My wife is eager to modernize our home by painting all the wood trim white. While I'm not totally against the idea of white, I'm really concerned that the textured oak won't look good once painted. I've attached a picture for reference. I'm wondering if anyone has feedback or experiences related to painting over such trim?
3 Answers
Look, I'm all for modernization, but painting oak? That's a no-go! I've seen so many homes regretting that choice. Plus, it would take a ton of prep work sanding and priming to get it right. If you really want white, just swap out the trim for pre-finished white and save yourself the trouble.
I would really advise against painting that oak. It's got a lot of texture and once painted, it could end up looking really bad. You've got to think about the upkeep too; chips and fades will show more on white. Maybe consider some dark wall colors instead to keep a modern look without ruining the trim?
That's a solid point! Darker colors could really complement the oak and save you the hassle of painting.
Honestly, once you paint wood, it's hard to revert back to natural. The grain will be forever hidden under that paint, and if it chips, it won't look pretty. Try painting a small area first or maybe consider restaining the wood instead of fully painting it to modernize your space without losing the wood's beauty.
Agreed! I wish we had just stained ours in a darker shade instead of going for white.
Totally! Why go through all that work when you could just install new trim?