Hello AT,
So, does the trim around windows and baseboards have to be the same color?
thanks, Carol
Dear Carol, We think you mean "the same as the walls" but you could mean "the same as one another." To be sure we'll answer both.
Trim was originally intended as a "finish" piece of carpentry to cover the rough edges of construction. It was intended to be functional and decorative at the same time. In contrast, much modern design has very little as building practices improved and modern lines did not favor this type of interruption.
MORE....
Since trim has a tendency to receive the most wear, trim is generally covered in a glossy paint that makes it easy to clean. As for color, this is a matter of personal preference and style.
We generally paint trim a much lighter color than the walls as we think that highlighting the trim in some way is more beautiful than passing up the opportunity. Here are some classic choices:
Modern Look
For a Modern look hide the trim by painting it the same color as the wall and toning down the finish with eggshell or semi-gloss.
Traditional Look
For a Traditional look, highlight the trim by painting it a different color than the walls. Bright white will give it a fresh look, while using a darker tone of the wall color will give it an old fashioned, colonial look. Using a bright color against a white wall will imitate the early Shaker style.
As for painting the floor trim the same color as the window trim, we do, and we think it makes sense to be consistent, however, you can mix it up if you want. Just be careful not to make your walls too "busy" by adding too many colors (unless you want it to be busy!). Remember, walls are BACKGROUND and if they stick out too much, all the other parts of your home may get cranky.
Anyone else?
(pic from mattpaints.com)
I second the comment about the risking a busy wall with different trim colors. But I guess like anything else in art and design, you could probably make it work depending on the colors you choose.
Also, you must consider whether you want to be consistent throughout your entire home or if you will treat trim colors differently from room to room, depending on the decor/colors of the room. Typically, I'd say trim colors are consistent, as they relate/read more to the architecture of the house. Unless you're decorating with abandon, I, too, would keep both types of trim the same color.
I agree with all of the above, and to add to what susiq says about consistency throughout the house, or even apartment, that when you maintain a certain consistency with the trim, you still have the opportunity to paint the walls of each room different colors.
Each wall color will still have its own slightly different relationship with the trim color, whether that color throughout is white, or stained wood, black or, as one person for whom every single apartment he's lived in in the last ten years uses, Janovic's "Crushed Rock", which is a warm grey that works nicely with every wall color he's used.
Oy, stained wood molding is one of my big pet peeves.
carol (question asker) here. thanks much maxwell. the question was the later "same as one another?"
my entire place has stained, un-painted window sills. painted window trim around sills is a fairly dark, warm grey; but i'm thinking of using a bit lighter shade on the baseboards (more on the taupe side) and was just wondering if that was a no-no. (all walls are shades of white.)
i do have a picture, but how does one post a picture in this interface?
Trim does not all have to be the same color, but there should be some thought behind what color is used where.
Example -- in this month's House and Garden, the baseboards of a room in Dixon and Arianna Boardman's house are painted taupe-brown (to hide smudges), but the wainscoting is white. The pic is on page 142.
Maxwell, I feel inspired by the notacorfield project in downtown Los Angeles to try to grow corn (as a temporary houseplant as I don't have a balcony). Is that feasible and if so where would I get the seeds and what pot size should I use? Thanks in advance. Regards, Jonathan D.
http://www.notacornfield.com/