Paint can transform a space in so many ways. It’s an inexpensive way to impact a room’s aesthetics significantly. Interior doors are typically painted white, but no rule says they must be the same color as your walls. Painting your doors a different color can create a contrast that makes them pop.
Match the Walls
Painting doors and trim the same color as the walls is a great way to make rooms feel larger. This is especially important in small spaces, where doors and trim can often appear boxed. This trick also works well in rooms with low ceilings, as matching the colors helps draw the eye up, making the room seem taller. One disadvantage of this method is that it sometimes makes the room feel too white. To avoid this, pair your wall color with a different sheen/finish, like flat or matte paint. You can also use this technique to mask flaws in your trim and door frames. For example, if you have dark trim, painting it white can highlight the beautiful wood grain and help mask any scratches or dents.
Contrast the Walls
Painting your doors darker can be a bold statement if you have white walls. Using charcoal, deep blue, burgundy, or even night watch green will work with your neutrals. These darker trim options can make your room feel dramatic and rich. Before you commit to it, testing any paint color with flooring, furniture, and lighting is essential. It is highly recommended to buy a sizeable self-sticking paint sample and put it in your home for a few days to see how they look at different times. This traditional rule can work well in small spaces. Keeping your door and wall the same color can help the space feel bigger by blurring the lines between the walls and the doors.
Make a Statement
Traditionally, doors and trim have been painted white. But that doesn’t mean they have to be! Some paint their doors dark, such as black, while leaving the trim white. This look is most prevalent in farmhouses or contemporary homes. Other homeowners paint the trim and doors the same color for a bold effect. For example, a beautiful shade of blue can add personality to a room. Or a deep red can make a statement.
Blend in
You don’t necessarily have to match your trim color to the wall paint in your home – it all depends on your design preferences. For example, if you paint your cabinets off-white but want the trim to be creamier or even whiter, having a slightly different shade in each room is fine. However, if you’re going bold with the trim in one room (say navy blue), painting the door to match is not the best idea. This will create visual confusion in the open floor plan of your home. For this reason, we recommend sticking to semi-gloss paint for your trim and doors. This paint finish is durable and makes cleaning your trim a breeze. It also helps your trim stand out and pop against your wall color.
Keep it Simple
When it comes to choosing paint colors, simplicity is critical. Keeping it simple can make the difference between a dated or timeless look. Remember that light colors show off architectural details, while dark ones hide flaws. If your door has carved molding, consider picking a lighter paint color so it can shine. Using a paint color visualizer or the app on your phone can help you see what a shade will look like in your home and at different times of day. It can also give you an idea of how the sheen will look—glossy paints are more reflective and tend to accent flaws, while matte and flat finishes have almost no sheen and are easier to clean.
