Like many of today’s home buyers, Mourad and Bush prefer the sleek, clean look of white enameled woodwork. But their experience also speaks to the conundrum of sellers considering whether to paint their woodwork in order to sell a house more quickly. Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. But some homes, especially Craftsmans and Victorians, can dazzle with stained wood.

In mid-century modern homes, wood paneling and other details can warm up the clean lines. In Victorians, intricate woodwork can speak to the home’s original era — and can also be expensive to paint.

In addition to the style of the home, competition is another factor.

Millennials love white

Jayne Morrison of Morrison Interiors is a designer and stager who helps people ready their homes for the marketplace.

“Millennial buyers want white woodwork,” she said. “If we are staging for a young family in a neighborhood of young families, it is advisable to have woodwork painted white.”

That’s especially so for owners of homes built in the 1980s with the golden oak woodwork that was popular during that era.

“If you are in a 1980s house and you have a lot of that golden oak woodwork, [painting it white] will help sell your house faster,” she said.

Morrison is seeing a generational shift as she works with homeowners on design. Painted woodwork is a fresh look, she notes, and it’s been going strong since 2010. In recent years, she has seen the white warming up a bit, shifting to warm gray.

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