Painting White Walls with White Trim? Expert Tips!
Helping you decide. Should you paint the walls and trim the same paint color? Plus the best white paint color options.
If you are loving the look of white rooms you are likely trying to figure out how to pair white walls with white trim!
White rooms are now a staple in interior design, so it’s important to be educated on how to choose the right whites when decorating a room.
You may be tempted to use the same white paint color for everything in the room from the baseboards up to the ceiling, but should you?
Or should you choose different white paint colors for everything? Argh, I get that it’s confusing!
You can go either way (don’t worry I’ll explain later!):
- Creating a monochromatic look using the same white on walls and trim can look elegant and make unattractive room features blend in easily.
- Using different white paint colors on the walls and trim can add a layer of sophistication and highlight architectural details.
Ah white paint colors are never just white are they?
Let’s explore ALL of it and later I’ll be sharing the best whites for walls and trim by undertone: warm, cool and neutral from the major paint brands: Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Valspar.
Learn about identifying undertones: Stop Picking the Wrong Paint Color Undertones
When I say trim it includes baseboards, crown molding, wainscoting, window trim, door frames, and picture frame molding.
pin it for later!
Should You Paint Walls and Trim the Same Color
You want to hit the easy button and to pick a white wall color and then paint the trim and the ceiling all the SAME COLOR. Should you?
It may seem like an easy choice, but using the wall color on all of the surfaces isn’t going to save you time or money. Sorry!
I know that’s what you were hoping for and hey you can throw caution to the wind and use the the same can of paint for everything, but you’ll have problems later.
What you need to know is that the PAINT SHEEN is critical to making sure your paint is durable plus cleanable.
Let’s talk about why using the same paint type everywhere isn’t the best option.
Can I use the exact same paint on the walls, trim and ceiling?
The bottom line is walls, trim and ceiling require different sheens or types of paint.
Even if you use the white wall color as the color for the trim and the ceiling you’ll have to buy 3 different products.
I know you are disappointed that trim paint and ceiling paint are not the same as you use for the walls.
What I need to tell you is the same white paint color in different sheens will look like 3 different colors.
What sheen of paint for walls, trim and ceiling
I’ve got in depth tutorials all about paint sheens and also about the best paint type by project, so click through to read those if you want more information.
Sheen Type by Interior Room Location:
- Eggshell for walls
- Semi-gloss for trim, wainscoting and built-in cabinets
- Flat for the ceiling
The higher the gloss the darker the color will appear and the lower the gloss the lighter the same color will look. That’s not just for white paint colors.
It’s a matter of how much or how little the sheen reflects or absorbs light.
That’s why white semi-gloss trim pops in a room because the higher gloss paint helps highlight the architectural details when light reflects off of it.
The glossier sheen makes the same shade of white look just a little bit darker than the wall, so tricks the eye into thinking it’s a different color.
Benefits of Painting Walls and Trim the Same White
Using the same color for both the walls and trim will create a fresh and clean look in a room. Plus an all white room will reflect more natural light brightening up the space.
Painting the walls white with white trim will ensure the room instantly looks larger too. Plus it makes it easier to pick one color and go with it!
Going with a minimalist white color palette creates an elegant sophisticated look. Especially if you have built-in cabinets and crown molding.
Even though the white walls and white trim are the same color they will look different because of the sheen (you know this now, right?).
The semi-gloss sheen will make the same color look darker and reflect more natural light than the eggshell finish on walls. Trim or any built-in cabinets will look more defined.
Guess what? You can use the same paint for the trim on any doors in the room too.
Semi-gloss is the best choice for durability when painting doors.
Can I Use the Same White Wall Paint on Picture Frame Molding?
Picture frame molding on the walls is a huge trend and adds beautiful detail to any room.
You may be wondering if you can use the exact same color of paint (wall color) on both the drywall and the picture frame molding.
You can but…the typical practice is to use the same paint as you would for the baseboards and for the crown molding.
Back to sheen again! You’d use semi-gloss for the molding to highlight the carved details and make it stand out from the white walls.
What order do I paint the picture frame molding and walls?
- Ideally you would paint the trim BEFORE installing it on the walls.
- If you can’t, paint the trim first and then the walls next.
Wondering about the order to paint a room?
Always work top to bottom when painting a room:
- Start with the ceiling (it’s easier to clean up the edges on the wall after the fact)
- Paint the trim (you’ll have a nice clean edge when painting the walls)
- Paint the walls (bump right up to the trim or ceiling as you paint)
White Walls with White Trim: Using Different Colors
No, it’s not necessary to use different paint colors for the walls and trim when painting a room white.
However, using different shades of white can add dimension by highlighting architectural details around the room like crown molding, baseboard, window and door trim.
It ultimately depends on your personal preference and the desired aesthetic of the room.
choosing different shades white walls and white trim:
Pay attention to these specific details as you look at new paint colors.
- Undertones: Look at the different undertones warm (yellow), cool (blue), or neutral (beige).
- Lighting: Think about the lighting in the room and how it affects the appearance of the paint. Natural light and artificial light can change the way colors appear.
