Black can be a striking color choice, especially on large windows or in rooms with tall ceilings. Carefully coordinate the color choice for walls as dark wall colors with black trim could make the room seem dark or small. Consider tan or taupe wall paint or a paint color with a light tinge of olive. Tall windows with black moulding paint and black wooden slat blinds will be quite stunning. If there are columns and chair railing, they too can be highlighted with the black paint.

If trimming a whole room in black seems risky, try painting the handrails in your stairwell. After a proper professional sanding, cleaning and priming of the outdated white oak handrails, they could be finished with a beautiful satin black paint.

The kitchen too is a room where a small section of black paint can have an enormous affect. Black crown molding around white cabinets or an island painted black gives a sharp, clean feeling to the room. It is surprising how the eye is drawn to the black highlights in any room.

Talk to Sundeleaf Painting, Portland’s experts on interior painting, about framing your kitchen, handrails, family room or doors with black trim.

Here are several examples of using black trim paint:

First, photos from the House Beautiful blog, an interview with designer Windsor Smith

Next, black moulding and built-ins, from the Design Sponge blog:

And black interior doors from the Design Around Denver blog: