What's my best choice for my livingroom wood trim? I am absolutely brain unconscious when it comes to decorating, so for...
I am absolutely brain unconscious when it comes to decorating, so for adjectives of you talented interior decorators out within, here's the details.My husband stained all the interior trim/doors surrounded by our house before it be installed by the contractor. All the same through out the house, darkened oak stain. Labor intensive. That was 21 years ago and it's looking ably, 21 years old! I'm sculpture the walls a warm atmosphere brown (they're a light, past its sell-by date white now, want a change) and my inventive plan was to paint the trim white..deeper wall color, lighter trim? But presently I don't know. Maybe I should keep the "stained" finish, but how do I "re"-finish it? Should I jump lighter in color on the stain? Which would be more pleasing to the eye? Would it be easier to do white paint? The stain have a "richer" look to than the white, but the white puts a more modern, updated look. My husband thinks I'm asking for trouble near the work involved...is it really THAT huge a project? The "mood" of the room is comfortable, warm.
Answers: once you paint the wood, its really complex to go rear legs to it. So if you paint it white, then consider it irreversible. It's a shame to cover nice wood baseboard with paint. Usually MDF (medium density fiberboard) is the choice if its to be covered beside paint since in most cases its cheaper (and a bit easier to work with).
To peroxide up the dark color would any require some kind of chemical stripping (not sure how potent this will be after 21 years) or sanding. Problem next to sanding it down is that molding usually have some pretty good designs surrounded by it that make sand very difficult surrounded by the grooves and bends.
I think the piece of the puzzle explicitly missing is what color and type is the floor covering. That's the combination you're looking for: floor --> baseboard --> wall.
If you're looking for a weekend project, I'd leave the baseboard and see how it looks after drawing (or paint one wall and see how you like it). You can usually return with white molding samples from the molding store as ably. You might paint the wall then use a token to decide which color you close to better.
Pulling off baseboard, taking out the nail, sanding and sculpture, then re-installing (which is much easier next to a compressor and small nail gun) can be a project. You will next need to caulk the top of the baseboard as capably. Plus if the baseboard is damaged when you remove it, you'll own to repair/replace that piece as well.
My wife other wonders why we put so much effort into baseboard since its pretty much covered up by the furniture surrounded by the room.
Have a good time!
Wood