To Paint or not to Paint Oak Trim

14 years ago

We have a small (1028 sq. ft. on main floor) 1999 ranch with a great room and cathedral / vaulted ceilings. I will have to post pics at a later time. When the house was built in the late 90's it was popular to have the solid oak trim through out the house. While I like the oak, I am considering painting the trim in the house to a white/off-white. I want a more updated look. We also just recently installed teak laminate flooring in the majority of the main floor area. So I am thinking that the contrast of painted trim will brighten things up. Will I regret such a move or is it a good idea?

Looking for any input you can offer, or if you have done the same.

Thanks!!

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Dytecture

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

People spend thousands of dollars to have real wood trim / molding in their homes today. It will be great to see some pictures of what your space is like, but personally I am not a big fan of painting over wood.

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Comments (42)

Emily Hurley
14 years ago
I really like white painted trim. I'd be curious to hear what other folks have to say too, but I usually find oak trim a little more dated feeling to me. I'd go for it. :)
feeny
14 years ago
Since this is a newer house (i.e. this is not an issue of preserving the original wood trim in a historic house), I think you should do exactly what you think will go best with your overall design and aesthetic preferences. At the moment, white painted trim seems to be more popular, and I have to admit I prefer it to the oak trim of the 1990's. But repainting all your trim is a big job, so don't do it based solely on trends. Do it based on what you love most and what will look best in your home.
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Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the input. I know it's a big under taking. I think I would probably get prices to have it done professionally, cause I really hate to paint. Guess I need to kick the idea around some more. Again thanks for the input. Would be happy to hear what anyone else thinks too!
charliemycat
14 years ago
Do you really hate it that much? Can you post a picture? Are your doors Oak or white composite? I suspect they are Oak also. What do you want to do with the doors?

Will painting the woodwork white update your house? Yes. The real question is will white trim make you happier in the house? If yes, then of course do it.

