Oak may be a dated right now, but that is just a trend. And trends are temporary. You will destroy that fireplace forever if you paint it, and staining it will require sanding it all down. That's a lot of work to get a house ready for selling. It's one thing for a realtor to ask you to repaint your house in light gray to create a neutral palette or to put away accessories, but it's another when they ask you to destroy beautiful wood to sell a house. There are buyers out there who will appreciate the beautiful woodwork and don't care if oak isn't trendy right now. Please don't.

Triplicate post.

If the buyer wants that beautiful wood painted they will do it. It would not prevent them from buying the home. Anyone who has stripped woodwork in a home knows that is a much more painful process than painting it! It is more of a selling point than a detomrant. I would definitely leave it as is... beautiful!

This is a slippery slope here. What do you do if the buyer says no to the house as they want stained trim? I would leave it be unless you are willing to do a QUALITY paint job on ALL the trim including casings, doors, fireplace etc.

Painting good quality wood is once again starting to be viewed as the sin that it is. Except for Philistines like your realtor. Frankly, I'd have to look askance at the rest of her recommendations after that came out of her mouth.

Rather than paint, I would spruce up your accessories, lamps, lighting etc. and take down all personal photos so the potential buyer can envision themselves in your home:)

Agree too much work to restain. Unless you are doing whole house trim & doors already. Change out brass if possible and replace knick knacks with a more current, bold accent to update more easily.

Looks to be in excellent condition and tastefully done. When in doubt leave it be. There are people who love that oak.

Looks great, I would leave it natural. Stripping wood is very time consuming.

I think your realtor should stick to selling houses and keep their design advice away from your oak fireplace. The only thing dated is the brass toned metal. If you were staying in the home I would advise you to get a proper wood burning fireplace insert as the majority of heat in a conventional masonry fireplace is wasted. But leave the oak alone and don't paint. The other factor against doing this is the flooring. If you were to stain darker it will only hilite the fact that your wood finishes don't match, and make matters worse.

Thank you for all of your input, which helped us decide to keep the natural oak in the living room. Here is a wider photo from our foyer.

We have a follow up question whether to paint the oak in our master bath and bedroom. It is not as much woodwork, and we would use a professional painter. Do you think painted trim in the bed and bath would help us sell our home?

No! Tons of character!

I would leave it for the new owners to decide. Oak cabinetry is oak cabinetry. My least favorite wood, never liked it, never will.

Don't paint any wood in good condition. Even if it is slightly damaged not visible to us via pics, instead of painting, invest in some Old English scratch cover instead. Rarely, if ever, should a wood fireplace surround or wood floors or wood trim in good condition with a wood finish be painted. The only reason I can think of for painting great wood is if someone has darkened it to a point where it is just way too depressingly darkened for the size room and, even then, I'd likely try stripping and refinishing it first.

The wood trim does not need to match the floor any more than painted trim needs to match the floor.

Don't worry, your home should sell, it's beautiful. As long as it's priced correctly!

I agree that some bigger accessories near the fireplace woukd make a difference. Maybe a tall tropical plant or large vase with birch twigs would change the look. Do not restain. The new owner will need to decide. Your house looks like a very well cared home.

The brass on the fireplace is more outdated than your beautiful fireplace. Keep the fireplace, and paint out the brass with a high temperature black matte spray paint. :)

Trying to find a oak color for my fire place

charlie,,start your own post. this one is 4 years old.