16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (2024)

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Maria Sabella

16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (1)

Maria Sabella

Maria Sabella is an E-Design consultant and has spent the last six years working in the interior design and staging industries, as well as writing digital content focused on home-related topics.

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Published on 05/13/24

16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (2)

Door trim is an architectural feature you can use to create contrast, emphasize a design style, and bring in a pop of color. It's a great way to add character and charm, as well as to give a builder-grade space a custom-designed look. There are lots of different types of door trim—from mitered and butted to painted and stained.

Whether you're looking for a timeless door trim style that'll seamlessly blend in with your home's aesthetic, or you want to make a bold statement with a dark and moody paint color, these door trim ideas provide plenty of inspiration, tips, and tricks.

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Meet the Expert

  • 01 of 16

    Butted Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (3)

    Add charm and character with butted door trim which consists of two boards on each side of the door and a wider, more detailed board at the top. Paint the trim a contrasting color to highlight its decorative nature and to visually elongate the walls.

  • 02 of 16

    Kerfed Edge Door Trim

    For a simple, streamlined, and elegant look, opt for kerfed edges on the door trim. This style of trim works well in a minimalist interior or a space that's visually busy and doesn't need another overly ornate layer.

  • 03 of 16

    Matching Door and Window Trims

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (5)

    Create contrast and infuse a room with personality by painting door and window trims in a matching statement paint color. Be intentional about the color choice and pull a color from wallpaper or a fun textile in the room for a cohesive design.

  • 04 of 16

    Mitered Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (6)

    Go classic with mitered door trim which uses three individual boards that meet at a 45-degree angle in the top two corners and provide a timeless look for modern and traditional spaces alike.

    Continue to 5 of 16 below

  • 05 of 16

    Stained Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (7)

    Instead of painting a door trim, embrace a natural aesthetic with exposed wood trim. Choose a stain that complements your furniture and interior style and extend the stain to surrounding window trim for continuity.

  • 06 of 16

    Arched Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (8)

    Take an interior from builder-grade to custom designed by swapping out traditional doors for arched doors. Emphasize the soft curved shape by painting the door and arched trim in a statement paint color.

  • 07 of 16

    Flat Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (9)

    Continue a modern and uncluttered aesthetic with flat door trim. Continue it on your home's exterior and pair it with minimalist house numbers, wall sconces, and hardware for some contemporary curb appeal.

  • 08 of 16

    Classic White Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (10)

    Use a crisp white paint color in a semi-gloss finish on your door trim for a classic yet versatile look. Continue the color and finish on window trim, baseboards, and crown molding to complete the timeless design.

    Continue to 9 of 16 below

  • 09 of 16

    Painted Door Trim in Color Drenched Room

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (11)

    Color drench a room and paint not just the door and its trim but also the walls, window trim, baseboards, crown molding, and even the ceiling in the same dark and moody paint color. This will create a fully immersive experience and extra cozy space.

  • 10 of 16

    Transom Window and Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (12)

    Add an extra layer of visual interest to a transom window above a door with ornate door trim that has decorative corner molding. It's a beautiful way to visually frame the statement door and complement its unique design.

  • 11 of 16

    Black Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (13)

    Go for a bold statement with black door trim that packs a punch while remaining timeless. It works with every design style, from modern farmhouse to traditional, and looks best in a semi-gloss finish, but extra glamorous in a high-gloss sheen.

  • 12 of 16

    Wood Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (14)

    Set an inviting tone with wood door trim that brings in a natural warmth. To enhance its warm tones, pair it with aged brass hardware that dresses it up and adds a touch of shine.

    Continue to 13 of 16 below

  • 13 of 16

    Painted Door Trim and Paneling

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (15)

    Paint door trim and decorative wall paneling the same color to create an interesting base to build upon with furniture, artwork, and decor. Continue the color onto other architectural features such as crown molding to draw the eyes up and visually extend the ceiling.

  • 14 of 16

    Craftsman-Style Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (16)

    Craftsman-style door trim is simple yet makes an impact—it consists of flat boards on the sides and a wider top board with an overhang. You can paint it white or a contrasting color, but the style of trim is best known for its natural wood look.

  • 15 of 16

    Wall Color That Extends to Door Trim

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (17)

    Instead of matching trim to the door color, match it to the walls for seamless continuity. It looks chic and is especially striking when done in a light neutral such as beige or taupe and contrasted with a black paint color on the doors.

  • 16 of 16

    Contrasting Door and Trim Colors

    16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (18)

    For a layered look, instead of a basic white door and trim, choose contrasting paint colors that instantly add personality. In an open space with multiple doors, continue the color scheme onto all the doors and trims for visual continuity and to tie the space together.

