skip to main content

painted door with stained trim?

16 years ago

We're scraping off layers and layers of old paint from around our front door. We have a very wide profile- sort of a squared off U-shape on each side of the door (perhaps as if you'd have skinny glass panes on the sides of the door, but they're recessed back from the plane of the door, and there is no glass- it's all wood).

Since we're scraping it down to the wood, we thought maybe we'd stain it instead of paint it, but I've not seen anyone that has stained trim around a painted door- everyone always seems to have a wood door with painted trim. Would this look funny? Does anyone have pictures they could share that would give me an idea of what it might ultimately look like?

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

fausonk
Original Author
16 years ago
Really? No one has any opinions or thoughts on how it would look to stain the trim but keep the door painted??
PRO
Lynch Home Services
16 years ago
I think stained trim around a painted door is ok, as long as all the trim is the same in the house, baseboards all stained too. The best part of paint is that you can stain first and if you don't like the look, you can always prime and paint over it ! You can't do it the other way around, so I say give it a try to see if you like the look. Just don't put any poly on the stain until you're sure you like the stained look- it will be much easier to paint over if you change your mind.
Related Discussions
Painted doors, stained trim?
Q
Comments (2)
We've been going through this debate just this past week. Originally we were going to do stain grade for the entire house but then our builder told us about a house he went to that did paint grade trim but with an antique finish. We need to save some money too (who doesn't?) The pics below (of the house my builder visited) have stain grade doors but I'm thinking we may do the paint grade doors also (but with the antique glaze). The first may may give you an idea of look of the painted doors (although its really a wall) with the stained trim above it.
...See More
Mixing stained and painted wood could you help me?
Q
Comments (11)
We have a similar issue. Our 20 year old house has painted trim in foyer and entry hall, LR, dining room and MB. The kitchen and family room are stained. Since they are not open to each other it looks okay...except, the cabs are oak, the interior doors are hemlock, the baseboard is pine, the posts are fir, the railings are oak, the crown molding is poplar. Over the years everything has aged differently and so we have many different shades of wood. In our remodel we are having all the trim (baseboard, crown molding, balusters, posts, etc) painted out. The new kitchen cabs will be painted same color on perimeter with stained alder cabs on island and in FR. The floors throughout entire first floor are red oak, which we are having refinished. They will be a medium to lighter shade of cabinet color (enough to contrast where they are next to each other, the darker tones matching the cabs). Our designer recommended keeping interior doors stained (they are nice solid 6-panel), but having them toned to match stained cabs. Windows will be painted. Sounds like quite a jumble still, but my wood loving husband has finally agreed to go with it. Having wood floors throughout will definitely keep the space warm feeling and our trim will be a warm off-white (BM Navajo white). We are going for a classic look and feel , but since this is an 80's era house, we are not worried about the authenticity of any specific style or era. It has only ;) taken us 9-1/2 years to come to this decision, so hopefully you can move faster!
...See More
Matching the trim - xpost
Q
Comments (1)
I would paint the trim around the picture window to match the baseboard moulding (white), but I would leave the mantel stained, as it will stand out as a focal point that way. But assuming you're going to have window treatments on the picture window, the stain will probably not be that visible, so probably okay to leave as is, if you want. You could always paint it later - I've done that in several rooms. As far as staining now and painting over it later, I think you would save time and effort just painting it now. All you'll need is to prime it, then paint two coats of acrylic enamel over it. You'd have to take the same steps (stain, then two coats of poly) so the time factor would be the same, IMO. The half wall dividers look fine with the trim painted, even though the doors are stained. I don't think it's a big problem to mix and match, but you have to think it through. Stain will definitely highlight and call attention to itself, which you may or may not want. One combo I do not particularly like is painted doors and stained trim around the doors. That looks choppy to me. But you don't have that combo, it appears. The other way around (stained doors with white trim) is better to my eye.
...See More
Interior door and trim. Paint or stain. Match windows or not?
Q
Comments (4)
That terra color probably makes sense on the exterior but doesn't seem to be a color you have on the interior. I would lean towards painting the door jambs white to match the casings and stain the doors themselves to match the floors.
...See More
smerkins_yahoo_com
15 years ago
I have the same dilemma....what did you do and how did it turn out? Thanks?
Vicki
15 years ago
I have a pantry door in my kitchen painted white, same as the cabinets, and stain that is around it as well as on all the baseboards. I think it looks fine, although a friend told me if it were her she'd paint the trim as well but she likes painted trim better anyway she said.
bigdoglover
15 years ago
It hink it looks disjointed and chops the wall up to have stained trim around a painted door. The trim is part of the door composition. It calls undue attention it to make it anything different.
concretenprimroses
15 years ago
I have a painted door with different color painted trim between my living room and front hall. I think different people have different tastes as well as different styles!
kathy
randita
15 years ago
I had stained trim around several painted steel entry doors and never liked it, but DH did. Finally I convinced him to let me paint the trim and I like it so much better. It adds a more cohesive and flowing look to the space.

I agree with treating the door and trim as a unit and finishing them the same. But that's just my viewpoint.
concretenprimroses
15 years ago
I painted my door back when the walls and the woodwork were all white. Now I'm looking at it thinking hmm should I paint it the ivory trim color, lol. That door gets so much use (between front hall and living room) that in my case practicality suggests a darker color.
kathy

Related Stories

DIY PROJECTS Cool Tip: Mimic Stain With a DIY Color Wash

Get the look of an oil-based stain without all the bother, using this easy wash made with paint

KITCHEN CABINETS Kitchen Cabinet Color: Should You Paint or Stain?

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn about durability, looks, cost and more for wooden cabinet finishes to make the right choice for your kitchen

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Make Your Painted or Stained House Feel at Home in the Landscape

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Use color and texture to create a pleasing connection between your house and garden

COLOR 8 Reasons to Paint Your Interior Trim Black

By Mitchell Parker

Hide imperfections, energize a space, highlight a view and more with a little bit of darkness that goes a long way

TRIM What Color Should You Paint Your Trim?

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Learn the benefits of painting your trim white, black, neutral, a bold color and more

COLOR Accent a Room With Colorful Trim

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Watch rooms come to life when you add color to trim, mantels and more

DECORATING GUIDES 7 Ways to Paint Your Trim Fantastic, From Classic to Fearless

By Samantha Schoech

Give your rooms an edge with a trim treatment that shows attention to detail

WINDOWS Should My Window Trim Match — or Contrast With — the Sash?

By Jennifer Ott Design

The short answer: It depends

CURB APPEAL 5 Bright Palettes for Front Doors

By Jennifer Ott Design

Splash bold green, blue, orange or red on your front door, then balance it with a more restrained hue on the rest of the house

COLOR Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Purple

By Jennifer Ott Design

From grapelicious to lavender, a front door cloaked in the color of royalty might just reign supreme in the neighborhood

Sponsored

Ngrained Woodworks

4 Reviews

Custom Woodworking, Décor, and More in Franklin County

More Discussions

Color changes in paint formulations

10

Painting bedroom ceiling dark - 12 foot ceiling

8

White Kitchen Cabinet Paint Brand

6

Wood trim—what to stain, what to paint?

12

What color(s) would you use to paint this shed?

4