Woodwork in your home need upgrading? Here’s how to decide whether to paint or stain it.

Ought to you paint stained woodwork? Are there occasions when you shouldn’t paint stained woodwork?

Elliott: I disagree when people say, “Under no situations must you paint your stained woodwork!” A friend of mine even experienced two painters refuse to paint her stained ceiling and beams. I never consider there should really be guidelines about portray or not painting trim, even in older residences. If you like stained woodwork — and/or if you want to stay accurate to your Victorian or Arts & Crafts property — then great, go away it by yourself. But if you acquire a household with dark trim that is depressing you, I definitely guidance portray it. (I advise a substantial-gloss end.) Bear in mind that not all historic residences have stained woodwork the trim colors in Colonial Williamsburg are magnificent. In new-build homes, stained trim certainly is up for grabs. You do not have to stay with another person else’s alternatives.

Donati: It is all contingent on if you are trying to continue to keep a historical profile. More mature properties have a tendency to have a greater excellent of stained woodwork it’s less complicated to get absent with painting woodwork in a more recent build.

Does stained woodwork date a house?

Elliott: I believe that it can, especially if the residence was crafted in the 1970s or 1980s and the trim isn’t wonderful high quality. A skimpy stained chair rail can search unsubstantial and dated. In that circumstance, I would not even suggest portray it we really should pull it off.

Donati: Certainly! Stained wooden is not in appropriate now, but all the things makes a comeback. With gentle and vibrant shades trending, we aren’t viewing significantly need for the stained woodwork glance.

Ought to trim be the very same coloration as walls? Or really should you just fluctuate the finish these as flat for partitions, semi-gloss for trim?

Elliott: If you’re making use of any colour but white, portray the trim and walls the identical color is an energetic selection — a stunning assertion. It’s also an helpful strategy if you are attempting to make a modest room appear even larger.

If you are heading with vibrant white walls, you can paint the trim the exact shade of white if you like. I propose a flat, matte, or eggshell end on the partitions (the more mature or additional destroyed the walls, the flatter the finish to conceal flaws) and a satin, semi-gloss, or higher-gloss complete on trim. Sheen displays light, so the trim will surface a hair lighter than the partitions even if they’re the exact same shade.

Donati: We use distinctive sheens of paint for partitions and trim. Commonly, walls are eggshell or matte trim is semi-gloss.

If you want to keep stained woodwork in its authentic variety, how else can you lighten and brighten a place?

Elliott: Wallpaper with a vivid white background will freshen up a room right away. And really do not ignore real lamps. Overhead lighting is not plenty of rooms also require table and/or flooring lamps to give sufficient mild and cheeriness.

Donati: Lights should really be a precedence. We really like seeing substantial personalized home windows in households. If this isn’t in the homeowner’s finances, setting up several gentle resources is a additional cost-effective option. Also consider lighter-toned wood flooring or vinyl flooring bright home furniture accent colours and cheerful artwork and some awesome greenery.

What’s the prep for painting stained woodwork?

Elliott: I know that sanding and making use of the acceptable primer are important, but I would verify with highly regarded sources before portray woodwork myself. Do not forget to vacuum and wipe down your woodwork before setting up.

Donati: You can either sand it down or scuff it up. The goal is to roughen up the surface so the paint adheres to the aged polyurethane coat.

Is it additional high priced or time-consuming to stain woodwork rather than paint it?

Donati: Sure, it is far more highly-priced and time-consuming to stain woodwork instead than paint it. It is seriously about specific preferences when deciding no matter if to stain or paint woodwork.

Does stain last more time than paint?

Donati: There are a good deal of aspects that have an effect on the period of paint and stain. For case in point, sunlight. Stained wood will darken when exposed to sunlight, even though painted wood will fade. All round, from our working experience, we’ve seen that stain lasts for a longer time than paint.