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Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,802
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

A few years ago interior designer Laurel Bern did a blog on this practice, i.e, if your walls are a particular color, then painting your trim that exact color.  

 

You can do matte walls and semigloss trim, or not.  It's a classic, that people have been doing for literally hundreds of years, but I'm always surprised more don't try it.  Super look, serene.

 

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If you're wondering why most of the examples she gives are in many different shades of blue or blue-grayish green, it's because she was answering the question of a reader whose husband wanted blue.

 

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Sheila Bridges did a little twist on this-- went with same color for walls and wainscoting, but contrasting color with the beautiful (stone?) fireplace.

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But in this library, walls, woodwork, fireplace, all same color.Susana-Simonpietri-gray-blue-library-via-change.co_-e1466698070318.jpg

 

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Laurel Bern has a strong bent toward traditional, so she shows mostly rooms with very traditional architecture in this paint treatment.

 

But it can be effective also in rooms that don't necessarily look like they come out of colonial Williamsburg, and are decorated in a more eclectic style:

 

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I still like crisp, contrasting white trim in many applications.  We have that in our living room--  white trim with misty, robin's egg walls. 

 

But in our bedroom, which has many doors cutting up the room, including one going to the attic staircase, all one color for everything "calmed" things down and made it more seamless...

 

Do you like 1) contrasting trim, 2) identical walls and trim, or 3) both, depending on the room or house?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 44,347
Registered: ‎01-08-2011

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

With the darker colors, I prefer an egg shell color to stark white for trim.

 

I do like a bookcase done in the wall color, or as in the case of your bedroom,  all one color so the doors are less of a focus.

 

When the rooms are repainted, pulling all of the paint out of the wooden trim is going to be very unpleasant.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,500
Registered: ‎06-10-2015

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

Contrasting trim for me.  I don't care for any of the rooms shown.  If I was looking for a new home these rooms would be a deal breaker for me.  While it's not for me, most of the rooms are well done.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,034
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

I don't care for all one color rooms.  

Some  of the rooms posted have beautiful wood trim that is hidden.  I would prefer a contrasting color to bringing  out the beauty and showing off the fine craftsmanship.

 

My own house has cherry woodwork and is stained, not painted.  I love wood and love to show it off. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,873
Registered: ‎06-07-2010

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

I like 1, 6, 7, 8.  #8, because I love the ceiling, but would not paint it that color! 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,258
Registered: ‎08-14-2015

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

I like both ! I have stained wood trim thru-out my house which I like but have ofen thought of painting and then I think errrrrrrr if I paint it there's no going back.  At least with painted trim you can always repaint it. If you don't like all one color you can always go back, even if it's a pain, and paint it White or Off-white.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 67,010
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

It's a look I can appreciate but probably wouldn't choose. So much of how it works or doesn't depends on the colors chosen, the room itself and the rest of the decor. My parents tried it a number of years ago but it didn't wow them or me, as it was my room at the time that was the experiment.


In my pantry with my cupcakes...
Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,044
Registered: ‎06-24-2011

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

@Oznell  About 7 years ago I had my kitchen trim painted the same color (gray) as the walls, and I really like it. The archway and the window are more distinct, and the ceiling seems to be even taller than it is. Later, I had the same done in my great room.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 22,373
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

In our former home we had stained wood trim which is what I prefer.  In our current home the trim is white.  I like the contrast between walls and trim.

 

Is this a new trend?  IMHO, the only positive I can see is that it may be easier to paint all one color but I still prefer the contrast.  

"Faith, Hope, Love; the greatest of these is Love." ~The Silver Fox~
Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,437
Registered: ‎06-14-2010

Re: WALLS AND TRIM THE SAME COLOR

I love the spacious rooms and the furnishings and decor.  As far as everything painted the same color it would depend on what the trimmings consist of.  If they are natural wood, I wouldn't paint over any of it.  I do not believe in painting over wood, whether it be doorways, window trim, floors, or walls.  I have knotty pine in a country home which I rent and make it clear, do not paint over it! 

 

While the rooms pictured are lovely it would depend on what is painted over if I really like the look.

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