This Tiny Paint Tweak Can Make Your Home Look More European and 2x as Fancy
Ask any designer about the topic of white paint, and you’ll get a variety of opinions. From thoughts on cool to warm tones to neutral whites to how natural or artificial light impacts the paint, it’s a surprisingly nuanced conversation. But one thing you don’t hear about as often is how to play with white paint on your trim, and this designer trick just might take the cake, if you’re looking to make your home look cozier and more polished: When painting a room white, consider using a darker white or light ivory on the trim to warm up the space and make it pop.
According to designer Victoria Sass of Prospect Refuge Studio, this trick, used frequently in English design, gives trimwork a little bit more presence without overdoing it. “It doesn’t go full-on accent but definitely stands apart from the walls as more of an independent entity,” Sass shares. “It’s a great solution for older homes where collected layers feel like the right thing.”
While painting your trim a slightly darker white than the walls is a smart way to add dimension and depth to an old build, this technique can also be used to inject character into newer construction, too. “Matching your trim color to your wall paint is very contemporary,” says Sass. “Leaning into [this trick] adds character and personality to your walls, giving them the sense that layers have evolved over time.” You can see several ways she utilized this technique here, from a kitchen to a dining room and even a living area.
How do you land on the right white paint for your space (and trim?). Farrow & Ball’s Patrick O’Donnell leaves us with some advice. “Consider a white with warm tones,” says O’Donnell. “This could be anything with a little yellow or red undertone such as our classic White Tie, which has enough yellow in it to give a gentle characteristic,” he shares.
Sass has some practical advice for arriving at the right white for your walls and trim. “Always sample three whites at a time, no more and no less,” she says. “Leave them up for a week — or as long as you can stand — and notice which one you gravitate toward when you look at them throughout the day. Be sure to consider them at varying times of day as the light changes.”
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
