In a low ceiling basement w/ beautiful new tile floors (we hired that one out), the old matte paint is getting the next new do. The casings and doors will remain the slightly darker than eggshell color, but go from matte to semigloss. The satin new color for the walls goes beautifully w/ the new tile if I do say so myself after hours at the paint store - kind of a dove-sand-taupe hue. Here's my question about the baseboards: paint in the new color to match the walls, or the in the old color to match the casings and the doors? (either color will be semi-gloss). The old color does not look as good as the new against the tile, but the original 3" baseboards are also no great shakes. Replacing them w/ something better is not a priority, nor in the budget. So many photos/mags these days show bright white or very light baseboards adjacent to nearly every style flooring and wall I see. In my mind's eye, keeping the baseboards the cream color will draw attention to them, and painting them the same color, though different finish, will emphasize the flooring. I've read other posts that say the opposite though. I would love any opinions...... I need to get this done before the holiday!
1st post 1st project baseboards color question
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Today's trend is white or light woodwork (painted woodwork). However many people still paint the woodwork to match the wall color. I personally think the style and age of the woodwork plays a part in the decision. I think older homes with the larger woodwork (my home has 9" baseboards) is beautiful with the white trim and I have always done my woodwork (in both kitchens and both bathrooms) in high gloss. It makes for a smoother slick finish in which to clean and will wipe clean very easily. I did do one kitchen and bath in semi-gloss one time and it was not as pretty and although it did clean up, not as easy as the high gloss. Oil-based paint (my preference) looks best on the trim, but I prefer not to use o/b paint (too much hassle to clean up, fumes, etc.) I just finished three rooms with the white trim....it's almost like two paint jobs though with the walls one color and the trim in white, but quite beautiful. Good luck with your decision. I think you'll be very pleased with the white trim.
Btw...my mother has her entire downstairs done in satin finish with baseboards painted to match walls. (Upstairs same but in different colors). It isn't as easy to dust and clean as the semi or gloss paint.
Btw...my mother has her entire downstairs done in satin finish with baseboards painted to match walls. (Upstairs same but in different colors). It isn't as easy to dust and clean as the semi or gloss paint.
Hello saggdevil - Thanks so much for taking time to reply. Our home is less than 25 years old, and as I said has this mediocre 3" baseboard which I am not enthused about replacing. I agree that lovely 9" base would definitely be worth highlighting in white/light. We are going w/ semi-gloss on all the trim because the house faces a terrific East facing view and has very large (12' x 4') windows that flood the place w/ light. I think that light would put a large amount of glare on gloss. I think I'm going to go w/ the cream on the baseboards for something other than a design/style reason. If I change my mind later, it will be easier to paint over it (w/ appropriate prep, of course) than to rectify the darker color back to cream. Thanks again so much for your input.
Good luck on you trim...I'm sure you'll be please with the semi-gloss after having had flat on the trim. It will dust off and clean easier than the flat.
I wanted to mention to you also that even though today's trend is the white woodwork, also a very popular option (with beautiful results) is to do the trim in a lighter shade of the wall color. Most paint colors offer chips showing a variety of shades of the same color graduating from light to dark of the same color. This makes a beautiful combination for shading, etc. The baseboards with a lighter shade of your wall color would obviously blend well your new floor and, in my personal opinion, looks better in the new homes with the smaller wood trim as opposed to the white trim which just doesn't work well for some homes. I'm sure you'll be please with the results.
By the way, hopefully your trim has latex paint on it as it will be easier to cover. Regardless, do yourself a favor and lightly sand the trim prior to priming; it makes for a much better job.
I wanted to mention to you also that even though today's trend is the white woodwork, also a very popular option (with beautiful results) is to do the trim in a lighter shade of the wall color. Most paint colors offer chips showing a variety of shades of the same color graduating from light to dark of the same color. This makes a beautiful combination for shading, etc. The baseboards with a lighter shade of your wall color would obviously blend well your new floor and, in my personal opinion, looks better in the new homes with the smaller wood trim as opposed to the white trim which just doesn't work well for some homes. I'm sure you'll be please with the results.
By the way, hopefully your trim has latex paint on it as it will be easier to cover. Regardless, do yourself a favor and lightly sand the trim prior to priming; it makes for a much better job.
