If you live in an older home, it’s likely that you have wood trim in at least one (or all) rooms of your house. We’ve talked before about the pros and cons of painting wood. For purists, painting older wooden trim is nothing short of tragic. For others, however, painting the trim is a way to freshen it up and, in a lot of cases, brighten a darker material. And sometimes, you just need a change!
If you’re worried about compromising the quality and look of the wood but can’t take its existing condition/hue any longer, why not try staining it as opposed to painting? Stains are available in a wide range of shades, meaning you could go for a rich, dark hue or try something that’s on the lighter side.
Plus, the stain will allow the grain and details of the wood to show through, rather than obscuring them with paint. Think of it as a happy medium between doing nothing and painting.
And although the project may be fairly labor intensive, depending on how much wood trim is in your home, you can still do it yourself. Just make sure that the areas in which you’re staining are properly protected and well-ventilated so that you can get plenty of fresh air into the space.
Be sure that your surface is properly prepared. Remove any hinges or hardware that might be in your way. You don’t necessarily need to sand or strip your wood before you stain, but you’ll want to make sure it’s clean and wiped down. Also, if you run across any glue or adhesive spots on the wood, sand those until the surface is smooth so that you’ll get a better result.
What are your thoughts on wood trim? Do you think it’s best to leave as-is, no matter what condition it’s in? Or do you think staining is a happy medium? We’d love to hear from you!
Image via Elle Decor
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