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Posts Tagged ‘wall painting’

Color 101: Handy Paint Guidelines for Walls

Thursday, July 6th, 2017

(The Last of a Six-Part Series)

The perfectly painted walls served as the beautiful backdrop for this Hooker Furniture Bedroom Woodcreek King Mansion Bed.

Painting your home’s walls is the most basic way to freshen up your entire place. This can be a tricky task, though, as it can just as easily turn into a nightmare. Here are some tips on how you can keep your sanity as you try to update the look of your home –

Practice and Be Patient

Interior house painting is a very popular DIY (do-it-yourself) activity. With this said, you can have this become a home activity or a project with your friends or office buddies. There isn’t a more affordable way to freshen up a home than to put on a new coat of paint together with your friends.

Painting is not difficult, in fact, you don’t need to have specialized training just to be able to do it. Any person who is able-bodied should be able to paint a room but you must have a bit of practice prior to the real project. Also, you need a lot of patience in order to finish the task.

Surface Prep

Successful paint jobs are successful because they began correctly. You need to properly prepare the surfaces that you are going to paint. This means you will have to sand, scrape, patch and then fill each hole that you could find.

Search also for dents, cracks and surface imperfections. This is not the fun part of your painting activity, in fact, it can be the most tedious part though it is a crucial part that you cannot ignore.

No amount of paint, no matter how pricey, will hide a cracked or pockmarked surface. Don’t think also that a thick coat will be able to hide imperfections – it won’t. It will only highlight the unprepared surfaces.

Primer Tinting

Priming the walls and ceilings is also mandatory when you need to paint over a wall with a darker color or a new drywall.

‘Wanna know why it is smart to first prime before you paint any wall surface?

Primer paint serves as a blocking stain from bleed through. It also allows a single-coat coverage for your main paint and, most importantly, it lets the paint adhere more, thus, peeling and blisters are greatly reduced.

A professional painter will tint right to the finished color. He does this by mixing topcoat paint to the primer. This will enhance the hiding capability of the top coat on the primed surface.

There are also paint nowadays that have primers. Nothing can cover as well as a dedicated primer, though.

Choose Canvas Over Plastic

Drop cloths are always plastic – you may have heard this a lot from your friends and relatives who finished their painting projects. While canvas is more expensive, it is better to have it because it is rip-resistant and highly durable.

Canvas also absorbs paint drips more than plastic cloths which can even contribute to accidents when the drips cause a slip.

Use an Extension Pole

Where needed, that is. Don’t risk using the stepladder, instead, invest in a telescoping extension pole. There are some that are even 18 feet long which can extend to 36 inches when fully extended.

Look for one that has that nonslip grip and metal core.

When You’re Done Painting

Once you’re done painting for the day, but would still need a few more surfaces the day after, be sure to roll off excess paint then wrap the brushes with food wrap. Double up so that you will seal off air completely.

This actually works in keeping the paint from drying off, thus, it would save you a lot of time from laborious cleaning of paint brushes.

The next day, remove the plastic wrap and you’re good to continue.

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Posted in Color Schemes, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Color 101: Handy Paint Guidelines for Walls

Accent Wall: 4 Unforgettable Styles

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

Hooker Furniture Accents Fretwork Mirror.

Hooker Furniture Accents Fretwork Mirror: Imagine hanging this beauty on your accent wall!

No homeowner should be against having an interesting accent wall. This is one design element that would make your friends and family members rave. Having an accent wall is not painting three walls with something neutral and one wall with the color that you really wanted in the first place. Having this kind of wall means you want to amaze people, to draw some attention, and to make them marvel at what they see there. So how do you make an amazing accent wall?

Accentuate Architecture

Having an accent wall means you have to appreciate and know how to use the architecture of your home. This will actually serve as your guide so be able to point out the most interesting architecture. An example of this is the wall where the fireplace was built. Now that should automatically become your accent wall. Having the fireplace in one of the three other walls would make it snag the attention that’s supposed to be given to the purposed accent wall.

Choose a Logical Paint Color

Take the time to carefully choose your paint. The best places for an accent wall include the wall that anchors the bed, a reading nook, the end of a long hallway, the bookshelf wall, and of course, the wall where the fireplace is situated.

