Nate Berkus Weighs In On How He Prefers To Paint Baseboard Vs. Trim Vs. Walls

If you've ever decided to repaint a room in your house, you already know there are a lot of little details to consider. How to pick the perfect shade of paint for your space is an important one, of course. And you'll also want to consider which paint colors will best complement your floors. Another decision you'll face is what to do with the baseboards and trim. While painting them the same color as the walls would be an easy option — and has actually become quite popular these days thanks to the color drenching trend — traditionally, the trim and baseboards are painted a different paint color than the walls to create contrast and depth. But how do you go about choosing which shades are supposed to go where? Luckily, HGTV's Nate Berkus recently shared his go-to color formula for walls, baseboards, and trim.

In a recent Instagram post, the interior design expert explained that he usually likes to work with at least two different colors. "It really depends on the character of the space. Typically, I paint the picture moldings the same color as the walls, while using a contrasting shade for the baseboard and door trim," he said. There are instances, however, that he'll add in a third color. "I also love a three-color scheme," he added. In this case, Berkus likes to use "a soft neutral on the walls, crisp white for the baseboards, door trim, and ceiling, and a deeper tone of the wall color for the doors or window frames."

Once you've decided whether you want to go with two colors or three for your paint job, the fun part begins: picking your color combination. If you're opting for Berkus's two-color scheme and want to keep things classic, a soft greige for the walls and picture moldings paired with crisp white on the baseboard and trim is a timeless, versatile choice that works in almost any room. If you'd like something slightly bolder, however, you could try an earthy green such as Valspar's Warm Eucalyptus — one of the trendiest paint colors that will be taking over walls in 2026 — for the walls and picture moldings with a soft white on the baseboard and trim.

When considering Berkus's three-color scheme (a great way to make features like doors and window frames pop), there are countless variations that can bring a chic, stylish look to your space. If you want to keep the palette on the neutral side, you could try pairing pale taupe walls with bright white trim and baseboards and a charcoal color for the doors and window frames. Or, a slightly warmer take would be soft blush walls with white trim and baseboards and espresso-colored doors and window frames. Alternatively, if you'd like to bring in more color while still keeping things sophisticated, try a light blue-gray wall color — such as Behr's Adirondack Blue, another popular choice for 2026 — with white trim and baseboards and navy-colored doors and window frames.