Painting off-white trim a brighter white? Can I do this gradually? Color Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

We just bought a new house and all of the white trim is a little too "creamy" for my taste. It doesn't really "pop." The only reason that I can figure is that it needs to be a little whiter?

Anyway, I definitely cannot afford to repaint all the trim in the whole house at once, but some of the rooms are getting painted anyway and it seems stupid to repaint the trim a color I don't like. Can I repaint the trim in some rooms a whiter white? And do the rest of the rooms one at a time, gradually?

What white trim colors do you recommend?

I think right now the trim is "Shell White" - not sure the brand. I'm looking at maybe SW Pure White? I keep hearing a lot about BM Cloud White/Linen White/Dove White, but these colors don't seem "white" to me at all...

[Anonymous]

Be careful at going too white. The swatch never looks that white but once you put it on the wall it can look OR sterile.

I just bought Behr Elegant White and love the color- it's the perfect white, not too yellow, not too bright but pops nicely.

I suggest going on Houzz and finding a color you like from there- just like the room color, it looks very different once you paint.

[Anonymous]

Can trim really look sterile? I can see how a room could, but just the trim? No one will notice if trim changes shades from room to room, or at least I sure hope they wouldn't judge you for it. Go for it OP.

[Anonymous]

Buy a quart of Cloud White and do the trim (or part of the trim) in one room. You'll fall in love.

[Anonymous]

Bm Simply White is nice too..warm and clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bm Simply White is nice too..warm and clean.

OP here. I have heard good things about this too. I guess the advantage to a softer white is that it will be closer to the current trim during the transition.

[Anonymous]

Another user of Ben Moore Cloud White.
And I agree, you can move room to room. Start in a small room so you can see if you like it before you go all out.