safe alternative to painting wood work?

Question

i own a house that was built in the early 1900s that has beautiful woodwork.... I am redecorating the house and I would like to know if there is an alternative to painting the wood work.... like some type of paper colored like paint that i can put over the woodwork to color it a different color, but can easily be taken off, if i decide to take it down again. do you know of any?

i mean. i LIKE it but the woodwork doesnt go with the rest of the house...... i WANT to paint it but i dont want it to be permanent. kinda like wallpaper to cover up the wood work. only it LOOKS like paint.

Answer 1

there is nothing that I know of in that respect, in the passed I've worked on several large and intricate restorations and I can tell you that painting the wood work is a mistake, its very difficult and expensive to undo. If it still has a wood finish and has not been painted you may be able to lightly sand it and have a professional put a glaze on it to change the color (you don't want to even attempt doing a glaze yourself, its a color suspended in oil that never actually dries as it never actually soaks into the wood but rather sits on the surface, its brushed on evenly then sealed with lacquer) or you may be able to use chemical strippers and sanding down to bare wood and re stain it.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Not quite sure what you mean by a "paper colored" paint. If the woodwork is beautiful keep it as close to original as possible.
House was built in the early 1900s -- the wood was more likely stained and varnished, not painted.

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Answer 4

Other than hanging fabric in front of it most anything you do will permanently alter the wood. If you apply paper you will risk damaging the wood fibers when you remove it. If you value the woodwork consult a professional before doing something you may regret later.

Answer 5

You can stain wood, or varnish it.