The One Thing HGTV's Erin Napier Warns Against Painting During A Renovation

Erin Napier and her husband Ben have transformed house after house on HGTV's "Home Town," giving them plenty of experience in what you should and shouldn't do during a renovation. While most people want different things, in Season 7, Episode 3 of "Home Town," Napier advised against one specific renovation no-go: painting over original features. "Most people want to paint their historic trim," the design expert told three siblings renovating a Victorian property. "I think it's a huge mistake 90% of the time."

It wasn't just Erin who warned against it, either, with Ben adding, "Once you paint it, you can't go back!" In this case, the historic trim referred to an area of the property near the front door, which was stained deep brown by previous owners and restored by the siblings alongside the Napiers to its original glory. When renovating, especially if you're working on an old home, it can be difficult to know what to keep and what to paint over. However, covering up historic trim could be something you'll definitely come to regret for several reasons.

The first and most obvious reason is that keeping the original features of a historic property helps to preserve its history in general. While there's nothing wrong with modernizing a property in other ways, features like the original trim in a home are often thought to be unique and in a way, irreplaceable because of this uniqueness. Moreover, painting historic trim will likely cover up any grain patterns it has. These grain patterns are not only unique to your home, but will also infuse an elegant vintage vibe into a space even if you prefer a modern decor style. Historic doesn't have to mean dull — even just a fresh gloss can transform a previously shabby trim.

Plus, as was shown during Season 7, Episode 3 of "Home Town," there are things that can be done to improve the look of original trim without the need for paint. As mentioned, one of the easiest ways to update trim is via a gloss or matte finish, both of which will give an old trim new energy without covering up the pattern. You could also simply brush on a sealant to protect the existing finish.