- Room style: Take into account the style of the room and choose whites that complement other items like furniture and flooring.
It’s also important to sample the paint before committing to the final color.
This will allow you to see how it looks in the specific light and setting of the room.
Understanding Paint Color Undertones
One of the most important things to understand when choosing paint colors for a room is the concept of undertones.
An undertone is the underlying hue or cast that can be seen in a paint color, even if it appears white.
Understanding the undertones in shades of white can help you select the right white for your walls, ceiling, and trim.
main undertones in paint: warm, cool, and neutral
- Warm whites have a yellow, beige, or peach undertone
- Cool whites have a blue, green, or gray undertone.
- Neutral whites have a mix of warm and cool undertones, making them a versatile.
Place the paint color swatch up against a sheet of white printer paper to quickly identify the undertones you see.
When repainting a room and choosing a white paint color for the walls, pay special attention to the white trim color.
Is it a pure white trim, soft white, creamy white, etc?
The undertone of the white trim is an important factor when painting white walls. You want the white walls to be complementary.
Painting trim is a pain, so if you can live with it and just paint the walls do!
How to Pair White Walls with White Trim and Baseboards
- White trim with neutral undertones is the best! You can choose a cool or warm white for the walls.
- If you have cool or pure white trim, go with a cooler white (hints of blues or grays) or brighter white on the walls.
- Trim with warm undertones which can look more off-white are harder to work with because they can look yellow with the wrong wall color. Choose a wall color that looks creamy and warm.
Yes, you can have creamy white walls with a different white trim.
Always pay attention to the undertones and gravitate to a neutral white and not a cool white. That will prevent the walls from looking yellow in comparison.
At my home, the trim is a very neutral shade of white. The trim was painted in the house before I moved in so I always work around it.
I have 4 spaces with white walls and white trim! Because the trim has neutral undertones I’ve been able to use both warm and cool white undertone paint colors for the walls.
Where things can go wrong…
If your trim is painted a creamy warm white and you paint the walls a bright pure white or a white with a cool undertone, the trim will instantly look yellow!
The same is true if your walls are a creamy white and you go with a stark bright white for the the trim.
It’s all about balancing the undertones of the colors.
What about the ceiling? What color should it be?
Now when it comes to the ceiling, there are specific paints designed for ceilings that are in a flat finish.
They are a flat finish for a reason to hide the imperfections between the joints as the light reflects across the ceiling.
Don’t overthink the ceiling color too much. It’s really important when you are painting it a color other than white 🙂
A nice way to make a room feel cozier or too extend the height of the room you can paint the ceiling the same color as the walls.
I’ve done this in my bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and family room.
Painting the walls and ceiling the same color of blue highlights my deep molding and baseboards.
Pre-mixed grab and go ceiling paint is much cheaper than using wall paint!
So if you are painting the ceiling white, stick with the budget friendly option.
Best White Paint Colors by Undertone
As promised, I’m sharing the most popular paint colors from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Behr, and Valspar.
Now that I’ve told you all this stuff about undertones it probably feels confusing right?
Well I am ALWAYS here to help you and dug into to find the best and most popular white paint colors in all the major undertone categories; warm, cool, and neutral.
With this list you can narrow your focus and hone in on the right paint colors from your favorite brands!
- Benjamin Moore is available through their stores and Ace Hardware.
- Sherwin Williams is available through their stores and at Lowe’s Home Improvement.
- Behr is available at Home Depot stores,.
- Valspar is available and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores.
These are tried and true colors that millions of people have used in their homes.
CLICK EACH UNDERLINED COLOR TO ORDER A PEEL AND STICK SAMPLE
Benjamin Moore Best White Paint Colors
Each color is listed left to right by row in the graphic
Warm Whites
Cool Whites
Neutral Whites
CLICK EACH UNDERLINED COLOR TO ORDER A PEEL AND STICK SAMPLE
Sherwin Williams Best White Paint Colors
Each color is listed left to right by row in the graphic
warm Whites
cool whites
neutral whites
Behr Best White Paint Colors
Each color is listed left to right by row in the graphic
warm Whites
- Mourning Dover OR-W12
- Sleek White OR-W15
- White Four OR-W10
cool whites
- Polar Bear 75
- Frost 57
- White 52
neutral whites
- Swiss Coffee 12
- New House White RD-W10
- Blank Canvas DC-003
Valspar Best White Paint Colors
Each color is listed left to right by row in the graphic
warm Whites
- Swiss Coffee 7002-16
- Dove White 7002-7
- Cozy White 3008-10C
cool whites
- Ultra White 7006-24
- Bistro White 7006-4
- Summer Gray 7006-17
neutral whites
- High Hide White 7007-1
- Cuddle Down 8007-6F
- Santa’s Beard 8007-6E
My hope is I helped you decide on the best approach to mixing white walls and white trim!
The most important choice is the paint color and finding complementary undertones.
No matter where you like to buy your paint I’ve given you options to start with, saving you time and money!
I hope you find the best combination for your beautiful all white room!