What Color Walls Go With Dark Wood Trim? – Best Combinations

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Many older homes come with original dark wood trim. The most common approach for most homeowners is to simply paint the wood trim white. However, before going ahead with this idea, consider how you can transform your space by keeping the wood trim natural. To help, we will be discussing the benefits of keeping the natural wood trim, and looking at the best paint colors that go with dark wood.

 

 

Paint Colors That Go With Wood Paneling

It might be simple to paint over the wood trim and be done with it, but it is difficult to go back on that decision. So, consider carefully and decide what you want to achieve in a particular space. Keeping and working around a dark trim color scheme can provide more character to a home.

Not all wood trims are dark, and they can range from light blonde to medium brown or honey tones, and the dark wood trim. The dark wood trim was quite popular during the early years of the 1900s. The rich dark colors brought a sense of opulence to the room. Some benefits of keeping a dark wood trim.

• Provides extra character and warmth, and also enhances the classical look.
• If you are looking to add more depth and drama, dark wood trims along with light walls can help you achieve this.
• Pairing dark wood trims with white walls can also help to create a modern and natural look and can create a more relaxing and homey space. It also stands out and makes a statement without being too pretentious.
• The contrasting dark wood trim and light-painted walls can help to open up a room.
• Dark wood trim around window frames can help to draw attention to beautiful views surrounding the home.

 

Choosing Light or Dark Paint Colors

The most common choice is white walls with brown trim, or beige and other light paint color options. However, there are bolder paint choices you can also choose. Whatever choice you make, remember to always buy sample pots to test out before painting a room.

By creating a dark-trim color scheme, you can bring out the natural warmth and beauty of the home. To do this, you need to ensure you choose the correct wall paint colors that go with dark wood, to help prevent a space from feeling too dark.

 

Lighter Paint Colors

Neutral colors, including white, are the more popular choice and help to open up larger rooms. The combination with dark wall trim also adds character and can help to create a calmer look. This can be helpful in areas like the bedroom, but can just as easily be used as living room wall paint colors with dark wood trim. Bolder colors can be brought in through accessories like chairs, cushions, and other items.

Light color walls have a better contrast to dark wood trim. So, if you choose an overly bright white, the contrast can be a bit too loud or uncomfortable to look at. Thankfully, there are many different shades of white to choose from. So, if you have a range of samples, you are sure to find one that looks perfect alongside the wood trim.

 

Darker Paint Colors

Combining a dark trim color scheme with bolder and darker colors can add more drama and depth, but it is also more challenging. This combination can make a room feel smaller, which can be appealing to some. For example, making a bedroom space feel cozy. Darker jewel tones can look amazing when paired with a dark trim color scheme, as it helps to showcase the warmth of the wood.

Some designers would say to avoid using dark colors, as it does not create the contrast as lighter paint colors do, and makes a room appear more closed-in or gloomy. However, it is completely up to you and what you want to achieve. You should also consider the amount of natural light in a room, which could significantly impact the feel of an area.

 

 

What Color Walls Go With Dark Wood Trim?

Painting walls is an easy way to change or redecorate a room. Sometimes, the paint colors that go with wood paneling might not be working out as you expected. The colors might be competing with each other, or it simply just does not look right. When choosing paint colors that go with dark wood, you can go for lighter and brighter colors or moody and dark colors.

However, if the wood tone is more of a light blonde or medium brown, it is best to not go for neutral colors that have yellow or orange undertones as this could clash with the wood, making the whole effect look drab. This is why you should always test out a paint color before you purchase a color and start painting. Many professionals advise you to stick with creamy whites and clean whites that are not too bright.

A lot also has to do with warm and cool colors. Woodwork and wood trims usually provide a warm look and might clash with cool paint colors. However, it could also create the contrast you are looking for. So, what color walls go with dark wood trim? Ultimately, it again depends on what you like and want to achieve. Let us now go through a few of the more popular paint colors that go with wood paneling. We will also be providing some popular paint options from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore as examples. These web colors are only approximations and may be slightly different from paint colors.

