I don't think there is any harm in painting wood trim. Just make sure that it's what you really want first, because it's very hard to get off.

I think the after picture looks very nice. The change in color really lightens up that room.

I'm torn. I do like the way white trim looks.... but I like the wood, too. And old original wood is so beautiful, and once it's painted, you can never get the plain wood back (or at least, not without a whole lot of trouble).

Paint paint paint paint, get rid of that old ugly oak trim!!!

no! don't do it!

I lean against it (reminds me of the beautiful little duplex where I grew up) but I think there's a time and place, especially if it's damaged.

I like wood. It's beautiful. I would never paint over wood trim.

Now, the wood "paneling" that's really plastic, or some sort of plywood that landlords just love. That I paint over every time I can convince the landlord I'm not destroying precious woodwork. Weirdly, this is frequently hard to do.

I edited that comment badly, but you get the point.

It totally depends on the place. Some places have intrinsic antique value (I wouldn't touch the woodwork in a pristine Arts and Crafts bungalow) but a lot of older rentals that have been rentals for a long time are so NOT pristine that painting is an obvious improvement. I think it's pointless to maintain old-and-ugly just because it's old, but there are some cases where it would be criminal to ruin something beautiful. (I suspect those cases are relatively rare, though.)

Since the trim in our house was already painted when we moved in, we didn't have to make the decision, but I think it was the right thing to do.

Though I am grateful that whomever did the painting, did not paint our china hutch - it's beautiful old dark wood that I would never want to cover with paint:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/extramundane/7978396/

Faced with the same decision in our home, we decided to compromise by leaving the main floor (all oak) as is and painting the kitchen and upstairs (all pine) white. It was typical for homes to have pine in rooms other than the LR and DR since it was less costly. I would LOOOOVE to paint our LR trim, though...way too dark!

I'm all for painting the cheap contemporary stuff, but definitely not the old good wood! That is amazing stuff that is truly an asset to the house it's in, that you just don't see anymore. Haha, clearly I chose A!

Paint it!!!!! Im so tired of landlords and homeowners COVETING and extolling the virtues of "original woodwork". I've passed over so many apartments that boasted original woodwork because, frankly, unless you are really going for the old timey library or victorian parlour look, the wood tends to dominate the decor. Please paint your wood.

Not everything old is worthy of preserving. Paint where it works.

I'm facing the same issue. My bungalow is Arts and Crafts and still holds the original DARK wood (crown molding, baseboards, mantel, and built-ins). I don't feel comfortable painting the wood so I am looking for any wall color suggestions. I have tried numerous colors and none work with the dark wood.

I would paint the wood but I don't plan on being here for more than 2 years and fear that I may ruin something a potential buyer likes.

Any suggestions?