Dark wood tones are making a comeback. That raises the question: what color walls go with dark wood trim? I have the answers!
Many homeowners struggle to find the perfect wall color for dark wood trim. Unlike white trim, wood has noticeable undertones you have to work around, which can make choosing paint much trickier.
You could paint the trim another color, but budget, labor or simply loving the wood may keep you from saying goodbye to it.
Dark wood trim is still common in homes, and people want to work with it. I love preserving the original history of a house, and when it's done well, I'm a fan! It adds such warmth, character and drama to a room.
In a way, natural wood trim feels more grounding than white trim. Dark wood has a rich, organic quality that never goes unnoticed.
While today's question is what color walls go with dark wood trim, these paint colors also work well alongside dark wood furniture or cabinetry.
It all comes down to coordinating colors, wherever they appear in the room!
Pro Tip
Whenever you choose a new paint color, try the actual paint color in your home first!
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Neutral Wall Colors to Go with Dark Wood Trim
You can never go wrong with a neutral! These shades complement the wood and create lovely contrast in the room.
Alabaster White by Sherwin Williams
White walls will always be among the most popular off-white wall colors of the 21st century. And for good reason! Nothing suits every style, room and decor quite like the brightness of a white room.
Alabaster White has warm undertones that lean toward faint beige rather than blue. When painting with white, keep in mind it will create strong contrast against the dark trim. Make sure the rest of the room includes enough high-contrast pieces to tie everything together.
Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore
If you want a creamier white, consider Swiss Coffee. In certain lighting it can look warm and golden. Although it has slight yellow undertones, this cream shade pairs well with the warmth in the wood.
This color is very bright. It has an LRV of 84, so it will make the room feel nice and light.
White Dove by Benjamin Moore
If neither of those whites appeals to you, White Dove is a soft, lovely white. Richer in color than most whites, it has warm, creamy undertones. With enough light, it looks good alongside almost anything, including dark wood trim!
Against the wood, it will look whiter. White Dove stays remarkably crisp in any setting. Brighter than most whites, it has an LRV of 85.
Warm Wall Colors to Go with Dark Wood Trim
Warm colors bring out the warmth in the wood. When people think of warm colors, they often picture reds, yellows, pinks and beiges.
Too much yellow or orange, however, will amplify the orange undertones of stained wood trim and make your walls look dated. Try these warm taupe, beige or greige paint colors instead!
Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams
Accessible Beige can do no wrong in my book. With beiges and dark wood, I'd usually recommend a true beige, but true beige has fallen out of favor lately and feels more like the early 2000s.
The gray undertones in Accessible Beige make it lean toward taupe and gray in certain lighting, so it isn't a true beige. That gray brings neutrality, which makes it more versatile and more current. When using any browns with dark wood, keep them light. Anything medium or darker will blend in and won't provide enough contrast in the room.
Sherwin Williams Natural Tan
Another warm option, Natural Tan gives you that cozy feeling without the reds, yellows and oranges we want to avoid. Paired with dark trim, it brings a sense of relaxation and timelessness to the room.
The wood will make the paint look lighter, giving you a high-contrast look. This works best in rooms with lots of windows or in large, open spaces. Otherwise, contrast can make a room feel smaller and more cluttered.
Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
Perhaps Sherwin Williams' most popular gray, you may be wondering how Agreeable Gray ended up in the warm category. While it is still a gray, it looks more like a greige with strong beige undertones.
Warm grays are especially popular right now, and this shade will help your room feel more current. It also softens the dark wood. Soft and warm, Agreeable Gray has a lovely gray and creamy tint.
Cool Wall Colors to Go with Dark Wood Trim
If you prefer cool colors, they will tone down the wood in the home and help balance its warmth.
You'll typically be pairing the wood with cool grays, blues, greens, navy and dark charcoals. For anyone struggling to decide, cool tones are almost always the most popular and timeless choice.
This is my favorite category to pair with wood tones. In my dining room, for example, I used a cool green to tone down the dark red-brown of my great-grandmother's dining suite. You could achieve the same effect if your dark wood trim has a similar color.
Clary Sage by Sherwin Williams
One of the boldest options on this list, Clary Sage adds a true pop of color to your walls. This medium-toned green has earthy tones that work well together and create a more grounded room. With an LRV of 41, make sure the room has plenty of light to offset the deep color.
Keep in mind that the more color you add, the less modern the room may feel. But if that suits your style, it will create a cozy vintage look and plenty of personality.
Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams
Another pop of color, Sea Salt, is a much more subtle choice. With cool undertones, it has a gorgeous blue-green hue that shifts with the lighting. The green shines through in warm light, while cool light brings out the blue.
Sea Salt is one of my favorites, and I recommend it often for many rooms and styles. It's a "safe" way to play with color.
Tin Lizzie by Sherwin Williams
Grays work so well in all kinds of rooms and decor styles, so I couldn't resist adding one more to this list. Tin Lizzie is a medium-toned gray, darker than the other grays and gray-inspired colors here. It creates a moodier feel yet looks sophisticated against dark wood.
The blue-green undertones really come through in this gray. It's a truly beautiful color that complements the wood, but it needs a bright room to show its true colors.
Final Thoughts
By now you should know the answer to which paint color walls go with dark wood trim. When in doubt, hire an interior designer or simply stick with neutrals and embrace the contrast and depth the wood brings to the room.
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