Hi,
We’re trying to decide a wood species and color for the base trim in a house we just bought. Right now its a builder special 3″ golden oak which in many places is not even nailed to the wall. The upstairs has oak floors and the down stairs had a maple with a dark finish installed right before we bought the place.
I’d like to keep the same trim throughout and I’ll be making it all myself. Is there a rule of thumb about the base being darker or ligher or the same as the floor? What is an inexpensive species that takes stain well (ash, alder, soft maple, poplar)? I probably won’t be doing much of a profile except for a chamfer and it will probably be a 1×5 or 1×6 so ease of milling isn’t that important.
Replies
Paint or Stain
Soft maple and poplar both have issues with blotching when stained. Both take paint well.
You might try asking questions about staining on the Knots, woodworking forum. There is a link up on the left of this page.