The Whimsical Paint Trend I Keep Seeing Everywhere (It Looks So Fancy!)
As Apartment Therapy’s home associate editor, I spend most of my time (actually basically all day, every day) looking at the inside of people’s homes. I’m not creepy, I swear! So, a light bulb moment happens when I spot a trend or unique decorating style displayed in more than one space.
Recently, I came across a couple of homes with unique painting details. No, they didn’t paint the trim in their homes (which is also a great look!). Instead, they painted on unique, whimsical molding.
Last year, I wrote about artist Scott Csoke’s colorful apartment in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. What initially attracted me to the space was the painted molding that adorns nearly every wall. It brought me an immediate feeling of joy and is a nontraditional way to add paint to your space.
“It’s funny and wonky, just like me. Something that looks real but isn’t,” Scott said at the time of the tour. “I love that that is something a lot of people who decorate equally enjoy. I have to have color and humor. It’s so important to me and how I start and end my day.”
I wasn’t the only one who appreciated the design choice. Several readers commented how much they appreciated the playful touch. “Adore this place. Whimsical perfection. Genuinely made me smile,” one reader said. So, seeing this trend again in yet another home tour wasn’t a total surprise.
Hayley Williams, a marketing and social media manager who also runs a successful YouTube channel, rents a maximalist apartment in Manhattan. She might only live in 360 square feet, but she found a way to pack a lot of personality into the space: painting on molding in the bedroom.
Painting on molding is a somewhat renter-friendly way to add character to a room. It immediately grabs your attention and adds faux texture to an otherwise blank slate. Personally, I’m not sure if I have the skill to imitate Hayley and Scott’s designs (maybe that’s fodder for another article!), but based on how brilliant this idea is, I’m sure I’ll be seeing it in plenty more homes.