Spring is rapidly approaching and that means warm days again, flowers coming back to life and new beginnings. Those new beginnings also often begin with Spring-cleaning as well. Sprucing up the house helps match the new birth occurring outside. That may mean simply cleaning or it could also include new furniture, carpets or rugs, small décor or an all around overhaul of the design of your house. The quickest and simplest way to revamp your design completely or simply liven up your home is with a new paint job. This is certainly something you can do yourself and you will probably enjoy it as well. This gives you much more control over the design and outcome of the job as well the cost.
The first thing you must decide on are the colors you want. No matter which color scheme you choose, be sure to choose colors that make the rooms of your house flow together. You may want many beautiful colors, but if they don’t relate to each other from one room to the next, you will have a mess on your hands. Also as important as the main colors you choose are the trim colors that compliment. Trim colors can make or break a room. When painting you truly realize how important details can be. For design ideas for what will work best for your house or to determine what motif you want to shoot for, look at magazines, websites and specific designers. For instance, Ralph Lauren’s online home site offers advice for nearly every design question you could have as well as color collection. This is usually my one-stop place for choosing ideas, but if you want an unbiased opinion (that isn’t trying to sell you something), look at articles in magazines and online.
Once you have colors and a design, you need to pick the sheens you will use. Sheen is the gloss or shininess in paint. The higher the sheen, the higher the gloss and price. There are four types of sheen to choose from: flat, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Flat paint is the most common paint used, because it hides imperfections the best and it is also the cheapest paint. The downside is no protection from handprints, stains or otherwise, so this may mean constant cleaning. The second paint type is satin. This has slight gloss, so some stain protection. The third option is semi-gloss paint. Semi-gloss paint is the next highest sheen. This is the most common kind of paint used in kitchens because of its easy cleaning and stain resistance. The last kind, gloss, is the highest in quality and price. It’s the most reflective, durable and effortless of any paint.
The last thing you must decide on is if you will use any special texture or design or if you will simply paint straight with rollers and a brush. The most popular texturing designs are color washing, strie, ragging and combing. These may be fun and different ideas if you’ve never tried them. If you’re interested, be sure to look at examples of the finished product first.
Whatever color scheme, designs and sheens you choose, be sure make your choices carefully. This will be your house décor for years to come. So if you’re planning to spiff up your current design, be sure that you love your new motif before doing it this spring.
Comments
nahida barbari
July 7th, 2010 - 2:55:25 PM
what is better to make a room look bigger when doing a 2 tone wall with chair rail in the middle? Do you put the darker color on top, and the lighter color on the bottom below tha chair rail, or is it, or is it the other way around? light on top, and darker color on bottom? Please help, I am painting my walls soon, and I need to be sure.
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Bonnie Owens
July 7th, 2010 - 5:47:26 PM
By using the lighter color on top it will make your ceiling seem taller. However, to maxmize space it is best to stick with a monochromatic scheme. Using 2 colors will divide the room and inevitably make it feel smaller.
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Mary Ward
July 8th, 2010 - 9:53:21 AM
I want to paint one wall in my narrow living room. The living room and dining room are open so I blended the colors. I have tried not to be such a match freak. Colors; Neutral couch and chairs with a splash of butterscott, rust, chocolate and platinum pillows. A huge picture window with a view of the city and the lake. I don't want the room to look too matchy! I'm not sure if I should go with a yellow or a blue for the one wall. Any suggestions for a small area would be appreciated.Thank you.
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Bonnie Owens
July 8th, 2010 - 11:15:35 AM
What color are the other walls? I like to do accent walls in the same tone, just a few shades darker than the rest of the walls. If the other walls are pretty dark, then I would opt for something light. The lighter the shade, the less chance you run of looking matchy.
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RODOLFO DAR
July 10th, 2010 - 6:48:47 PM
The floor and kitchen cabinets are cherry. What color should I paint for the living room and kitchen walls? Also my 3 bathrooms cabinets are cherry should I change it to honey maple, too much cherry? please help asap. mahalo
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Bonnie Owens
July 13th, 2010 - 9:06:21 AM
I would keep the cherry throughout just because I think matching cabinetry pulls the house together. When pairing color with cherry cabinets there just a few rules to follow. #1, DO NOT go red. There is enough red in the wood. Red walls will wash them out and compete with color. #2, stay earthy. Pretty much any color will work as long as you use it in an earthy, understated shade. Here are a few good picks from Sherwinn Williams' website: Great Green, Glad Yellow, Loch Blue and Crisp Linen. Happy Painting!
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Lee
July 18th, 2010 - 9:01:09 PM
I have a very small half bathroom.The toilet one end and the sink facing it on the opposite wall fitted completely between the outside wall and the door wall. It has a dark wood shelf half way on the outside wall, which is quite handy, and not sure if I can paint it white. I have a white cabinet that stands over the toilet and a very nice white oval framed mirror over the vanity. I think I want to paint the walls a nice Green, and don't know whether to do a different color from the bottom half to the top, or to paint it all the same color top and bottom all round and behind the toilet continueing to the door wall, and doing a different color behind the vanity. Please help if you understand what I just wrote Lee
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snafu
July 19th, 2010 - 6:20:03 PM
A small room will feel even smaller if you use more than one color on the walls. Green isn't a good color for bathrooms, it tends to add a green tinge to your complexion when you look in the mirror. The wood shelf can be painted white to match the existing cabinet if you 1st use a Kilz or some other brand of quality undercoat. Let it dry several days before painting Cloud White or color of choice. Is the door frame & door white? The spa colors work well in a bathrm, perhaps silver blue or pale blue with fluffy white towels for and silver, liquid soap dispenser for decor. Liquid soap is less messy than cake soap.
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Dre`a
July 20th, 2010 - 11:59:19 AM
I am trying to figure out what paint color will work well with a navy colored carpet.. anyone with any ideas I want the room to be bright someone had the walls painete an awful flat burgundy with silver sponge looking stripping it looks OMG.! help
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Terry Chapman
July 21st, 2010 - 3:37:57 PM
I want to redecorate my beauty shop. The bottom is wains coating. The trim is off white. There are cupboards that need to be painted also. Plenty of mirrors. Any suggestions.
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The Nice Dwellings Team
July 23rd, 2010 - 11:57:57 PM
Dre'a, Navy goes really well with beige, custard or light grey. Try this site here: http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/27/interior-design-colors-dominos-best-of-issue/ for more tips.
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