That’s such a good point about white trim showing every little mistake. We just bought our place and I’ve been debating whether to go bold or play it safe. Honestly, the dust thing makes me nervous, but I do love how much personality color brings. Did you do anything special to prep your navy trim before painting? I’m worried about chipping or weird streaks, especially since our windows get a lot of sun.
I get the appeal of bold trim, but honestly, I went with a dark green once and ended up regretting it. The sun just hammered it—faded patches, and any chips stood out way more than they did on white. Prep matters, but even with sanding and priming, the upkeep was kind of a pain. Sometimes classic white is just lower maintenance, especially in high-traffic or sunny spots... Maybe a softer color would split the difference? Just my two cents.
- Totally get what you mean about dark colors showing every little chip.
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— yeah, that’s what worries me. I don’t want to be out there touching up trim every summer.“the upkeep was kind of a pain”
- Anyone tried a medium gray or taupe? Wondering if it hides dirt/chips better but still isn’t as plain as white.
- My neighbor did navy blue and it faded fast... looked awesome for like a year, though.
Medium gray and taupe are actually pretty popular with clients who want something forgiving but not boring. I’ve seen medium gray trims hold up better against both dirt and sun fading, especially if you go with a satin or eggshell finish versus high-gloss. It’s true that dark colors like navy or black look sharp at first, but unless you’re using a really high-quality exterior paint (and sometimes even then), the fading and chipping can show up fast.
One thing I’ve wondered—has anyone tried those new “self-healing” or UV-resistant paints for trim? Some of the newer products claim to hold color longer, but I haven’t had a job long enough to see if that’s true. Also, curious if anyone’s had luck with a two-tone approach—like, darker on the sills but lighter on the frames—to balance the maintenance with the look. Does that actually help with hiding wear, or just make touch-ups more complicated?
I hear you on medium gray—I've got that on my own window trim, and honestly, it’s been a solid choice for hiding grime and not looking dated. Taupe’s a bit bland for my taste, but I get the appeal if you want something that just disappears into the background. As for those so-called “self-healing” paints, I’m a bit skeptical. The science sounds cool, but I wonder how much of that is just marketing. UV-resistant coatings have definitely come a long way, but I still see fading after a few years, especially on south-facing trim.
Tried the two-tone thing once (dark sill, lighter frame) on a rental. Looked sharp at first, but touch-ups were a pain—matching the exact shades again is trickier than you’d think, especially if you don’t keep leftover paint. In terms of hiding wear, I’d say it helps a bit, but not enough to outweigh the hassle unless you really love the look. Just my two cents, but sometimes simple is easier to live with in the long run.
Matching those two-tone shades is a legit headache—been there, done that, and ended up repainting the whole frame just to get it to look halfway decent. I do like the bold trim trend, though. If you’re thinking about trying it, here’s what worked for me: grab a few sample pots and actually paint some poster board first. Hold them up at different times of day to see how the light messes with the color. Also, keep a labeled jar of leftover paint for touch-ups... learned that one the hard way. Simple’s definitely less hassle, but sometimes a pop of color just makes the place feel more fun.
Matching those two-tone shades is a legit headache—been there, done that, and ended up repainting the whole frame just to get it to look halfway decent.
Totally feel you on the color matching pain. I once tried to do navy trim on my kitchen windows—looked amazing in the morning, but by afternoon it was weirdly purple. Ended up repainting twice because I couldn’t stand the way it clashed with the walls. That “sample on poster board” trick is gold, wish I’d thought of it before I committed.
I hear you about keeping leftover paint too. I used to just toss the cans, then of course a month later, there’s a chip or scratch staring me down. Now I’ve got a graveyard of half-full jars under my sink.
Bold trim is definitely more work, but honestly, it does make a room pop. I think it’s worth the hassle if you’re after something different. Simple’s easier, sure, but sometimes you just want a little drama, right?
Now I’ve got a graveyard of half-full jars under my sink.
Same here—my “paint museum” is getting out of hand. I will say, bold trim looks killer, but it’s unforgiving if you miss a spot or get lazy with the tape. Prep takes twice as long, but the payoff can be worth it if you’re patient.
- That “paint museum” vibe is real. I swear, every time I go to do touch-ups, I find like five jars I forgot existed.
- Bold trim is cool, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s worth the extra effort—especially with the taping and all that. I tried navy blue once and it looked sharp, but wow, every tiny mistake showed up like a neon sign.
- Anyone else notice darker colors seem to suck up more heat? Not sure if it actually impacts energy bills, but my south-facing window sills felt way toastier after I went dark green. Maybe just my imagination, but still...
- Prep time doubled for me too, and I’m not exactly patient. On the plus side, the bold look did make the room feel more “finished”—just not sure I’d do it again unless I had a free weekend and a lot of tape.
- Still, gotta admit, it’s a fun trend if you’re into experimenting. Just wish there was an easier way to keep all those half-used paint cans organized without feeling like a hoarder.
That’s not your imagination about the dark colors heating up the trim. I painted the window frames in my office a charcoal gray last spring—figured it’d give the place some personality. By mid-July, those sills were hot enough to make me wonder if I’d accidentally installed a radiator. I actually measured with a cheap IR thermometer, and the dark trim was a solid 10 degrees warmer than the white in the next room. I doubt it’s moving the needle much on the energy bill, but it definitely makes the space feel warmer, especially in the afternoon.
On the organization front, I hear you about the paint can situation. My basement looks like a hardware store clearance bin. I started labeling the lids with a dot of the color and the room it’s for, which helps, but at some point, I think I just need to let go of the half-empty cans from five paint jobs ago.
I do love how bold trim makes a room feel more intentional, but the prep and touch-up is no joke. Every little wobble with a dark color stands out, and I’m not the world’s steadiest hand. Still, I keep getting tempted by those deep greens and blues...