Red trim is a popular way to add a dash of boldness to your home exterior. If you want your home to stand out with a pop of color, red trim is an easy way to do that. While white remains the most common trim color, there’s a growing trend toward using red trim to enhance a home’s design and create a striking contrast against both light and dark-colored houses. This article explores seven red trim design ideas to help your home stand out in the neighborhood.

1. Pastel Red

house pastel red trims
Image Credit: Canva

Pastel red trim is an excellent choice for highlighting specific architectural features of a home. This subtle shade of red provides a pleasant contrast against pale exterior wall colors, such as light orange or beige. Incorporating pastel red trim adds depth and visual interest to your property without overwhelming the overall design.

Creating Focal Points

Pastel red trim creates attractive focal points on the main wall while complementing its light-toned paint. This approach helps draw attention to architectural elements like window linings and fascia that might otherwise blend into the overall structure.

Ideal Applications

This house design is particularly well-suited for:

  • Multi-story homes
  • Residential townhouses
  • Small enterprise buildings

2. Red-Orange Trim

Home exterior with orange trims in the neighborhood at San Francisco, California
Image Credit: AdobeStock

For urban communities, red-orange trim can make a home stand out without resorting to ultra-modern designs. This vibrant trim color works well with both light and dark-colored houses, making them more attractive and adding elegance.

Enhancing Light-Colored Siding

Red-orange trim can significantly improve the look of light-colored vinyl siding. It creates a striking contrast that makes small houses appear larger and more eye-catching, even from a distance.

Visual Impact

The bold nature of red-orange trim helps to:

  • Increase overall visual interest
  • Create a unique and memorable exterior
  • Complement a variety of architectural styles

3. Bright Red Trim

Bright Red Trim for a Radiant House
Image Credit: AdobeStock

When choosing a trim color, you obviously want to select one that blends well with the existing colors on the house, such as the roof and exterior wall color. It helps create a cohesive look for the home. Bright red trim can add vibrancy to any house, making it a top choice for adventurous homeowners.

Complementing Red Vinyl Siding

For houses with red vinyl siding, using the same bright red color for the trim can make the exterior of the home appear even more vibrant. With the correct shade, red trim can make the siding look even more dynamic and give the property a distinctive appearance.

Creating a Cohesive Look

Bright red trim can:

  • Make all exterior elements appear carefully chosen
  • Create an engaging and unified feel
  • Add a pop of color to neutral-toned houses

4. Terra Cotta Red

Terra Cotta Red for Dark-Colored Houses
Image Credit: AdobeStock

Terra cotta red trim offers a warm, earthy accent that pairs beautifully with dark-colored houses. This rich shade can bring out the best in outdoor furniture and add a touch of personality to the exterior.

Enhancing Natural Surroundings

For homes located in wooded areas, terra cotta red trim adds some visual interest to the exterior without clashing with the natural tones of the surrounding forest. Even in more urban settings, this trim color can inject character into a home’s facade.

Highlighting Exterior Features

Terra cotta red trim works well for accentuating:

  • Windows
  • Roof linings
  • Doors
  • Other small house features

5. Brownish Red

house with Brownish Red trim
Image Credit: AdobeStock

Houses with earthy-toned exteriors, large terraces, and majestic front stairways can benefit from brownish-red trim. This color strikes a perfect balance, neither too bright nor too dark, creating a relaxing outdoor living area.

Choosing the Right Shade

When selecting a brownish-red trim color:

  • Avoid colors that are too light, as they may look washed out
  • Steer clear of overly dark shades that could be overwhelming
  • Opt for a middle ground that adds just the right amount of color

Enhancing Landscaping

Brownish-red trim can make a home stand out, especially when combined with thoughtful landscaping. This trim color helps plants in the front yard “pop,” adding a sophisticated look to the overall property. A blend of brownish-red tones is beautiful within suburban as well as rural settings, accentuating both architecture and nature.

6. Maroon

Brick House Red Trim
Image Credit: AdobeStock

Maroon red trim on light-colored exterior walls is a timeless home design trend. This classic combination makes windows and walls more attractive while adding dimension to otherwise flat-looking surfaces.

Creating a Polished Look

Maroon trim gives small houses a clean and polished appearance. When combined with simple house plants, it adds depth and interest to the exterior without overwhelming the overall design.

Updating Small Home Exteriors

Incorporating maroon trim is an easy way to update the look of a tiny house. This rich color:

  • Accentuates windows and doors
  • Elevates the overall house design
  • Provides a striking contrast to light-colored exteriors

7. Traditional Red

Brick House Red Trim
Image Credit: AdobeStock

For traditionally styled homes, particularly those with brick exteriors, red trim can serve to accentuate distinctive architectural features. The contrast between the trim and field color highlights the unique aspects of mid-century-styled homes. Thoughtful integration of red trim enhances historical resonance and character.

Complementing Brick Exteriors

Red trim blends well with light-colored brick walls. Homeowners can use red as the trim color to make windows and other unique features stand out, such as:

  • Doors
  • Fences
  • Shutters

Creative Applications

When using red trim on brick houses:

  • Consider partial applications, such as red trim lining on only part of the roof
  • Experiment with different shades of red to find the perfect match for the brick color
  • Use red trim to unify different exterior elements

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Matt Greenfield

Matt Greenfield

Matt Greenfield is an experienced writer specializing in home improvement topics. He has a passion for educating and empowering homeowners to make informed decisions about their properties. Matt's writing focuses on a range of topics, including windows, flooring, HVAC, and construction materials. With a background in construction and home renovation, Matt is well-versed in the latest trends and techniques in the industry. His articles offer practical advice and expert insights that help readers tackle their home improvement projects with confidence. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a seasoned professional, Matt's writing is sure to provide valuable guidance and inspiration.

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