Tired Of Basic White Trim? David Bromstad Shares A Stylish Alternative To Try Instead

Color theory and choosing a color palette isn't always easy, especially when it comes to the little details. Your home's trim can often go unnoticed, but it's critical to give that area a fresh coat of paint if you want to pull the look of the room together. Plenty of home design experts have their own takes on what to do with the trim — Joanna Gaines suggests a bold and bright trim color, while others might encourage you to go with an off-white color to hide some of the wear and tear that happens to the trim in a high-traffic room. In an answer to a concerned fan, David Bromstad, host of "Color Splash," said that an espresso stain could be a great way to darken your trim. 

In a post on HGTV's website, Bromstad answered inquiries from fans who needed some color help in their homes. Alicia from Michigan asked him if black would be a good color choice for her trim because she wanted to "avoid scuffs." Although black is a timeless paint color, and black clothing and carpet tend to hide stains, the HGTV star warned her against using black in trim. "Black may be neutral, but it's actually the toughest color to take care of. I put black floors in my house and, honey, I'll never make that mistake again!" Bromstad replied. "They show every footprint, paw print, and piece of lint. White trim, on the other hand, hides dust and is easier to touch up." 

While HGTV color expert David Bromstad doesn't think a black trim is the best way to go, he also clarified that that doesn't mean your trim necessarily needs to be white. "If you're set on darker trim, try an espresso stain," he said. "A stain seeps into the wood, so you're less likely to see dirt on it." If your baseboards are wood with visible grain, using a simple wood stain could enhance the natural look and feel, and bring a dark yet warm look into the room. Options like BEHR's espresso water-based interior stain from Home Depot are affordable and easy ways to achieve this look, just be sure to match the hue with other parts of your room, and consider using the same stain on your baseboards if you're worried about two shades of wood clashing. 

If your trim is already painted, a wood stain might not be the best option. You could opt instead for a dark brown paint, like BEHR's iced espresso interior paint and primer from Home Depot, to paint your trim. When it comes to the best tips for painting trim, it's important to prep and prime your trim, so a paint that has primer combined into it could be a game changer for this project. You should also, of course, be careful to cover other surfaces in the room so that this simple paint project doesn't become a paint removal headache.