 

White and Off-White Paint Colors

Either white or off-white options are the most popular choices for painting walls. When applying white walls with brown trim, the colors complement each other, and the room has a bright and modern appeal. This choice is classic and is something that will remain in style for every season. You can keep the look minimalist, or add color through accessories like artwork, cushions, rugs, and other details.

Sometimes, pure white can be too bright, which is where an off-white can add more of a relaxed and fresh look. These colors provide the best backdrop for a dark-trim color scheme. The dark wood offers a high contrast against the white background.

White living room wall paint colors with dark wood trim, offer a beautiful and sophisticated, yet relaxing neutral space. It is also an easy way to generate some interest. You might want to choose a shade of white that has a warm undertone, which should work more harmoniously with dark wood trim. Below are some white paint options from Sherwin Williams. The first option is a bright white, while the second option is a softer and warmer white.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Sherwin Williams Extra White	#edeee9	0, 0, 2, 7	237, 238, 233
Sherwin Williams Alabaster	#eeeae0	0, 2, 6, 7	238, 234, 224

 

Neutral Colors

White is also considered a neutral color, but we thought it needed its own heading as it is such a classic choice. Besides white, there are a few other neutral paint colors that go with dark wood. These include cream, beige, and a variety of grays.

 

Cream Paint Colors

If you are looking for a warmer and less bright option than white, which will not look as striking against a dark wood trim, then there is always cream. This color is more relaxing and offers an undertone of yellow. This makes the cream color warmer than plain white and can work with a dark trim color scheme.

The cream color will work nicely with woods like cherry and mahogany, which have reddish undertones. The whole combination can provide a timeless, beautiful, and luxurious look. You can also use this combination in any room of the home. The Sherwin Williams Steamed Milk paint color is a warm and comforting choice for walls. The Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream color offers just enough warmth and depth to any room.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Sherwin Williams Steamed Milk	#ebe0d0	0, 5, 11, 8	235, 224, 208
Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream	#eadbc4	0, 6, 16, 8	234, 219, 196

 

Beige Paint Colors

Beige is another one of those paint colors that go with wood paneling. A warm color that has brownish undertones, makes it an ideal pairing with wood trim. One of the more popular paint colors you can get in this category is the Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige. The color is beige but contains a hint of gray. Beige paint colors can also be used in most rooms, whether you want to bring in a bit of warmth to the kitchen or create a cozy bedroom look. The Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan is a light tan and a more neutral color.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige	#d1c7b7	0, 5, 12, 18	209, 199, 183
Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan	#dbcfbb	0, 5, 15, 14	219, 207, 187

 

Gray and Greige Paint Colors

Gray-tone paint colors can help to balance the warmth of the wood, especially if you have quite a few wood elements in a room. Both gray and greige options will produce a more modern feel, and if using lighter shades, it can help to brighten up a room. If you are looking for a nice contrast, you can use something like the Sherwin-Williams Aloof Gray. Otherwise, a slightly warmer option can be the Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray. Warmer beige-gray paint colors are quite popular, and they tend to work quite nicely with wood trim.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Sherwin Williams Aloof Gray	#c8c8bf	0, 0, 5, 22	200, 200, 191
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray	#ccc8bf	0, 2, 6, 20	204, 200, 191

 

Yellow Paint Colors

Yellow does help to enhance the warmer tones of wood. Yellow is also a happy and welcoming color that you can get in many different shades and tones. Lighter and softer shades of yellow can help to establish a comforting environment. One of the more popular paint colors is the Sherwin Williams Friendly Yellow.

The Benjamin Moore Cream Silk offers a softer and paler yellow. Of course, if you want, you can also go bolder and brighter. Yellow is a good choice for dark wood trim, and you can bring in more yellow undertones through the furniture and other accessories in a room.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Sherwin Williams Friendly Yellow	#f5e0af	0, 9, 29, 4	245, 224, 175
Benjamin Moore Cream Silk	#f5eed6	0, 3, 13, 4	245, 238, 214

 

Darker and Bolder Paint Colors

It might not be the first option for some, but you can also use darker and bolder colors that work with a dark trim color scheme. This produces a more dramatic look, but it can also create a cozy setting. There should be enough natural light in a room so that it is not too overwhelmingly dark and gloomy. You can have large windows, bring in mirrors, and incorporate lighter color décor and accessories.

