Back from vacation and we've hit the ground running to keep our projects list in check. I'm going to share a future post about all of those upcoming spring projects but in the meantime I wanted to recap the Guest Room 3 contrasting trim.

Contrasting trim paint has been included on home decor trend watch lists for a few years. Certainly not a paint technique we invented, the design community has long embraced the concept!

In it's simplest form, this paint technique uses a darker paint color on the trim/molding than the wall paint color.

From there, the trend can be modified with the use of very subtle or bold paint selections, and further with the paint finish.

I debated whether or not this type of design detail would work in Content; scouting the internet for inspiration.

I was worried that our old home would not properly articulate this seemingly modern trend, but with faith in my initial design, we decided to do it.

With Guest Room 3, we worked from the ceiling down; transforming the existing, red ceiling into a more beachy vibe with dark exposed beams and white cross sections.

We even carried the contrasting trim and beach vibe into the Guest Room 3 ensuite bathroom with a wood shower, black fixtures and tile details.

We debated out color scheme for about 2-weeks using our favorite paint deck fan.

PAINT DECK FANS

If you’re just starting a renovation or beginning to consider paint colors, we suggest investing in your own paint deck fan, like this one from Benjamin Moore. A paint deck is a cost effective way to play with color combinations, and ultimately make choosing paint easier.

If you are starting a big renovation project or work with clients on their projects, we recommend this paint deck set that includes a carrying case.

However, if you do not have a local Benjamin Moore distributor, you can start your search at a local home improvement store:

Lowe’s carries Sherwin Williams or Vaslpar products
Home Depot carries Behr products.

We continued with Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117 down onto the walls, and then highlighted the existing chair rail, windows, doors and baseboard with the contrasting color.

The chair rail is original to the house, and when it comes to original details we always try to make them a focal point.

John topped the chair rail with a simple, more modern trim that brought old and new together, and added a base board.

We actually tried two different paint colors before settling on the final selection. We lived with the colors for a few days and watched as they reacted to the natural light in the space.

Instead of buying multiple samples, we suggest a paint deck fan so you can easily compare and contrast possible paint colors without going to the paint store.

If you’re curious of some other contrasting trim paint colors we were inspired by, check out 5 Perfect Paint Colors for Contrasting Trim.

The difference in shade was subtle, but the tone made the decision clear and Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn OC-15 was the winner.

FINISH THE LOOK: MATCHING OUTLETS & COVERS

If you are using Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn OC-15 for trim or walls, we recommend these almond colored outlets, outlet covers, and switch plates.

In this application, the almond color plates matches PERFECTLY with Baby Fawn and will blend seamlessly into your contrasting trim.

But, beyond white and almond, its hard to find switch plates that will match.

benjamin moore baby fawn outlet cover.jpg

benjamin moore baby fawn matching outlet cover.jpg

Here’s a safety tip!

As tempting as it may be to paint your outlet and switch plates to match your new trim or wall color, this is a really bad idea and universally discouraged by licensed electricians and home inspectors.

Instead, replace the outlet with an appropriate upgrade or check out these color change kits for outlets, outlet covers and switch plates that come in nearly every corresponding receptacle and color in the rainbow.

colored switch plates outlets.jpg — Renu Color Change Kit

Install Renu and get a fresh stylish look, plus the ability to change the color of any Renu device when you update a room.

$6 from Amazon

✅ If you’re planning on painting yourself, here are some helpful tools. These DIY Painting Must Haves will make the job faster and easier!

Our Favorite & Most Helpful DIY Painting Tools

Drop Cloth- First and foremost, be sure to cover your floors (hardwood, tile or carpet). If you’ve never accidentally kicked over an entire bucket of paint (been there, done that), you’ll never be so happy you invested in a thick, quality drop cloth.
HANDy Paint Cup - Speaking of kicking over paint cans, we absolutely recommend using a paint cup (as opposed to carrying around a gallon) which allows you to easily work with a smaller amount of paint. Its easily hoed it in your hand and has an ergonomic handle. We love using ours while painting trim!
Masking Liquid H2O - Whether you’re a painting rookie or an old pro, Masking Liquid H2O is a game changer for painting around glass, multi panned French doors/windows and mirrors. You can read all about how we’ve used it recently in our DIY: Front Door Painting Trick post.
Respirator - No matter what the DIY project, always protect yourself! While painting, spray painting, sanding or demoing, we use respirators. Particle masks like these are good for small projects, but most disposable masks do not have chemical filtration so we suggest using a respirator whenever possible.