Can stained wood be painted? Discover simple methods to refresh dark trim.
Living in an older residence means encountering various aged building materials. If you desire to paint them, like me, our former home featured 70’s dark paneling, varnished-on wallpaper, plywood walls, and cement floors. My painter brother-in-law asserted that any surface can be painted with the right procedure, a theory I thoroughly verified!
Following the painting of the varnished board walls in the Master Bedroom, the next task was addressing the old, stained trim in my son’s room.
(For context, this trim is likely from the 1920s and consists of stained fir boards.)
Notice: This post includes affiliate links for your convenience when shopping.
Assemble materials for painting old stained trim boards
- Primer – We utilized oil based Kilz primer in a spray can for this job.
- Semi-gloss latex paint
- Essential painting items (A list of basic painting supplies is available here)
- TSP for cleaning
- Cleaning bucket and rag
- Rubber Gloves
I found my local paint shop extremely helpful for project-specific paint needs; always consult local paint specialists with your questions—they offer great assistance!
Instructions for Painting Over Stained Boards Step by Step
- Prepare the surface for painting – Wash the wood using a blend of TSP and water. TSP is a powder in a cardboard carton, found in any hardware store, acting as a dirt stripper. You will be astounded by how soiled your water becomes! (Remember to wear rubber gloves.)
- Mask off areas that should not receive paint- Cover all surfaces where paint should not land. I used old magazine pages and green painters tape to protect the glass, and carefully taped up all hardware. Ensure the floor is also covered. Since I planned to paint the wall next, I did not worry about overspray onto it.
- Apply a quality oil-based primer to the wood. The primer selection is crucial; an oil-based primer must be used to cover old stained wood! Using a water based primer will allow wood and stain oils to bleed through, altering your final paint hue. I know this from experience; it is frustrating.
However, as a note, Benjamin Moore offers a fine latex primer named “Fresh Start” that sometimes works on stained wood. Always test it first on the area you plan to paint. My experience with this house showed that the oil base primer was necessary for this old wood.
I suggest consulting the knowledgeable staff at your local paint store for primer advice tailored to your specific job, followed by a surface test.
I selected my favorite Kilz primer in a spray can and applied it to this window frame.
- Follow the container directions when applying the primer. Following guidance, I used even, thin coats that dried quickly between applications. I sprayed on a sunny, warm day to keep the window open. (Do not paint with the window closed!)
Remember, this is only a primer; its role isn't to fully color the surface, but to prepare it for paint. Ensure it is completely sealed so your chosen paint color can cover it perfectly. The positive news is that after oil-based priming, you can subsequently use latex (water-based) paint on that surface!! Hooray!
This is how mine appeared after priming:
If you have a large amount of priming to complete, consider purchasing the primer in a standard paint can for application. The spray can has limited reach, although it is less messy!:)
- Apply a total of 2 coats using latex paint
Following the application of oil-based primer to the stained wood, subsequent latex painting is permanent, which is quite convenient; you only handle the strong odor once!
This technique proved effective when I painted the dark trim throughout our residence; my photos improved, clearly showing the striking transformation paint brings to trim:
The appearance of our Dining Room prior to painting:
The resulting look after the painting process:
Discover the Dining Room's Coastal Cottage Office Makeover by visiting this link.
For additional painting advice, consider reviewing these resources:
- Guide on Painting Plastic door trim
- Instructions for Achieving Straight Lines with painter's tape
- Ideas for painting bedroom walls
- Guidance on the Benjamin Moore coastal color palette
- Method for painting bathroom tile board
How to Paint over Stained Wood
It is certainly possible to paint over stained wood; learn the straightforward method for revitalizing aged, dark wood trim, leading to a stunning room makeover.
Supplies
Steps
- Clean the surface to be painted – Clean the wood with a mixture of TSP and water. TSP is a powdery substance that is packaged in a cardboard carton and can be purchased in any hardware store. It is a type of dirt stripper. And, believe me, you will be shocked at how dirty your water gets! (Be sure to wear rubber gloves when using it.)
- Tape off the areas you don’t want to get paint on- Tape off all surfaces you don’t want paint on. I used old magazine pages and green painters tape to cover the window glass. Also I carefully taped up all the hardware I didn’t want paint on. Be sure to cover the floor as well. In this case, I was going to paint the wall afterward, so I didn’t worry about any over-spray on it.
- Prime the wood with a good oil-based primer. The type of primer you use is very key. You must use an oil-based primer to cover old stained wood! If you use a water based primer, the oils from the wood and stain just seep through and dis-color your final paint color. I’m telling you…been there, done that. It’s not fun.
- Apply the primer according to the directions given on the container. As per recommendations, I used even, thin coats that dried quickly between coats. I painted when the day was sunny and warm, so I could keep the window open while spraying it. (You don’t want to paint your window shut!)
- Brush on 2 coats of latex paint As mentioned previously, once the stained wood is sealed with oil- based primer, it can forever be painted with latex paint after that. Isn’t that great? You only have to deal with the stinky stuff once and then you’re good to go!;)
