Trim stained or painted?
Question:My house was built in 1950 and has relatively small rooms. I have harwood floors recently refinished. The window trim, doors, and base board are all "stained" (kind of orange looking like shellac? but not as ugly as it sounds). I am wondering with the small room, would it seem less small if the trim and doors were painted maybe a light color. I have light mocha on the walls now.
Answers:
My experience and what I have read is that it is the wall, ceiling and floor colors are the factors that affect the apparent "size" of a room, not the trim color. If you like the stain on the woodwork I would stay with it for the period look. Once trim is "painted" it is hard to get back to a stained look with the natural grain of the wood showing through. If you don't like the color of the finish/stain, a acetone base stripper, like Hopes or Formbes will remove the stain quickly without the scraping that paint removers require. In some cases a pigmented lacquer or shellac were used and the color will lighten immediately when they are removed. These products "wash" away lacquers and schellacs with the use of fine steel wool as a application tool. These products are flammable and need good ventilation when used, but if you have "natural" woodwork and want a lighter color, stripping it and just giving a clear coat will lighten it a lot. That is because old shellac turns a dark yellow with age, and in fact can turn black and hide the grain. Beautifully finished natural wood work appeals to many home buyers and doing this could actually increase the value of the home, assuming that you find the right buyer. The worst case is the buyer has no appreciation for restoration or just likes painted woodwork and paints over your hard work. I have had that happen to me when restoring an older home! Perhaps covering the trim of one window and/or door frame with some craft paper in the color you are considering and looking at the result will help you decide what to do. Good luck with your project!
lighter color might make it look less small but it might be too much light colors in the room. you might need contrast
I think the room would appear larger if the trim & door was painted a very light color.
Since you are unsure of exactly what to do, why don't you try staining it first and seeing what it looks like. If you are unhappy, then paint over the stain.
If you are wanting to maintain the 50's style of the house then I wouldn't paint it. Many people are stripping old painted trims now a days to go back to the stain. But if you are modernizing and the whole house look brand new, then you could paint it. I love the hardwood floor look WITH the stained trim. The color mocha sounds like it would look really good. White would open the room and contrast the wood/color. Maybe an accent color on one wall.
It can be hard to cover some old stains tho. Some bleed thru the paint. Its best to sand the sheen off all of it then put a stain blocker like KILZ before you paint.
try white trim. i know its common, but it works. also, try a waiscoat of bead board painted white. simple white trim on the outside of a room draws the eye out, making the room look larger. also, an accent wall painted a different color has the same effect.
I too live in a 50's home with the same type of trim. Mine is a Cape Cod style with hardwood floors. And I am a professional interior designer, so I know exactly what you are talking about. I agree, that orange is a pretty unattractive color, but it doesn't visually detract from the room's size. What's hot is white painted trim, but our trim is smaller and less elaborate than what is in right now. To make it look bigger and add more interest, try adding a chair rail and painting the base trim, the chair rail, and the area between the two all white. It is so stunning! It will give the appearance of wainscoting and will make the room look bigger.
I wish I could show you a picture. I will try to get one up on my blog at www.mystagedlife.com asap!
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