Additional Tips for Choosing a Door Trim

  • Create contrast. Kara Thomas, an interior designer at Studio KT, suggests using door trim to create contrast in a room. She recommends going darker for the trim if you have lighter walls.
  • Match the door trim to your interior's aesthetic. Lindye Galloway, the founder and designer at Lindye Galloway Studio, suggests a kerfed edge for a modern and clean aesthetic. When it comes to traditional style, Galloway loves leaning into more detailed casing options.
  • Maximize character. "Door trims are a better option than a simple flat casing style to give the doors plenty of character that adds to the overall charm of the room," Galloway adds.
  • Add color. Thomas explains how you can pull a pop of color through wallpaper or your favorite piece of art. When it comes to door trims, Thomas explains how it's a great opportunity to go bold with a color that you've been hesitant to use for an entire space.

FAQ

  • What are the different styles of door trim?

    The two most common styles of door trim are mitered and butted trim, but door trim comes in a variety of styles and materials.

  • What is the difference between door casing and door trim?

    Casing is what covers the drywall and fits under the decorative door trim.

  • Do baseboards and door trim need to match?

    They can but don't need to. Matching baseboards and door trim in a semi-gloss white paint color makes for a timeless look, but if you use a bold color, the pair can make a big design statement.

How to Choose Molding Trim for Your Home

16 Door Trim Ideas to Instantly Dress Up Any Room (2024)

FAQs

What casing is in style? ›

Colonial

One of the most common door casing styles you'll see is inspired by Colonial architecture. In this look, several layers of trim surround the primary frame, typically in different widths and heights. The style offers frames within a frame and a range from simple to elaborate depending on the style of the home.

What to use for door trim? ›

Polystyrene is a very economical choice for door trim. Most polystyrene comes in the pre-finished form, but some kinds can be painted. Polystyrene is also lighter and much easier to cut than wood, but it's a softer material, which means it can dent more easily. MDF is another lower-cost option for trim.

What is the difference between door casing and door trim? ›

However, they're two different terms. Trim is a catch-all term that refers to all moulding inside a home. In contrast, casing is a particular type of trim that serves a specific aesthetic and functional purpose. In this article, we're going to do a deep dive on interior casing.

What baseboard trim is in style? ›

Rounded or Stepped Baseboard

This is the most popular baseboard profile used in homes. The top of the trim has a rounded shape that tapers into the wall. The trim of these types of baseboards looks best in modern homes because of its relatively short profile and simple design.

What is the decorative trim on a door called? ›

Casing is trim that frames an opening, window or door and is typically less wide than baseboards. ‍ We offer a number of different casing styles, this one in particular is a Modern style design, it offers a simple design that is very popular in homes today.

How to attach door trim without nails? ›

Use an all-purpose construction adhesive, putting a bead of glue about 1cm from the edges of the trim. If any seeps out during installation, wipe it away immediately with a soft cloth. Continue with the next piece, the header trim. Cut a 45° angle the opposite way to fit the piece already installed.

What is the most common door trim? ›

Four popular door casing styles include farmhouse, craftsman, minimal, and colonial.
  • Farmhouse. Farmhouse style door casings give your home a cozy feel. ...
  • Craftsman. ...
  • Minimal. ...
  • Colonial. ...
  • Butted vs. ...
  • Paint-Grade Wood. ...
  • Stain-Grade Wood. ...
  • MDF.
Nov 5, 2020

How do you mask a door trim? ›

Trim, windows and doors need wider tape to cover the whole surface or wrap around corners. 3M recommends 1-1/2” wide or wider. The poly or crepe backing allows it to stretch a little, so it conforms well to curves. ScotchBlue™ Ultra Sharp Lines Painter's Tape is great for corners, as it tears at 90 degrees.

What trim goes around door frame? ›

Interior door casing is the term used to describe the trim found around a door opening. According to This Old House, “Door casings are both decorative and utilitarian, enhancing the look of the door while also concealing the transition between the wall and the jamb.”

Should door casing match baseboard? ›

While choosing the final touches of your room, you may wonder if the baseboards should match the door trim style and size. We have done the research to answer this question for you. Baseboards and door trim style and size do not have to match.

Should window casing match door casing? ›

Stick to One Style

There are a variety of trim styles available on the market today, but you'll only need to choose one architectural style and stick to it. Your window casing, stool and apron should match the style you use for your baseboards, door casing and crown.

How to choose door casings? ›

Your door casings' style should match or complement your existing window casings, crown moldings, etc. For instance, casual ranch-style homes should use a simple trim that creates a clean, informal feel. In contrast, a traditional Victorian home leans towards intricate and elegant casings.

Should baseboards and window trim match? ›

MYTH: Everything should match

Painting all window and door trim, crown molding and baseboards the same colour provides consistency, but is not a rule. For example, only black baseboards will anchor a room while having only black crown moulding will frame the ceiling and draw your eye up.

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