 

Blue and Green Paint Colors

There are many different shades from pale blues and greens to darker versions like navy or hunter green. You can even class some of the lighter shades as off-white, with hints of color. Light shades of blue work best in areas like the bedroom or as living room wall paint colors with dark wood trim. Although, blue and green colors are quite versatile and can fit into most rooms in the home as the main color, or simply as an accent.

Blues and greens do lean towards a cool color bias, however, blues and greens with warmer undertones would ideally work with wood trims. Although, cool blues can also provide more of a contrast to warmer wood tones. The Sherwin-Williams Jacaranda paint color is a popular blue with warmer purple undertones.

A darker popular blue is the Sherwin William Inkwell paint color. This darker version of paint on walls, together with a dark wood trim can work if balanced out with lighter color décor. For example, a white ceiling, lighter wood flooring, and cream or beige color furniture.

A sage green like the Sherwin Williams Softened Green paint color is a cool green that will help to contrast nicely with dark wood trim. Green is a calming and natural color that will work with darker wood trim, like the bark of a tree. The Sherwin Williams Dard Hunter Green is a darker shade of green that can also work well with both light and dark woods. If you do not want to go all in with green, then consider just an accent wall.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Sherwin Williams Jacaranda	#5a9fc0	53, 17, 0, 25	90, 159, 192
Sherwin William Inkwell	#2b3035	19, 9, 0, 79	43, 48, 53
Sherwin Williams Softened Green	#bcbca7	0, 0, 11, 26	188, 188, 167
Sherwin Williams Dard Hunter Green	#49544b	13, 0, 11, 67	73, 84, 75

 

Purple Paint Colors

Purple might be a more unique choice for some, but it does lend a certain sophistication to a space. Purple is often associated with luxury and royalty, so the deep and rich color can most likely be found in high-end homes. You can paint all the walls, or simply create a focal wall that works with a more neutral-toned color scheme.

You can try darker shades or lighter purple shades for more contrast. Remember, for darker colors, to have enough natural light and to balance out colors using accessories and other décor ideas. Warmer-toned woods will work nicely with darker plums, while paler lavender tones can help to contrast cooler wood tones.

Some paint examples include the Benjamin Moore Shadow 2117-30, which is a rich and dark purple that can change from a softer lilac to a darker coal, depending on the lighting. If you want a paler shade of purple, consider the Benjamin Moore Touch of Gray 2116-60. This is a sophisticated blend of pale lavender and gray.

Shade	Hex Code	CMYK Color Code (%)	RGB Color Code	Color
Benjamin Moore Shadow	#4f4b58	10, 15, 0, 65	79, 75, 88
Benjamin Moore Touch of Gray	#ddd6dc	0, 3, 0, 13	221, 214, 220

 

If you have been searching for what color walls go with dark wood trim, we hope we have answered some of your questions. Whether you select a lighter and more neutral wall paint color, or you want to go bolder, you need to make sure it pairs well with a dark trim color scheme. So, always test out the paint colors before you begin painting to see if the colors coordinate well!

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What Color Walls Go With Dark Wood Trim?

The most prevalent and preferred color is white walls with brown trim. However, other neutral colors like cream, beige, or gray are also excellent choices. Lighter blues and green colors also produce a better contrast; however, some also try dark and bolder colors with dark trim.

 

How Can a Wood Trim Work With a Modern Look?

Wood trim is an older design trend, so how do you make it fit into the current world of interior design? To create a fresh look, keep to cooler paint tones such as crisp whites, and keep away from warmer tones like yellow or orange. However, these choices are completely up to each person.

 

Can a Wood Trim Make a Room Appear Smaller?

A dark trim color scheme with neutral or light wall paint can add some interest; however, it will not make a room appear smaller like a dark wall paint color will. Dark wood trim can bring attention to certain architectural features and will create a focal point in a room.