Should Doors and Trim be the Same Color in 2025?

Accenting every architectural detail in a crisp, bright white used to be the safe bet — sleek, reliable, and surprisingly versatile. But, “Now that approach often feels sterile and unfinished,” says interior designer Lauren Saab. Should doors and trim be the same color in 2025? And if not, what should we be doing?

Trim and doors are no longer just background details in our interiors. Designers are using these features to sculpt perspective, sharpen palettes, and give rooms more visual structure. “When painted the same color, they create a quiet envelope that feels intentional and calm,” explains Lauren. “When painted differently, they act like framing lines that pull focus and anchor the space.”

So, whether you choose to match your doors and trim or make them contrast, the key is having intention. How much presence do you want the architecture to have in the space? What architecture do you have to highlight? Then, choose what color to paint your interior doors and trims accordingly. Let’s find out what the designers are doing.

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Should Doors and Trims Be the Same Color?

A modern bathroom with yellow trim, a yellow door, and a yellow and white color-blocked wall. The floors are a pink, green, and orange tile. There is a white toilet and a floating vanity.

You can still make a bold color statement with matching door and trim colors.

(Image credit: Jenny Peysin)

“Matching your door color to your trim color works best when the goal is quiet cohesion and the architecture can hold its own,” says Lauren Saab. Typically, it’s the more common approach. Just think about color-drenching — using the same color helps to create a certain visual harmony in a space.

This is a common design choice simply because millwork (like doors and trim) is crafted in the same or similar materials, making them an unspoken pair.

Using the same door and trim color ultimately creates a softer look, but that doesn’t mean boring; you can still introduce bold colors or contemporary trends when matching the shades.

Image of a woman in a black jacket and jeans sitting at a wooden table drawing on a piece of architecture paper.

Lauren Saab

Lauren Saab is the founder of Saab Studios, a Dallas design studio operating at the intersection of architecture and atmosphere.

However, “When everything fades into the same shade, a room can start to feel flat and forgettable,” warns Lauran.

“Contrast in design is where the magic happens. For instance, a darker trim can sharpen the architecture, and a painted door can pull the eye through a hallway.”

Denver-based interior designer Peggy Haddad of Peggy Haddad Interiors adds that, “People are getting bolder and more playful with color trends, even in architectural details. Trim and doors are no longer an afterthought; they’re a design opportunity.” Matching feels soft, contrast adds depth and definition.

How Designers Paint Doors and Trims in 2025

1. Bold Color Statements

a room with pastel blue crown molding and light pink walls. There is a bright, sunflower yellow door and trim. The floors are tile, and there are multicolored plates hanging above the door.

You can play with mismatched doors and trim by opting for a more unexpected variation. This room keeps the trim around the door cohesive while using a soft blue for the ceiling trim.

(Image credit: File Under Pop)

So, if we’re leaning away from painting wall trim white as the default, what should we be doing instead?

The details that used to disappear into the architecture are now doing the heavy lifting. Trim and doors frame the entire space, and going for a bold look (whether that’s through decorating with saturated colors or unique tonal variations) will help your color scheme feel more contemporary.

When going the rich colors route, Lauren says, “Bold trim and bold doors can absolutely live together, as long as the materials or tones speak to each other. Matching them creates a sculptural envelope that feels deliberate and immersive, while separating them builds tension.”

There is no wrong move if every surface is pulling its weight. Get experimental — the mistake is playing it too safe and fading into default. “When done with purpose, a contrast becomes a composition,” adds Lauren.

2. Interesting Materials and Curated Contrast

An internal wooden door with a low-profile trim on a white wall in a minimalist room. There is a natural wood block side table and a basket hanging on the wall.

You can also play with texture and material to create contrast between your trim and your door.

(Image credit: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen. Design: Norm Architects)

So, what are the best trim colors for 2025? White is quickly falling out of favor, and designers are replacing it with warm putty tones, inky charcoals, or natural wood finishes. These color choices still follow a neutral color scheme, but have that extra bit of flair that makes them more interesting.

Imagine a warm wooden door with a darker-stained trim or a rich charcoal-black next to a natural timber door — it’s subtle yet stylish and playful.

“I just finished a project where the walls and trim were a warm off-white, and just the doors were the most perfect warm gray,” says Peggy. “The contrast added subtle interest while still feeling soft and classic.”

Image of a woman in a lilac blouse sitting in a white and blue room.

Peggy Haddad

Peggy Haddad is a Denver-based interior designer known for richly textured interiors layered with color, character, and quiet intention. Her namesake studio, Peggy Haddad Interiors, is a Denver-based design studio offering a range of virtual and local interior design services. Since 2019, Peggy has been known for creating spaces that reflect each client’s unique style.

Benjamin Moore UK, Collingwood

Benjamin Moore UK

Collingwood

GoodHome, Walnut Satin Multi-surface Furniture Wood varnish, 250ml

GoodHome

Walnut Satin Multi-Surface Furniture Wood Varnish

Andy Thorton, Flat Moulding

Andy Thorton

Flat Moulding

3. Highlighting the Architecture

Image of a traditional living room that has glass doors that open into a smaller living room. There is crown molding and trim on the walls that are painted in different colors. There is a round dining table in the first room.

An even more experimental route would be trying out the latest paint techniques, like color capping, to upgrade your trim and door combinations.

(Image credit: Richard Oxford. Design: Maddux Creative)

Another way to pair door and trim colors is to use the details to highlight certain features of the room that you want to stand out.

Jo leGleud from Maddux Creative says, “We often use varying hues of the same color for picking out architectural detailing such as a bead or trim on a panel.” This technique gives the impression of increased depth within the panel or molding and adds interest to the space.

“Where the room is already quite busy, we might choose to keep the detailing matching, to allow other areas to be the focus,” adds Jo. On the other hand, suppose the panelling is particularly intricate or warrants the drawing of attention. In that case, “you could add other colors to carry the light or a strong contrasting color which feels more playful,” Jo continues.

Lick, Purple 06: Supreme – Ultra Flat Matt Paint

Farrow & Ball, Pointing

Farrow & Ball, Vert De Terre

Farrow & Ball

Vert De Terre

Whether you choose a matching trim and door moment or a color statement that pops, the key to getting it right lies in expressing your style. The biggest design mistake you can make is sticking to the ‘rules’. And the same ethos can be applied to whether your trim and ceilings should be the same color.

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