Paint or stain floorboards?

[MrsCampbellBlack]

So ever had one of those moments when you really really regret doing something?

I've painted my landing and decided on the spur of the moment to rip up the vile brown carpet as the floorboards looked pretty good.

So ripped carpet up and the rotting underlay only to discover the floorboards although in good condition are very mixed colour wise - looks like some were painted black at some point. So whilst spending hours ripping up the bloody carpet gripper things was pondering what to do.

Ultimately it will be carpetted so just want a shortish term solution that's not too expensive and easy for me to do. So woud it be best to paint them or stain them?

What do you think?

Suddenly the old brown carpet doesn't seem so bad in retrospect.

[PigletJohn]

if they have already been painted, paint them. You would have to sand off all the old paint and replace blemished boards if you want stain to look good.