But:
If the trim you have is proportionately undersized and looks cheap, you might be better off buying new, deeper trim and painting it before installing it. If the trim you have is correctly sized, then painting oak will actually devalue it, solid oak is very expensive, and adds value to the house. You may decide the oak has beauty and value after all.
Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
crazylife, you have just put into word the exact struggle that is going on in my head! I don't hate the oak, but so many of the decorating ideas that I see that I like are all done in homes with the white trim. I'm sure it's not in the budget right now to either paint everything or replace at this time, just trying to resolve the battle in my head. Thanks for putting into words just what I have been trying to figure out for myself. :-)
Lanie Brown
14 years ago
If you like the oak trim, my question at this point is if it clashes with the teak laminate flooring.
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karen paul interiors
14 years ago
You really should take out the existing baseboard, install the floor and then replace with new baseboards. If you do that, then you won't have to install quarter round to fill the gap between the floor and the wall. Even if you have to live without baseboards for awhile, it would almost be better than having to work around what you have.
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Charmean Neithart Interiors
14 years ago
One alternative to painting the oak is white washing it. It will lighten up the trim, but still show the grain. It will blend nicely with your laminate flooring. Take a look...
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Hope that helps. Charmean Neithart
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Vikrant Sharma Homez
14 years ago
Nice idea by Charmean, I think that's a nice way to lighten things up .
charleee
14 years ago
A friend bought a house that was previously owned by a skilled carpenter. He replaced all the trim (and interior doors) with oak. Yes, it was beautiful. But it didn't "go" with the rest of the house, it was too much. So, how does the existing trim "go" with the rest of your house? Are your cabinets and bathroom vanities oak also? Painted wood is very popular right now, but one thing I can tell you for sure, once you paint it it's really hard to strip it if you want to change it later. Charmean's idea of white washing is a great comprimse and much easier to bring back to wood later. I feel for you, it's a tough decision!
Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
OK - Finally was able to down load some pics. Hope this works.
Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
The first picture (the one with the rack on the wall) is the entrance from our garage. The attached picture is something I want to do to that wall. I want to paint the board and batten a pumpkin/reddish color. If I do this what color do I paint the base board or do I leave it oak? Thanks again for all your suggestions and help!
Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
Here the picture I forgot to attach.
charleee
14 years ago
Your trim is small; paint it. For sure!
Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for your input Bobbi P!
hartman1081
14 years ago
Definitely paint the trim.
trisn
14 years ago
Yea, paint it.
It's only cheap American oak.
nerdhen
14 years ago
Same discussion my wife and I are having. Much bigger house with just slightly nicer but still cheaper, thinner oak trim. Our question is more what to do with all the windows. How to paint them? Doors are easy.
Lori Burd
Original Author
14 years ago
We have white vinyl windows, so that is not an issue for us, thank goodness. I still cannot make up my mind as to what to do! Another question for us is do we just replace the trim with some bigger painted trim and new doors or just paint the existing smaller trim? Decisions, decisions!!
jackiecuc
13 years ago
Just curious if you decided anything? I'm in the exact dilemma and would like to hear your decision!
Lori Burd
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi jackiecuc, I have not done anything as of yet. Cost at this point is a factor, so we have put it on hold for the time being. If you would happen to make a decision, I would love to hear what you do! Good Luck!
Melissa Bentley
13 years ago
I am battling this as well! My husband built our home and personally picked out and installed the oak in 2000. I would love our home to be more updated. He thinks painted oak is a horrible idea! I'm stuck trying to find something that will make us both happy.
Amy Stanley
13 years ago
From the pictures it looks like some trim and doors are already white? Painting the rest of trim and doors white would make it more cohesive.
lafish
13 years ago
I too am thinking of painting all my trim white. My home is in Montana in the woods built in 1974. we have added on using pine. we now have two differnet color stains of trim as well as two different wood ceiling colors. My husband thinks all the different wood colors look alright but to me it makes the house look like to seperate homes. Would love some thoughts.
debspring
13 years ago
We have found a house that is right location, right size for us empty nesters. But it is all oak like a house I had in the 90s. Will I learn to love it or always wish I had an updated house. It is in very good condition so I can't us that excuse. The house we have now is all country pine and I hate it now. Too big to renovate it. Can I turn the oak house into a country home with the oak trim It is traditional looking with colonial painted doors. It has brass hinges and handles and faucets which I would change. I just found this site. Just needed to think out loud.
chloehrinko
13 years ago
I think with that particular oak your home would look great if it was painted white. Especially with the color scheme in you house that I see in the pictures. But, for other people it all just depends on the kind of molding and base boards you have. I would hate for you to sacrifice beautiful wood on just a period trend.
debspring
13 years ago
Here is oak kitchen. I keep looking at the realtor brochure to see if I can love it as is.
caterinareyes
13 years ago
I thought I was the only one with this dilemma and them I found this site! I just bought a house that has oak windows, doors, etc. I don't hate the oak but looks dated. Is there a way I can get a more " updated" look without painting it white? Here are a few pictures of the living room and family room. Please share your ideas! thanks!
caterinareyes
13 years ago
Also, I want to paint my boys' bedrooms and I was thinking of painting the oak windows and trim white. Here are the pictures. They are kids after all and I just think it would brighten up their rooms. But of course I can't stop thinking that I am ruining the oak! Any ideas? Thanks!
Laurie Hutch
13 years ago
I have oak in the rest of my house, but went with white in the kitchen, thinking the contrast between the wood floors and paint color would be striking. But it gets dirty very easily, and looks shabby fast unless you are willing to touch it up a lot. Not sure I made the right choice with the white trim.
caterinareyes
13 years ago
Thanks for your comment Ihutch! I really appreciate it when somebody tells me the good, the bad and the ugly!
leahetaylor
13 years ago
We are slowly but surely painting all the small cheap light oak trim in our 90's house white. It Makes a HUGE difference in the look of our home. I love it. It is tedious, painfully slow work to tape, caulk, sand, regale, and then paint 2-3 layers on everything...but it is SO worth it!! It isn't hard to touch up the inevitable scuffs either. If you are thinking you'd like the look better, I say go for it!
caterinareyes
13 years ago
Leahetaylor thanks for your comment! You seem to have found a good way to paint the oak white. can you describe it in more detail or is there a website ? The other thing is I think I got the good oak at my house. Those windows don't look cheap so if I paint them white I am not sure if the house value will go down.
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The Color People
13 years ago
Really oak, especially red oak, which is what most oak trim is, is really not that gorgeous a wood. It is pretty plain and mundane. It' not like cherry or mahogany or maple. And it almost always looks sort of ho hum. I know millions or people are dedicated to the idea that real wood is super special but you will find you can do SO much more with your house with painted trim. The key to successful wall colors are trim colors that really blend with them. You can use your trim to keep colors from getting out of hand or add needed life to fairly bland colors. And you can change the trim color when you change the room color.
leahetaylor
13 years ago
It does seem like your oak might be better quality than mine, but I still think white would update the look of your home. I looked up a million tutorials of how to do it and just kinda combined them to do it our way. We just lightly sanded them down, used painters tape to paint the carpet and walls ( unless we were going to paint the wall) and then used semi gloss white paint+primer in one. It took 3 layers for no wood to shine through. We also painted our fireplace! I think the old rule to not ever paint wood is dying fast!
leahetaylor
13 years ago
Here are a few "before and after" sites with Tutorials. I forgot to say that we caulked it before painting. It makes a huge difference in how it looks when it's done!

http://www.livelovediy.com/2012/04/how-to-paint-trim.html?m=1

http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/we-painted-our-trim-white/

http://fancyfreeme.com/2013/02/01/trim-paint-before-and-after/
caterinareyes
13 years ago
leahetaylor, thanks so much for the sites with tutorials! I am still debating whether to do it, but knowing that you have already managed to paint your oak white, and survived,motivates me a lot. Thanks again!!
caterinareyes
13 years ago
And thanks Color People for your honest view about oak. If I paint the oak trim white, would you recommend to hire somebody or is this a DIY job?
Jen
11 years ago
My same exact problem! I think we need a 90s oak house and trim support group!!! Crazy life you have also worded my dilema perfectly. I have beautiful Anderson windows and doors that are stained to match the trim. The doors and windows are very high quality /life time. The inside doors are solid oak and French doors. I hate the idea of ruining them with a paint job.
Jen
11 years ago
I am seriously considering hiring a professional just to deal with the trim, oak vanities and paint colors. Large 90s colonial and oak galore!!! But we are excited to make it our own.
kuda11
11 years ago
We have a family room with cultured stone walls below and red oak veneer paneled walls with oak dentil moulding and picture frame trim above. We just painted the living room dining room a beautiful taupe color with white trim, the French doors open into the family room. Problem is now the family room looks dated. We have cathederal ceilings and skylights that are trimmed out in the same red oak veneer. We thought about painting the veneer paneled walls the same color as the front room with a lesser value paint for the trim. Are we crazy ? not afraid of the work, just afraid that it will look cheap against the stone. Has anyone else ever done this. Pam