The trick here is to use the wall that would be the star of the show. But be careful in creating this design masterpiece as it could also overwhelm your interiors. An accent wall should be able to make a statement without overpowering the room’s theme. Know how to create a visual impact by choosing a color that is bold or fresh.

Finding the correct color can be a bit challenging. Find a wall that’s within eyesight when you are standing in an adjacent room. The color that you end up choosing will have two roles once you use it on your accent wall and also when you see it from across another room.

Your preference matters when you are out to pick your accent wall color. Just make sure that it would stand out and that you’re ready to make a dramatic statement.

If you ever decide to have bright-colored walls on the other three walls, then choose a dark color still from the same color scheme. If, however, your other three walls come in dark colors, then find an accent color that’s two hues lighter or even darker.

Be Creative…Draw!

Remember those days when you were still a toddler and your parents always said you can’t write on the walls? Well, now that you’re older, you can begin your creative wall project by featuring your favorite song lyrics right on your walls, the map of the world, or your artistic painting right on the wall.

So go ahead, take a ruler, find a paint pen and create. Should you find your drawings hideous, then you can always paint over them and start all over.

Wallpaper ‘Em

Don’t be limited to paint when it comes to beautifying your accent wall. Remember that you can also use wallpapers to set up an interesting accent wall. Just make sure to balance the colors throughout the room that you’re designing. All other elements must harmonize with your chosen wallpaper texture, pattern and color.

When you are refurnishing, be sure to coordinate also your décor and the fabrics. You could also use a charming flower arrangement using the accent color elsewhere in your room.

Accessories Uttermost Rustic Door Knockers Wall Art S2 07654

Accessories Uttermost Rustic Door Knockers Wall Art S2 07654

Rainbows, Butterflies and All Things Nice

Create your own version of rainbow wall by using color swatches first. You then need to get these supplies –

Paint brush or roller

Painter’s tape

Ruler or measuring tape

Paint cans in rainbow colors

Step one is to measure your wall length, divide it equally into the number of colors in a rainbow, then paint. To create straight lines, be sure to use a measuring tape and to tape off every other hue using a pencil.

Let dry for 1-2 hours and you’d have achieved that memorable rainbow accent wall.

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Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Wall Design | No Comments »

Paint Walls Like a Pro

Thursday, August 25th, 2016

Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Antique Brass, Brass Wall Lamp 1943-130 is a unique replacement for the usual painted wall.

Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Antique Brass, Brass Wall Lamp 1943-130 is a unique replacement for the usual painted wall.

Interior painting is no less than the most popular home improvement project in the world of interior design. This is understandable as it is an easy and affordable way to freshen up the look in rooms. Painting can also be done by family members as a weekend project as it does not require specialized training. What you need is just a little patience, some practice and a few tips.

Prep the Surface

The most successful paint jobs begin with surface preparation. This means you should sand, scrape, patch, and filling cracks, dents and holes. Basically, any surface imperfection must be solved. This is the dirtiest part of the project but it is also the most crucial. Do something wrong during this phase and something worse could come up later.

Primer Tinting

The next important step is to prime the wall. Primer can block stains from bleeding out. It also makes single coat possible as it also improves the adhesion of the paint used. Peeling and blistering could also be the result of non-priming.

There are now paints that come with primers yet nothing covers as great as a dedicated primer.

Plastic drop cloths are a cheap way of protecting furnishings and the floor from spatters. It may be wiser to invest in canvas, though. Canvas is durable and is rip-resistant. It offers a flatter layer compared to plastic which means you won’t have to worry about tripping that much.

Canvas drop cloth can be folded around doorways and corners which is another advantage compared to plastic sheets. Also, most plastic drop cloths are not reusable.

Canvas can last a lifetime.

Uttermost Accessories Bronze Leaves Wall Art Set5 04063

Uttermost Accessories Bronze Leaves Wall Art Set5 04063

Utilize the Paint Grid

Painting can take days so if you have more to do tomorrow, there is no need to go through brush cleaning each day. Simply roll off or brush the excess paint then wrap everything in food wrap. Double up the plastic to make sure that air is sealed out then have the roller sleeves and brushes placed inside the fridge. This should keep them fresh, avoiding paint dry up overnight. You can even store the brushes and roller sleeves for as long as a week if you are about to tackle an ambitious job.

