Paint promotes procrastination: build now, decide on the color later. But if you're using any natural finishes on trim, you need to work out the entire system of trim and finishes before you build, so you will know what wood to use where. It helps to classify the trim into groups that you can deal with separately. Certain pieces go together: if one is natural finish or painted, the other should be also. Floors and Stairway Since stair treads are really pieces of flooring, natural-finish stair treads go with wood floors. A common way to finish stairs, especially in Colonial houses, is to paint the stair risers and skirtboards, leaving the treads natural. But painted risers scuff easily; in my opinion
