How do you paint/stain a mantle (pic attached)?

Lori
by Lori

How do you suggest I stain or paint this old pine mantle. I am going "modern farmhouse". The walls will be a light warm gray and I'd like to cover this pine if possible. I'm looking for easy, as I don't want to rip this out. Thank you!

  6 answers
  • Everything Pretty Everything Pretty on Jul 29, 2019

    I would paint it white and distress it. If you want a different color than the stain, paint it that color first and then the white. Here are more directions for painting stained wood https://interiordesigninfo.com/index.php/cp9/511-how-to-paint-stained-wood

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Jul 30, 2019

    If you want it to remain looking like wood, you can restain but only in a darker color. To paint, choose any color you like but I would recommend priming first with the appropriate primer (oil under oil paint etc.) Tape off the stone surround so you keep the paint only on the mantel. I would recommend finishing up with a couple of coats of poly so you don't have to do this again.

  • Jim Cox Jim Cox on Jul 30, 2019

    I have similar, but mine is much more rough hewn. I'm going to box mine in with 1x6 pine and have a fresh surface to work with.

  • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Jul 30, 2019

    Be absolutely sure you'll be happy with paint before you do it. You could paint a piece of paper to loosely cover it to see how it will look before actually painting the wood. It's hard to go back to stain if you change your mind!

    • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Jul 30, 2019

      Forgot to say, with the grey mortar and planned grey wall color, if you go white for the mantle be sure to use a cool white. A warm white will look yellowish and could look dirty against grey. Good luck!

  • Mike Williamson Mike Williamson on Jul 30, 2019

    I like Jim's answer: box it in, then paint or stain the new lumber.

    This way, the old original mantel is preserved. Once you paint it, there's no going back.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Jul 31, 2019

    This product works wonders! I used that whitewash in a lot of mine projects