Brown and white are considered neutral colors, along with black, gray, beige or tan. These colors are not found on a color wheel yet tend to work in all design themes as the colors occur naturally in nature. Darker versions of a neutral color may be used to ground a room design or as a backdrop for more vivid colors. If you combine neutrals together in a room design, such as a brown and white combination, you can create a calm environment that focuses attention on the furnishings of the room..
Given that brown is a neutral color and works within most room designs, the tone and shade becomes important. Brown comes in various shades, ranging from a light tan to a dark espresso, both of which create different effects on the wall. For example, if you combine the two light colors, such as a tan wall and white trim, the two light areas would be grounded by a dark wood floor, while using two dark colors, such as a dark floor with a chocolate brown wall, pops the white trim to the fore.
As the combination of the white trim becomes noticeable in a room with a dark wall and floor, use it to highlight the trim or make it a focal point in the room. In addition to using it next to the floor as a baseboard, add crown molding to the walls and encase the windows with the same white trim. A chair railing, normally 18 inches from the floor, could separate a two-tone treatment of light and dark brown on the wall, or you could use the railing merely for decorative purposes.
If you prefer that the trim blend into the room, give it the same color treatment as the wood floor, which makes the baseboard disappear into the floor and creates a more blended design. Another option is to bring a warm accent color into the room, such as a deep red or yellow, which will brighten up a dark room. The same effect could be achieved by using golden metallic accents in the room, such as in lamps or table legs.