Perhaps one of the least costly yet best ways to update your home is through custom painting. A fresh paint job can do wonders to the surfaces of your walls and trim, can help your ceilings glow, and can ultimately alter the entire look and feel of a particular room. And, because paint is relatively inexpensive and new products make paint easier to work with, a few hours of work can go a long way if you do it right. So, whether you decide to take the brush into your own hands or hire a professional, consider the following tips and resources to guide you.
1. Choosing a Color
When it comes to color, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Depending on your personal taste, you may decide to paint your home's walls to accentuate your furniture or simply go with a color that you're partial to. To help make your decision you can utilize new computer software to get an idea of how things will look before any paint touches the wall. Benjamin Moore, for instance, offers a free online software program called Personal Color Viewer® which lets you upload a photo of an existing room in your home and even allows you to experiment with new color schemes in various "virtual rooms." This is a great tool to begin your planning process for painting any of the walls in your house.
When it comes to color, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Depending on your personal taste, you may decide to paint your home's walls to accentuate your furniture or simply go with a color that you're partial to. To help make your decision you can utilize new computer software to get an idea of how things will look before any paint touches the wall. Benjamin Moore, for instance, offers a free online software program called Personal Color Viewer® which lets you upload a photo of an existing room in your home and even allows you to experiment with new color schemes in various "virtual rooms." This is a great tool to begin your planning process for painting any of the walls in your house.
2. Paint Selection
Before you purchase any paint to be used on the interior walls of your home, you will want to decide whether to use latex or alkyd paints. A general rule is that if the surface you are planning to paint is currently painted with latex then continute to use latex, as alkyd paint tends not to adhere properly.
Also, latex paints are water-based and therefore have less odor, dry quicker, and are easier to cleanup. Plus, they're relatively inexpensive. However, you should keep in mind that latex finishes are considered to be less durable than alkyd paint, which is synthetic-based and thus tends to adhere to surfaces better.
Another option in terms of selecting the right paint for your home is to consider "green products". Green paint products are free of volatile organic compounds which can cause harm to the natural environment.
3. Picking Paint Finishes
The end result of an interior wall paint job depends largely on the "gloss" or the finished look of the paint. Here are the 5 different types of glosses available:
1. Eggshell - Try and picure the low sheen of the shell of an egg to get an idea for how an eggshell paint finish will appear. This type of finish is ideal for rooms that are cleaned often such as walls in the kitchen or bathroom.
2. Flat (Enamel) - This is a paint with a durable, flat matte finish. Flat enamel is usually a good choice for poweder rooms and halls, as it can withstand occasional cleaning yet doesn't require frequent washing.
3. Satin Finish - You'll know a satin finish paint by it's smooth, pearl-like glossy look. Satin finish paint is best for wood trim, doors and cabinets, or is suitable for kids' room walls and other higher traffic areas of the household.
4. Semi-gloss - typically a low sheen finish that holds a nice, subtle shine without being to sparkly. Semi-gloss finish is great for doors, trim, kitchen cabinets and other areas that require regular cleaning
5. Glossy - High gloss paints have nearly a reflective-like finish mimicing the look of enamel or plastic. Though not used often in home interiors, it is becoming more popular for accentuating a home's furnishings in a formal and contemporary manner. The durability of high gloss paints makes them a perfect option for frequently trafficed areas of the household.
4. Primers / Fillers
It is usually recommended to use a primer on just about any surface prior to painting it for the first time. The use of a primer is necessary for providing an appropriate surface for the paint to adhere to. If you are painting dry wall or cinder block it is best to use latex-based primers, which are also a good choice for changing the color of an interior wall. Using a primer that is tinted to the color of the paint you choose to use can help save the work and cost of an extra coat of paint.
The purpose of fillers is to smooth uneven or damaged wood surfaces and come in both liquid and paste form.
Hopefully by keeping these tips in mind your experience with painting an interior wall of your home--whether by yourself or via a professional--will be much more enjoyable.
What are some other good tips for painting the walls inside your house?
Before you purchase any paint to be used on the interior walls of your home, you will want to decide whether to use latex or alkyd paints. A general rule is that if the surface you are planning to paint is currently painted with latex then continute to use latex, as alkyd paint tends not to adhere properly.
Also, latex paints are water-based and therefore have less odor, dry quicker, and are easier to cleanup. Plus, they're relatively inexpensive. However, you should keep in mind that latex finishes are considered to be less durable than alkyd paint, which is synthetic-based and thus tends to adhere to surfaces better.
Another option in terms of selecting the right paint for your home is to consider "green products". Green paint products are free of volatile organic compounds which can cause harm to the natural environment.
3. Picking Paint Finishes
The end result of an interior wall paint job depends largely on the "gloss" or the finished look of the paint. Here are the 5 different types of glosses available:
1. Eggshell - Try and picure the low sheen of the shell of an egg to get an idea for how an eggshell paint finish will appear. This type of finish is ideal for rooms that are cleaned often such as walls in the kitchen or bathroom.
2. Flat (Enamel) - This is a paint with a durable, flat matte finish. Flat enamel is usually a good choice for poweder rooms and halls, as it can withstand occasional cleaning yet doesn't require frequent washing.
3. Satin Finish - You'll know a satin finish paint by it's smooth, pearl-like glossy look. Satin finish paint is best for wood trim, doors and cabinets, or is suitable for kids' room walls and other higher traffic areas of the household.
4. Semi-gloss - typically a low sheen finish that holds a nice, subtle shine without being to sparkly. Semi-gloss finish is great for doors, trim, kitchen cabinets and other areas that require regular cleaning
5. Glossy - High gloss paints have nearly a reflective-like finish mimicing the look of enamel or plastic. Though not used often in home interiors, it is becoming more popular for accentuating a home's furnishings in a formal and contemporary manner. The durability of high gloss paints makes them a perfect option for frequently trafficed areas of the household.
4. Primers / Fillers
It is usually recommended to use a primer on just about any surface prior to painting it for the first time. The use of a primer is necessary for providing an appropriate surface for the paint to adhere to. If you are painting dry wall or cinder block it is best to use latex-based primers, which are also a good choice for changing the color of an interior wall. Using a primer that is tinted to the color of the paint you choose to use can help save the work and cost of an extra coat of paint.
The purpose of fillers is to smooth uneven or damaged wood surfaces and come in both liquid and paste form.
Hopefully by keeping these tips in mind your experience with painting an interior wall of your home--whether by yourself or via a professional--will be much more enjoyable.
What are some other good tips for painting the walls inside your house?
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