Stuck between simple trim and farmhouse-style frames for my windows

the trim itself doesn’t do much, but if you’re already doing work, it’s a good time to check for drafts around the windows.

Yeah, this is spot on. I obsessed over the trim style for weeks, but honestly, it’s the drafty old frames that bug me most in winter. The farmhouse look is nice, but I’d trade it for less chilly toes any day.

When I redid our living room windows, I got sucked into the whole trim debate too. Ended up going simple just to keep things moving, but what really made a difference was pulling off the old trim and finding all these gaps stuffed with ancient newspaper. A bit of spray foam and fresh caulk later, and winter actually felt bearable. Sometimes the best upgrade isn’t even visible...

- Totally agree, what's behind the trim is often the real game-changer.
- Air sealing those gaps with foam and caulk does more for comfort (and bills) than any fancy molding.
- Quick tip: if you go farmhouse style, deeper trim can actually hide even bigger gaps or uneven drywall—helpful in older homes.
- Simple trim is easier to install and touch up later, but farmhouse frames do add character if that's your vibe.
- Sometimes I see folks get hung up on the look and forget about insulation... but you nailed it, sometimes the best upgrades are invisible.

I went with simple trim in my old place, thinking it’d be a quick job. Turned out, the walls were so uneven that I ended up spending more time shimming and caulking than I expected. Honestly, if I’d just done a chunkier farmhouse style, I could’ve hidden a lot of the weird drywall edges and saved myself some headaches.

One thing nobody really tells you—if you don’t seal up behind the trim, no amount of fancy woodwork makes up for those cold drafts. Learned that the hard way in January. Now, I always run a bead of caulk before putting the trim back on, no matter what style.

I get the appeal of clean lines, but sometimes that beefier farmhouse look is just more forgiving in these older houses. Not saying one’s better than the other, just depends how much time you want to spend fussing with details versus just covering them up and moving on.

- Gotta agree, “chunkier farmhouse” trim can hide a multitude of sins. I’ve seen some real horror shows behind old window casings—wavy plaster, chunks missing… slim trim just puts it all on display.

- On the flip side, I’ve had clients go for beefy trim and then get frustrated with how much it sticks out in a small room. Sometimes it ends up looking cartoonish if the scale’s off, especially in bungalows or places with low ceilings.

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“if you don’t seal up behind the trim, no amount of fancy woodwork makes up for those cold drafts.”

- One thing I don’t love about farmhouse style: caulking those big inside corners can get messy fast. If you ever need to repaint or touch up, the wider profiles show every little imperfection in the caulk line. Not a dealbreaker, but worth considering.

- Have you looked into using flexible trim or scribe molding? It’s not as beefy as farmhouse, but it can follow uneven walls better than rigid stock. Saves some shimming headaches without bulking up the look too much.

- Curious—what’s your window depth like? Deep jambs can make chunky trim look intentional, but if your windows are flush with the drywall, sometimes simple is less awkward.

- Personally, I lean toward whatever covers gaps with the least drama. But yeah, in old houses, sometimes you just gotta pick your battles: fuss with details, or cover ‘em up and move on.

Anyone else try something in-between? Like a slightly wider flat stock—not full farmhouse but not builder-basic either?

Yeah, you’re not alone—finding that sweet spot between skimpy and over-the-top trim is trickier than it sounds. I tried the wider flat stock in my 1920s place. Covered the ugly edges, didn’t stick out like a sore thumb, and honestly, nobody’s ever commented on it one way or the other. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially when you’re dealing with old plaster and weird angles. Don’t overthink it—pick what’ll make you less annoyed every time you look at it.

I hear you, but I gotta say—sometimes “good enough” just ends up bugging me every time I walk past it. Maybe it’s just me, but I did the flat stock thing in my last house and after a while, it just felt kind of...meh? Like, sure, it covered the rough edges, but it never really matched the vibe of the rest of the place. Ever notice how the trim can totally change how a room feels? I ended up pulling it off and trying something chunkier with a bit of a profile. Took more time (and more caulk than I want to admit), but honestly, it made the whole room look more finished.

Doesn’t have to be full-on farmhouse if that’s not your style, but sometimes a little extra detail is worth the headache. Or maybe I’m just picky. Anyone else ever regret going too simple?

I get what you mean. I went with basic trim in my guest room—figured it was just a spare space, no big deal. But every time I walk in there, it just feels unfinished, like the room’s missing something. The thicker stuff in the main rooms took more effort but honestly looks way better. Sometimes simple works, but yeah, I’ve regretted not putting in a little extra effort before.

But every time I walk in there, it just feels unfinished, like the room’s missing something.

Yeah, I’ve seen that a lot. Did a job last winter where the owner insisted on basic trim in the bedrooms to save time. After the living room got chunky farmhouse casings, she called me back a month later to redo the bedrooms. Sometimes that extra bit of work up front saves you from doubling it later… Learned that one the hard way myself.

Sometimes that extra bit of work up front saves you from doubling it later… Learned that one the hard way myself.

That’s honestly my biggest worry right now. I keep thinking, “If I go with the basic trim, am I just gonna regret it every time I walk in?” The rest of my house is kind of a mix—kitchen and living room have those chunkier, more detailed frames, but bedrooms are still super plain. It does make the bedrooms feel kind of bland, even though everything’s freshly painted.

I get wanting to save money and time, but after living here a few months, I’m starting to notice all the little things that make a space feel finished. Might be worth biting the bullet and doing the farmhouse style throughout, even if it means a few more weekends covered in sawdust. At least then I won’t be staring at it wishing I’d gone for it from the start.

Anyone else get decision fatigue with this stuff? Feels like there’s always one more detail to second-guess...