I am getting ready to paint the kitchen and family rooms of my personal home, not my rental properties. I like the modern look of bright, clean walls, think cream, or slightly off-white.

The question I have is what to do with the crown molding, ceilings, baseboards, interior doors and window sills in that room? Do I paint them them the same color (cream, slightly off-white) as the walls?

I like the idea of contrast, but with painting the walls such a light color, there really isn't room for much contrast with the baseboards and crown molding. I don't want to paint the trim a darker color. It seems weird to combine slightly off-white walls with cream trim or the reverse.

Any suggestions?

Personally, I like beige or tans or grays for the main color. Then white always works for the trim, baseboard, and crown molding.

Of course Arizona light is different than here in NY, but the basic - paint it the same color and it tends to blend in, paint it a different color and it will stand out. So if the baseboards and trim are not the best (or match in every room) paint it the same color and you won't notice it.

You can just change sheen. Flat on the walls and semigloss on the trim. Or just a shade or two darker or lighter so it is just barely noticeable as different.

I have seen window sashes painted a different color or doors painted in a much different color to stand out. Black is now being shown on both, but with a whitish wall, that could be pretty stark.

LL,

Same color on walls and trim looks cheap to me.

Crown and trim dress up the room so even a slight color change will let them show.

Recently viewed a home with Repose gray walls and trim painted one or two steps gray-er. Subtle and classy.

Try some test areas on the trim and see what you like. Easy to paint over.

I like light neutral colors. I'm buying a new built house and just ordered colors. Walls are a "white" that is a very light tan and trim is natural wood to match the cabinets. Doors are white and the pure white actually gives a noticeable contrast.

The house I just painted to sell I had painted Worldly Gray SW 7043 with white trim. It looks great. I picked the color because that is what they used in the model home, so I could see what it looked like when done in a whole house. (I am not good at visualizing colors)

I'm not a huge fan of white trim. It looks wonderful when really fresh, but it shows every crumb of dirt and it doesn't age all that well.