The following day, just remove the gear from the refrigerator then use after 30 minutes.

Roll the Paint

A neater approach to rolling paint is to have it roll directly from the five-gallon bucket with the use of a paint grid. This is a rectangular plastic or metal screen that can be hooked on the rim of a bucket. Fill the bucket to about 50%, dip the roller, then roll it against the plastic or metal grid. This should remove any excess paint.

Use an Extension Pole

Get rid of the stepladder and use a telescoping extension pole instead. This comes in various lengths, with some extending as long as 18-36 feet. Longer extension poles are great in painting 8-9 foot tall ceilings.

As you shop for extension poles, make sure that you find one that has a non-slip, soft grip and a metal core. Check also that the threaded end of the extension pole is made of metal. Plastic handles may become too flexible which could make them a tad more difficult to control.

Just Paint

Lastly, what else is there left to do but to paint? Go out, find your favorite color and see if it blends well with your chosen theme. Ask your family members or friends to help out so that this project becomes easier. Shop for the tools together, plan the project together, and of course, don’t forget to have fun!

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Personalizing Your Home

Saturday, May 28th, 2016

 1586-90016A-GLD1 Bewitch Mirrored Octagonal Nightstand

1586-90016A-GLD1 Bewitch Mirrored Octagonal Nightstand

As you moved into your new home, isn’t it your first desire to create your personal stamp on the new space? But if you are buying a pre-loved home, then the finishes, paint colors and fixtures have all been chosen according to the previous owner’s preference.

Here are some guidelines that you can follow to personalize your home –

A Painted Front Door

One good way to make your home look and feel like you is to paint it. This has far less obligation than when you have to repaint your entire home.

When you’re out to choose the paint color, consider if you would also like to update the hardware such as the locks. Of course, if you are buying a house with existing locks, it is always a great idea to change them.

Personalize with Photos

It’s time to get some of your favorite pictures up on your walls. This is a great and effective way to feel at home right away. So never put off this project. Hang those beautiful family pictures or those travel photos that you have long kept.

Swap for a New Kitchen Faucet

One of the most used things inside a home is the faucet. See if you could swap the old kitchen faucet for a newer, sleeker one. This may seem like a menial task but it is something that can have a huge impact on the overall look of your kitchen (or bathroom).

Just make sure that you coordinate with every existing hardware; or you would be left with an unbalanced room design.

Paint the Walls

It can be a daunting task to pick colors that you will use for the entire house. Don’t go through this difficult phase, save yourself some trouble and just paint a wall or two.

Painting the walls will make you be able to determine the theme or palette that you will use for your entire home.

Accessories Uttermost Greenway Hand Painted Art 31315: Artworks are a great way to personalize any space.

Accessories Uttermost Greenway Hand Painted Art 31315: Artworks are a great way to personalize any space.

Bring In Mother Nature

One of the best and most effortless ways to personalize your home is to bring in fresh flowers or potted plants. A room will definitely look a lot friendlier with a touch of nature in a vase or a pot.

Wallpaper ‘Em

If you are in for a bigger project, then you can buy a set of wallpapers. This is also a time-tested way of altering the look inside your home. Put your personal stamp by wallpapering. Use bold patterns if you dare to do so. Neutrals and simpler patterns are for the simpler people.

Clean Up

Use great-smelling products to make your home more appealing. Have a familiar scent, one that you would soon associate with your home.

It also pays to keep clutter from becoming a huge mound. Buy cabinets and drawers where you can store stuff that you don’t use at the moment.

Make it a point to designate a place for your keys and other small items. Have a row of hooks lined up for the special purpose of holding your keys.

Stairs and Window Treatments

The stairs needn’t be boring parts of your home. Paint it white then add shades to the treads. Install a runner if you have a carpeted staircase. Place a runner that is in the color that you most love. A fluffy carpet is great especially for areas with less foot traffic.

You can also upgrade the window treatments. You can go for tailored textured bamboo, Roman blinds, or the basic roller shades. Create a layered look using curtains. Find a window treatment that describes you best. Choose the same fabric for your curtains or draperies so you’ll have a more consistent look on the outside.

 

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