Decorating Ideas for White Walls With Stained Trim

Clean and Green

• White walls with wood trim are a perfect starting point for a natural, green (environmentally sensitive) decorating approach. When natural building textures such as fieldstone, slate, cork and terra-cotta combine with natural fibers like linen, wool, organic cotton, jute or woven grass, a subtle neutral color scheme emerges. Recycled glass tiles are appropriate, along with other recycled building products. Wood furniture built from renewable wood sources complements this design scheme.

English Tudor

• Tudor style architecture features white walls with split timber construction and dark wood trim. This style is traditional, so rich and deeply colored fabrics woven from cotton, linen or silk in solids and patterns will create an elegant counterpoint to the neutral background. Fine reproductions or original antique furniture pieces with accents of brass, pewter or copper will complete the effect of opulence and sophistication.

Retro Modern

• White walls and wood trim will work well for a retro modern look. Furniture and accessories from the 1950s and 1960s are on trend, and white walls with wood trim make an appropriate backdrop for these clean-lined wood pieces. Against highly textured woven fabrics in neutral tones, color accents of yellow, orange and avocado green complete the “feel” of a bygone era.

Cottage Style

• Many historic cottages feature exposed wood trim and white walls. If that's a feel you'd like to evoke, apply light stain. If a wood stain is too dark, the rooms become gloomy; lightening the tone of the wood stain has the effect of lifting the spirit of the space while preserving its style. A warmer white paint on the walls will further enhance the brighter atmosphere. Against this background, a combination of vividly patterned fabrics punctuated with white accents creates a comfortable room with a cheerful style.

Zen

• A Zen environment exudes peace and tranquility, so natural-colored wood and neutral white create the foundation for a simple, uncluttered space. Pale and quiet color tones, often drawn from nature, play well against this background. This style uses spare furnishings and accessories, but each piece must be significantly lovely to look at.

Craftsman

• The craftsman style celebrates natural wood with a warm, orange-toned finish. White walls will keep the space from becoming dark and overpowered by the wood. The traditional craftsman-style furnishings are simple and functional, with upholstery and drapery fabrics in subtle, medium to deep tones of color drawn from nature. Craftsman style particularly favors local materials, meaning colors will be related to the surrounding exterior environment.