The Interior Paint Trend That Will Be Replacing Outdated White Trim

A classic interior look that's been around practically since trim was invented is using white paint to define the edges of a room. Most often, even if the owner is a color enthusiast, his dark navy walls or her lilac kitchen have been accented with white or cream along the door lines, around the windows, and along the molding and baseboards. Standard wisdom for decades has meant this look is used nearly universally in homes with wildly varying styles.

As popular and classic as white or off-white for trim might be, some designers are calling the look dated and suggest you consider an alternative. LA-based designer and entrepreneur Loren Weiss is one of them. "Out: white ceiling and trim... [it] looks sloppy and unpolished," he states in one of his rapid-fire TikTok videos. This dovetails perfectly with color drenching, a hot painting trend that can boost the tranquility of your space, that involves washing the ceiling, trim, and walls all in the same shade. 

This trending technique might not be for everyone, but if you're longing for a change away from stark white trim or builder-grade finishes, color drenching is a creative solution you might want to try. As Weiss states, interior designers have been leveraging this monochromatic look for years. Going for a single color on your trim, walls, and even, potentially, your ceiling, can give your space a designer vibe — while being a cost-effective project that most DIY decorators can easily carry out. 

Besides painting your trim and walls in the same tone, you can also extend color drenching to your ceiling. Sometimes designers even saturate built-in shelves or furniture with the same hue as the walls to achieve a three-dimensional and totally dramatic look. Drama often means dark shades, but that's not the case here. While darker colors lend themselves to drenching, your room could be entirely covered in a desert-inspired golden sandstone or warm taupe, a calming sage green, or a soothing cornflower blue. You can also add a bold and dramatic look to your home with double drenching, which involves using a particular tone for the walls, and then a second, nearly matching color for the trim, and a third tone in the same family for the ceiling, creating a rich, layered effect.

If you're drawn to this idea but are feeling nervous, some of the best areas in your house to try the color drench paint trend include spare bedrooms, a small hallway, pantry, or half bath: These are all good candidates for experimenting with this technique. Open floor plan living areas can be a little trickier to design this way, since there's nothing to stop the eye from encompassing the entire room, and an entire floor plan in one color could be overwhelming, especially if you opt for a vibrant or deep shade.

Not sure if you want to go the monochromatic trim route? You can also give your room a makeover using a bright trim paint technique. But whatever color you ultimately opt for on your trim, don't forget to choose a paint finish that's easy to keep clean.