Asked on Feb 25, 2015

To paint or not?

Susan Kenneally
by Susan Kenneally
I'm putting beadboard 5 ft up in hallway. Should I paint the woodwork (by floor) white or leave natural as I will leave the doorways? The upper part will be gray.
Hallway
  11 answers
  • Dana Dana on Feb 25, 2015
    I would probably leave the base board the same as the door casings.
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Feb 25, 2015
    I would paint the baseboard, or at least think about painting it. I hate painting trim so I might only consider it rather than doing it! LOL.........
  • Raelene Raelene on Feb 25, 2015
    Typically the baseboards, doors and trim is either stained or painted one color. I would go ahead and paint the gray walls and then make the decison with the woodwork. It is possible that a darker shade of gray on your baseboards might tie in your walls and floors, but I wouldn't paint them white. I think it is the contrast that of the bright white with the dark floor that has you wondering.
  • Deirdre Sullivan Deirdre Sullivan on Feb 25, 2015
    I am painting my living room right now. Before I got started I was having a hard time figuring out which shades and what types of paint I should use. This post provided me with some sound advice: http://goo.gl/EtHiUq
  • Cindy Cindy on Feb 26, 2015
    I would paint the baseboard.
  • Cindy Cindy on Feb 26, 2015
    Paint them.
  • Amy Amy on Feb 26, 2015
    Paint the gray first and then decide, but I think the contrast of painting them might look really nice.
  • Fab and Pretty Fab and Pretty on Feb 26, 2015
    When I look at the photo it's the white beadboard that doesn't seem to fit in. I love the rest of the hall, and the idea of grey with your wood tones-great complimentary choice. Have you considered a darker grey tone on the beadboard?
    • See 3 previous
    • Fab and Pretty Fab and Pretty on Feb 26, 2015
      @Susan Kenneally ;-)
  • Trish Alexander Trish Alexander on Feb 26, 2015
    not paint them
  • Laurie Ellithorpe Laurie Ellithorpe on Feb 26, 2015
    You should leave the baseboards natural. They won't match the rest of the house. That's what ties the house all together. Baseboards and Crown Molding. IMO
  • Kayte Kayte on Feb 27, 2015
    Your doors and trim are beautiful and lend themselves to being 'art'. I would leave it be and make everything else work with them instead of the other way around. It's going to look gorgeous!
    • Susan Kenneally Susan Kenneally on Feb 27, 2015
      I hope so. When I get the grey on it should help me. I need a grey that is light but with some life to it.