Paint trim/baseboards or not?

last month

last modified: last month

Hello everyone! I am looking for some help. We have recently purchased a home that was built in the 1940’s. Twenty years ago there was a second story added onto the house so the main level was renovated. The original trim was left unpainted where there were no changes made. The rest of the main floor was painted white, along with second story. The issue is there are rooms on main floor that connect to each other with a mixture of natural stained trim connecting to painted trim. The question is, should we leave trim/baseboard or paint white? If the recommendation is to do all white, is there anywhere that could be kept original? Like around window/fireplace?

Thank you in advance!!

Featured Answer

chispa

last month

I would paint all the trim white, as it looks like someone already started the paint job and quit halfway through the job.

I would leave the fireplace surround till last and only decide whether to paint it after everything else was painted.

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Comments (8)

cat_ky
last month
I love the wood and think it actually looks the best, but, since its a huge job to strip all the other wood they have painted, I would paint all of it, except for the fireplace mantle. Leave it. I sure wish, they hadnt done the trim on that piano window in the first picture you posted. Its a beautiful window, and I had one very much like that one years ago, in my first house. Mine had the wood yet, and it was gorgeous.
Linda M thanked cat_ky
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arcy_gw
last month
last modified: last month
I would vote get the stripper out and have all wood, but chances are the new white is not the same wood, a lesser grade, so that won't work in the long run but wood is so much nicer it's unfortunate they cheaped out with the painted trim. I don't think you need to touch the fireplace surround. It stands alone.
K Laurence
last month
last modified: last month
I would paint but leave the fireplace as is, I like it. It adds some warmth to the room.
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last month
what chispa said
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
I agree.
Linda M
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
If all trim and baseboards are to be painted white, what would you do with the door that in entry to living room? Do we keep that natural to go with fireplace? thank you again for all your feedback!
Maureen
last month
I’d just start with the baseboards and you’ll have a better sense of what/where to continue. For instance, the front door‘s frame is breaking the entrance up visually, but trim going into rooms may be a feature.