Decorating and Design - Need opinions on what to do with dark trim woodwork

I'm fixing up to sell a house that I inherited. It has dark (very dark) oak doors and trim throughout. It's nice woodwork but I want to put in wood floors (laminate or pre-engineered hardwood) in the hallway and kitchen/nook and maybe one bedroom but even if I could find a wood finish that matches the current oak woodwork color I think it would be too dark. So I am considering either changing everything to a light oak finish (which would be a lot of time and money because I would have to change out doors as well as the trim) or just painting the doors and trim and then I can put in whatever floor color I want.

So I guess I'm looking for opinions on what to do. Whenever I watch house renovation shows I rarely see stained woodwork. It's almost always painted.

I could also just give up on the idea of wood flooring and do carpet in the bedroom and a tile-type laminate for the hallway and kitchen or actual tile in the kitchen.

Wood can be different species and finish and still be ok - remember, they don't have to match, they just have to blend. If possible, take a piece of the dark stuff to the store when you're picking out the flooring.

Please, please don't paint this wood!

I agree with Mitch. Don't paint the trim. But, I love stained woodwork. My sister's house has walnut plank flooring throughout, stained with a walnut stain (dark). It looks great!

Unless this house is in an expensive neighborhood, I'd just replace the carpet, something neutral. Carpet is probably the least cost. Since you are selling it, don't put a lot of money into fixing up the house. Just get it presentable.

Don't pay too much attention to those diy shows unless you're going to let someone a thousand miles away dictate what you like. Have you ever read any of the year-after interviews? Some of those "renovations" have turned out horrible.

i third that IF this is an old house with the really great wide baseboards & door frames & paneled doors. if so, leave the dark woodwork alone. put in nice brand spankin new neutral carpet, and tile the kitchen.

however, if this is a 70's ranch, i'd paint the woodwork. it probably just looks dark & dated, and to sell, needs a facelift.

so i guess my opinion depends on the style & age of the house.

if you want to make money, you need to spend money. so if you want to get top dollar, put in real wood floors (not laminate), real tile or carpet. forget the laminate for resale.

Sorry, Annette, but I disagree with you on investing in a house to sell.

When fixing up a house to sell, one has to be careful about over-pricing the house. A $300K house isn't worth $300K in an $80K neighborhood.
Another way to look at it is what good does it do the h/o to put $30k into fixing up the house if they only see $10K of it. OTH, it may be worth losing $10K or $20K just to sell the house. I just read yesterday that some home builders are even offering a new car with the purchase of a home.

Some of the newer laminates look very good. Some have the look and feel of real wood floors.

Each situation is different. The cost/benefit and risks must be evaluated in each situation.

I just finished painting all the dark stained trim in my house white. It is unbelievable the difference it made, how much it brightened the rooms, made them seem much larger, and just how much cleaner it looks, and the stained trim was still in decent condition with a noticeable shine. I did this myself in a 1800sqft ranch and will pay to have it done if it ever comes up again. Crown molding and all i have close to 100hrs invested. It is a LOT more work then it seems and would be worth the money to have it professionally done if you decide to take that route.


I had considered going to a lighter oak stain but that would have required removing all the trim to do it properly, which in turn would mean twice the money and time.. JMO.