Poplar is a great choice for a paint-grade molding. It is a solid wood known for its smoothness and no raised grain, which makes it easy to paint. Poplar is a very stable wood with a long history of use for mouldings and millwork. It is also used for paint-grade cabinetry. Poplar can have a light color which makes it more suitable for paint-grade applications and even stain-grade applications if a very dark stain is used.