mixing white and stained trim

Mixing White and Stained Trim – Perfect Finish

The trend right now is to mixing white and stained trim and doors. This is a great idea because it is a way to add contrast to your interior without having to paint the entire room.
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When you have a house full of natural light, it’s easy to let the details fall by the wayside. Old wallpaper and outdated trim can become eyesores that pull your home focus down instead of up. But if you don’t take the time to look beyond those dated elements, they will only get worse with age.

Let them remind you of a happier time in your life or home décor from years past; either way, there’s no reason they can’t give your home some much-needed refreshment. 

The good news is that restoring faded trim and walls is not nearly as difficult as you might imagine! You just need basic tools, patience, and a little knowledge to do it.

It becomes an easy proposition once you understand how it all works together.

Follow these helpful tips to achieve a perfect finish when painting white trim.

Can you mix wood and white trim?

You can mix wood and white trim paint, and it will work fine. The only caveat is that this type of paint will be less opaque than the wood.

If you use a paint with a higher opacity, such as Behr Premium Plus Ultra-Cover Stain Blocker, the wood will show through the white trim.

Can you mix oak and white trim?

People have debated that question for years. Generally speaking, if you’re going to mix white and stained trim, oak isn’t the best option because it can stain other paint colors.

However, if you want to mix white stained trim with distressed oak, go for it!

Can you mix stained and painted trim?

Yes, you can mix stained and painted trim. Although most people opt to paint the entire surface white, you can also use stains. Both are effective at keeping your home looking fresh.

3 reasons why you can mix white and wood trims:

mixing white and stained trim
A beautiful mixing white and stained trim stairs & kitchen

Mixing white and stained wood trim is a no-brainer. It’s easy to do, and it doesn’t require any extra effort. But if you have a project that requires more than just mixing paint, follow these three reasons why you can incorporate white and stained wood trim:

Customizable Wood Trim

You can customize the color of your wood trim to fit with the décor of your home and personal tastes. 

Nature of The Wood Trim

White and stained wood trims vary in color depending on the wood used to make them.

For example, redwood or cedar will naturally look slightly yellow or brown when painted white because they’re not pure white like pine is. To stay true to the natural hues, replace what you want, and don’t mix perfectly match-white wood panels into an otherwise warm-colored room.

The Appearance of The Trim

You want to give your home a more elegant look, so mix different woods instead of painting one-panel white and leaving the other panel in its natural color.

The contrast between light and dark surfaces within the room and in each forum creates a sense of depth.

How to mix wood and white trim?

Select the Strained Trim

Determine what type of trim you have before going any further. You can pick up a sample from a hardware store or your local paint store. You will need to carefully examine the colors and patterns of the paint on the model to decide which stain color would be best for your home.

Strained Trim Mixing

After you have determined what type of trim you have and gathered your paint samples, it’s time to start mixing white trim paint! Be sure to use a drop cloth under your work area and rubber gloves so that you don’t get any unwanted drips onto your flooring.

Mixing white trim paint is not nearly as difficult as it may seem! Begin by stirring two parts of water with one piece of white trim paint (either wood or clear). Gently stir until everything is mixed together and then set aside to dry before applying.

Apply thin coats

When the mixture has dried completely, apply thin coats over the surface of your stained material. That will ensure a crisp finish without leaving any brush marks or drips that could cause later problems.

Is it possible to have white trim with wood doors?

You bet you can! So long as you are careful with the prep work and don’t overdo it, your wood doors can have a white trim that matches the rest of your walls. If there is any chance of discoloration from the paint, use a sealer on your wood doors.

Should you paint the wood trim white?

Paint white trim on hardwood floors and stained wood furniture to make them look brighter and more modern.

How to restore faded wood trim?

Mix the paint with a little water before applying it, then use a rag to wipe back the finish from the woodwork.

What is the best way to paint wood trim?

To ensure even coverage, dip your brush in a small bowl of paint first, then carefully put it onto the spot you want to paint. That will prevent excess paint from dripping down onto other areas of the floor or furniture.

How long does it take to dry?

Each coat of paint usually takes about an hour to cure and harden.

How do I maintain my new trim?

To keep your newly painted trim looking its best, maintain it with an oil-based enamel stain every six months or so until you’re ready for a full refinishing job every few years.

Is it acceptable to have different color trim in separate rooms?

Some decorators prefer to keep the same color throughout their home because it creates a seamless look—others like mixing and matching different colors in different rooms for a more vibrant appearance.

However, your trim can be whatever color you want! So if you want to create a beautiful beachy feel in your living room, go for it! It’s completely up to you.

Final Thoughts

exterior beautiful design mixing white and stained trim
Exterior beautiful home design

It’s always important to paint in light, not dark. That means you want to paint over the old trim and walls and install the new frame. However, paint doesn’t stick well on dark surfaces, so it’s best to paint them last.

Besides painting over the old trim and walls, it’s best to use a primer before painting your white trim. That will help prevent the frame from bubbling or peeling. It also helps ensure that they blend into the wall color better.

For this project, you’ll need a brush with bristles that are less than one millimeter long- anything smaller won’t have enough control to make clean lines between white and stained elements without creating a lot of brushstrokes.

Becca Oliver
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Farhan Ellahi
Farhan Ellahi

I'm a web designer & developer with over 25 website creations under my belt. I have worked with various technologies including wordpress, javascript, php, and mern stack. I have many national and international clients. I'm also a blogger and tech mentor.

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