Hi again saggdevil - Yes, we thought about that, too, and I played w/ lighter versions of the same hue (when I said hours and hours at the paint store, I wasn't exaggerating
, but just couldn't come up w/ a color I liked. (We took it down drop by drop in the mix.) That would also put 3 colors in a room w/ only an 8' ceiling - kinda' too busy for personal my taste. We'll keep all trim and doors in the rooms the same color, but change the finish, keep the ceilings as they are (flat), and only do the walls in the new color (and new finish). The paint store match to the old color was perfect, BTW. I know this seems like such a small project compared to some of the major renovs I see people posting, but it's my first, and I want to do it right. Thanks again for your input.
, but just couldn't come up w/ a color I liked. (We took it down drop by drop in the mix.) That would also put 3 colors in a room w/ only an 8' ceiling - kinda' too busy for personal my taste. We'll keep all trim and doors in the rooms the same color, but change the finish, keep the ceilings as they are (flat), and only do the walls in the new color (and new finish). The paint store match to the old color was perfect, BTW. I know this seems like such a small project compared to some of the major renovs I see people posting, but it's my first, and I want to do it right. Thanks again for your input.I agree with you in wanting to do it right; it's so much easier to do it right the first time around than to have to go back and re-do. That's how I happened to find this site and it has been great. I had a little experience, but learned from the wrong people; the guys on this site have helped me tremendously....I wish I had found this site a few months before I did. I was on room 3 of 7 when I found the site and am so glad. I just stripped 96 years worth of painted paper and therefore am now working with bare unpainted plaster walls. These guys have guided me on the proper materials to use for repairs, primers, etc. Before then I thought compound was compound and primer was primer, lol. There is a palethra of materials to chose from and I'm now understanding what the difference is, etc. They have provided a wealth of information to me and I'm very grateful. I was completely fed up with hiring stuff done and getting less than desirable results, so I knew it was going to have to be me to get the walls the way I wanted them.
I feel we are fortunate that individuals and professionals are willing to to offer their time and advice to help others in their endeavors. It has certainly helped me and I can already see differences in the last room I finished as opposed to the first three I did. But practice makes perfect and it will now be easier for me to change room colors, etc.
Good luck on your project.
I feel we are fortunate that individuals and professionals are willing to to offer their time and advice to help others in their endeavors. It has certainly helped me and I can already see differences in the last room I finished as opposed to the first three I did. But practice makes perfect and it will now be easier for me to change room colors, etc.
Good luck on your project.
Agreed. That so many people w/ so much more experience than I have are willing to give of their time is one of the greatest things about net forums. I have another post in the carpentry section (talk about out of my element!), and even w/ a fair amount of research, there's a lot of nomenclature I don't even know. ...But, it's a great learning experience, and we're happy to finally get these projects underway. Thanks again so much for your input.
Hey Chris....when you're good, you're good and you are good. I'm sure you and others on here help more people than you are aware. I hope others are as grateful as I am. Keep up the good work . Kindness is awesome and can take us far in life and open doors when we least expect it.
Btw...hope you got my msg on the Whizz 9" microfiber roller (3/8" nap) at Lowes for $3.49. I had a dealer check two weeks earlier and was told Whizz didn't make a 9". Oh well....still can save you some bucks vs the $5-6.00 covers. (Am still mudding in the LR. Work a day or two and leave it for a few days.....too much has piled up not done in the three months I've been working on this house, lol)
. Kindness is awesome and can take us far in life and open doors when we least expect it.Btw...hope you got my msg on the Whizz 9" microfiber roller (3/8" nap) at Lowes for $3.49. I had a dealer check two weeks earlier and was told Whizz didn't make a 9". Oh well....still can save you some bucks vs the $5-6.00 covers. (Am still mudding in the LR. Work a day or two and leave it for a few days.....too much has piled up not done in the three months I've been working on this house, lol)
That's amazing 5 covers have lasted that long as I'm sure they get some heavy use in your work. That's another thing I've learned from you guys is to clean and re-use the rollers; I had always thrown them away after painting a room, lol. Anyway, I now have two mf rollers....Whizz 3/8" and the Expert brand 18mm. So just curious if I should reserve for Gardz only or use them with paint (cannot get Auru in this area; even went to the closest BM dealer about 40 miles from here and they have all BM except Aura as it takes about $20,000.00 just to set up the display).
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