up on the wall. While it was trendy in its day, it can be too dark for contemporary tastes.
I am all for painting wood if it will bring your decor into this century. You will still have the great lines and architectural detail of the wood but it will be modern.
Sometimes, the decision to paint wood depends on the wood itself. If you have rich, oak or mahogany trim, you may want to refinish it rather than paint it because of its rarity and beauty.
If the trim is pine, then no harm, no foul if you decide to paint it.
As you can see from our photo here, painted wood can be very appealing. Painting dark wooden trim provides the option of changing the colour as desired rather than being stuck with heavy, dark trim. Even the ceiling beams in our feature photo would look great painted the same colour as the ceiling.
There are certain circumstances in which you can have the best of both worlds. You may decide to paint the window trim and baseboards but leave the fireplace mantle in its natural state.
Once you start painting baseboards, doors and windows you’ll pretty much want to continue that throughout the house in order to maintain continuity.
You might get away with keeping wooden trim in a closed-off bedroom, but for the most part, you’ll want to keep the trim consistent throughout the home.
If you’re in a conundrum about which way to go, check out decor photos of both looks. Once you see enough of each style, you can make a more informed decision.
If you decide to paint the trim, it is difficult to undo, but not impossible. Be sure to purchase paint that is suited for this application. Doorways seem to be a magnet for fingerprints. The right paint is better suited to the abuse that doorways and baseboards take over time.
If you have lovely, decorative trim in your home, you’re in luck. Painted or not, these architectural touches add tons of character to a home. Highlight these lovely elements in whatever way suits your taste. Paint them or leave them natural. Either way, you’ve got a small treasure there.
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