“Should I Paint My Wood Trim White?” The Ultimate Guide to Trim Painting Decisions

Painting projects come in many forms. From updating your kitchen in a beautiful neutral to dramatically accenting a living room wall, fresh paint creates magical transformations. But, you may be unsure about some projects – and painting your trim might be one of them, especially in the unique architectural context of the Front Range.

Pro painters understand the old adage, "Easy to apply but a bear to remove". And this especially applies to painting wood trim. Once painted, it's tough and time-consuming to restore it to the original wood. 

But painting your wood trim depends on so many more factors than just knowing it'll be hard to remove. Are you wondering, "Should I paint my wood trim white?" If so, you'll know when and how you can paint trim to elevate your home's value and aesthetic after reading our "Ultimate Guide to Trim Painting Decisions". 

Why Paint Your Trim?

Several reasons may inspire homeowners to paint their wood trim. Maybe you want to stay on top of current design trends like color-drenching that matches trim to wall color. Or maybe you're going after the clean minimalist look – white walls, white trim, white accessories, white white. Then there are those who want to make their sad, dated Denver-suburban-housing cookie-cutter trim disappear with paint. Unless you have a historic home in areas like Capitol Hill or Denver's historic districts, painting wood trim is the ticket to elevating your home's aesthetic and increasing its value.

White Trim vs Wood Trim: What to Choose?

Let's try to clear up some confusion over the dilemma of painting your wood trim white or keeping the wood stained.

White trim can update a room by giving it a clean, modern feel. In cases where your wood trim looks dowdy or dated, painting the trim can quickly freshen and transform a room. Painting trim the same color as your walls, or color drenching, is a popular design trend that can change a tired room into an exciting and inviting space. White walls with white trim are popular and timeless because your rooms appear lighter, cleaner, and bigger.

However, it's best not to paint your wood trim if you have a historical or classic home or a home that has been architecturally designed and custom-built. There are exceptions – such as choosing just one room, like a kitchen or foyer, where you can paint the wood trim – but you should study examples and live with paint swatches before going ahead with the job. 

What Colors Are Usually Used to Paint Trim Besides White?

Without a doubt, carefully chosen colors, proper prep, and quality paint application can directly increase your home's value. But in addition to white, there are other colors popular for painting wood trim that will affect value. Variations of black, green, and blue are striking and beautiful trim colors that increase the value of your home. Just remember, once you paint over wood trim, it's extremely difficult to bring it back to its original state, so plan carefully!

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Does Painting Wood Trim Decrease the Value of a Home?

In most cases, painting wood trim white will increase the value of your home. White trim can make your rooms appear larger, brighter, and more welcoming. Painting trim can highlight and enhance architectural features such as a beautiful staircase or built-in cabinetry. In general, trim paint affects the value of a home and directly increases your return on investment.

On the other hand, it's best to maintain wood trim in its original state if you have a historic home. Cleaning and restoring the wood trim can actually increase the value while painting natural wood in a historically significant or vintage home can potentially decrease the home's value.

For example, let's say a purist is thinking of purchasing your historic house, but you've painted the trim. They want to bring the painted trim back to its original state and know they'll have to dig deep in their pockets to pay for the restoration. This is a case where painting wood trim could decrease a home's value.

5 Things to Consider Before Painting Your Trim

Before you decide to paint your trim, mull over the following:

Consider the Aesthetic of Your House 

As mentioned before, historical homes in Denver's older neighborhoods typically have beautiful and intricate millwork best left in its natural state. A tract house that seems dated with aging wood trim would benefit from a fresh coat of white paint over the wood trim. Houses that get very little natural light, like row houses and townhouses, will also benefit from painted wood trim. 

Consider the Quality of the Wood Trim

No matter when your home was built, the quality of the wood can help you decide if you should maintain its original character. If the wood looks cheap or dated, you can help modernize it with paint. Take caution with decorative or rare wood where the priority should be to clean and restore.

Are You Renovating? 

If you're revamping spaces in a home that's part of Denver's eclectic mix of old and new architecture, painting wood trim can pull together disparate spaces and bring cohesiveness to your home.

What Is Current and On-Trend

If you want to get your home ready for 2024, white trim is still extremely popular. White goes with every design style, looks classic and fresh, and can make your rooms pop.

Hiring a Professional Painter 

Most homeowners can paint walls with some success. But painting trim is another matter. Painting trim requires expertise, patience, and experience. If you've decided to paint your wood trim, interior painting services can expedite the job and ensure a top-notch, quality paint job that you'll love.

Ready to Refresh Your Trim?

Our crews at Singletrack Painting are trim painting experts. Their outstanding skill and workmanship will ensure your trim is painted or cleaned and restored to perfection. Singletrack has many years of experience with all types of painting in metro Denver and surrounding areas. When it's time to paint or restore your trim, call us if you still have questions. And – we're happy to give you a free estimate!

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