Just paint it!

So apparently its National Paint Week or whatever gimmick the marketing geniuses at Sherwin Williams have invented to sell more paint this month.  It is also spring time and I feel that this is the season most people chose to remodel/refresh their homes.  All this got me thinking about helpful painting tips and some pro tricks you can utilize when tackling your next indoor painting project.

 

Now I am not expert, but I do have father who has been a professional painter for almost 40 years.  He has taught me all he knows and I never mind sharing my knowledge.  The first couple of things to consider when painting a room are color choice and paint finish.  Color choice is not easy for many folks and especially difficult for those who maybe "design challenged."  Remember this is your home so you have to love the color but your favorite color may not always be the right color for a room.  Color can completely change the look and feel of a room. Sometimes simply painting a room a different color can make it feel more luxury and chic without changing a single piece of furniture. 

Some rules of thumb too consider. 

Smaller rooms should be lighter in color.  A dark, small room can feel heavy and daunting.  Larger rooms or rooms with tall ceilings can take a bolder color choice.  Specific function rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms should remain muted and light in color. Bedrooms are tricky however.  Most design savvy folks will tell you that your bedroom should be a space of tranquility and rest.  In turn, the colors should be pale, mellow, and romantic.  There are some people who prefer a little spice in the boudoir so a bold or striking color is the one for them.  If painting your entire bedroom crimson (think Christian Grey's red room of pain) is not up your alley, opt for a feature wall behind your headboard.  Living spaces such as family rooms are also up for interpretation when it comes to color.  Maybe a chic black and white room is your idea of comfort.  In this case even charcoal walls are no big deal. Especially if you have the space and can add in enough white furnishings to contrast the severity of black walls.  Children's rooms can be more playful with patterns or bright colors mixed with white furniture.  

courtesy of Loversiq

Semi-gloss bath

Flat mud room

Next, is the paint finish.  Paint comes in a few finishes.  High-gloss paint is stunning for things like trim work and doors.  Semi-gloss finish is great for bathrooms or even children's' rooms because it is the easiest to wash and stands up to moisture quite well.  

Eggshell/satin family room

Eggshell or satin finish is most popularly used for walls.  It isn't matte and dull and looks just a tiny bit special on your walls. 

 Flat finishes are good for certain rooms.  I prefer to use flat in places like closets and utilitarian rooms like the garage/mud room.   

A few tricks of the trade to keep in your arsenal.  

Use a microfiber cloth to clean off trim and moldings before painting.  This is an important step to insure a smooth even finish free of dust and dirt.  Use a Swiffer and dry cloth to free ceilings of dust especially after doing some patch work on your walls.  Another pro suggestion is to use primer.  There are some paints that claim to be so concentrated that they do not require a primer base.  Trust me and go ahead with priming your room first especially if you are going from dark to light colors.  Also, do not skip this step if you are covering a room which was previously red, blue or yellow.   

Stay green.  

Do yourself and your family a favor.  Please try and purchase low  or zero VOC (volatile organic chemicals)  paint.  VOCs can release toxins into the air for years after painting a room. It is not amazing for either your or the environment. 

Don't but too much paint. Experts recommend about one gallon for approximately 400sq ft.  Un-primed surfaces will require more but remember you can always buy more paint later.  However, you cannot return paint you have left over.  

You should use a nylon-bristled brush for water-based paints and natural fibers for oil based paint. Skip the paint trays.  Instead purchase a 5 gallon bucket and screen.  Its way less clean up and in general a time saver as you don't have to keep refilling.   For smooth surfaces you should use a 3/8 inch roller with less nap.  If your surface is textured (popcorn ceilings) you should use more nap which can reduce your amount of coats.  Don't cover the floors with plastic. Plastic is slippery and messy.  Use painter's paper covered with some drop cloths for easier clean up and a safer experience.  

 Remember that you are cutting in with a brush and and painting with a roller. This can create a different texture.  To avoid this try rolling as close to the ceiling as possible without touching it.  If you do, you can always touch of the ceiling afterwords.  

Hope these tips help ease your next project.  You can always ask the folks at your local paint store for help and recommendations.  Lastly, remember to have fun with your project. Make it a party. Invite your friends and family, grab some beers and blast the music. Thanks for reading and till next post.

DecorJule