Whether you’re planning on painting the interior or exterior of your home, adding a fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest ways to update your space.
We’ve worked with paint experts to answer homeowner’s most frequent questions – ensuring that your summer paint projects go off without a hitch.
1. Should I Pick Interior Paint Color or Furniture First?
When designing a room, New Look Painting recommends always deciding on your furniture first. Then use your furniture for inspiration in choosing your wall colors. Subtleties and undertones in paint colors are more easily matched to the furniture than the other way around. By opting to paint your walls first and then purchasing the furniture, you may find yourself repainting the walls to match your new decor.
2. Can I Paint Over Wallpaper? Or Should I Remove It?
Supreme Painting explains that short answer is yes, but if possible the wallpaper should be removed prior to adding a texture or painting. If the water in the paint gets to the glue, it might release the paper from the wall causing bubbles in the wallpaper which would be noticeable after painting. If you just have to paint over wallpaper, it is a good idea to prime it with an oil-based primer to seal and protect from water.
3. What Type of Paint Should I use to Make a Room Look Bigger?
Elegant Painting recommends four steps for making a room look bigger with paint:
- Choose similar shades of the same color for walls, ceilings, and trim. In other words, minimize the contrast between surfaces. Choosing contrasting colors will divide up your space and make it appear smaller.
- Stick to lighter colors. Stay with whites and off-whites. Light grays and taupe are great choices as well.
- Choose Sherwin William’s® high reflective white for the ceiling. High reflective white is a very bright white that will make your ceilings appear higher.
- Order lighter shades of your favorite colors. Most paint stores can mix your colors at 50% or 25%.
4. What About if I’m Trying to Avoid Toxins While Painting my Home Interior?
Paint Green has found that choosing your type of paint has the biggest impact on exposure to toxins. It’s easy to avoid the harmful chemicals of past times by using non-toxic paint and materials. In the rare occasion that you need to use toxic paint indoors, keeping your windows open and fans on for 24-48 hours after painting will help.
Better yet, take a vacation while the project is going on for the best (and most fun) way to avoid the vapors and off-gassing.
5. Are There Any Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color?
Legacy Painting recommends that you consider several questions when choosing exterior paint colors. First, what is your roof color? Brown, Black, 50 Shades of Grey? If you have brick or stone on your home, you also need to take those colors into consideration. Next, note the color of your windows. If vinyl, they are fixed, if wood, then they are not fixed and can be painted. Your home’s style should also be taken into consideration. Is it Traditional, Modern, Victorian, etc.?
We also advise looking at the homes which surround your home. What colors are they? You may want to be certain that your home color will not match too closely to your neighbors but instead blends in and adds to the beauty of the surrounding neighborhood. Landscaping is also an important fixed element unless you plan on freshly landscaping your home. Take note of the flowering shrubs, flowers and trees that change color. Overall, taking note of your “fixed” colors will lead you into choosing what colors will look best on your home!
6. Can I Paint My Floors?
Truline Painting confirmed that yes, you can paint your floors. It is a cost-effective way to revive old wooden floors while adding a unique look that traditional wooden floors cannot replicate. Due to the high amount of foot traffic, it is recommended you use a professional quality oil or water-based porch and floor paint and finish it with 2 coats of clear polyurethane.
7. What Comes First: Wall Painting or Floor Refinishing?
The Custom Painting team explains that it’s typically best to paint your walls before refinishing your floor. Refinishing a floor can often create minor damage to the walls. Keeping your contractor in the loop will ensure that any additional touch-ups needed in the end can be done, leaving you with a beautiful, professional finish.
8. Should I pick Paint Color or Flooring First?
I know picking paint colors can feel overwhelming, especially when coordinating with other materials like flooring or other furnishings. Color Theory Painting likes to start with a small selection of flooring samples (2-3) so that if there is a color that we really love we you be flexible with the flooring options. Otherwise, because there are thousands of paint colors, most of the time its easiest to have an idea of what you want to do with other materials first and then customize the paint selection to coordinate with other materials.
9. How Should I Go About Choosing Cabinet Color?
Lancaster Painting recommends considering the following questions when choosing cabinet color:
- Are you moving anytime soon? If you’re staying put, feel free to make your kitchen your own with more vibrant colors. If you’re moving, focus on marketability and stick with a more neutral color.
- How large is your kitchen? Remember, lighter and brighter colors make spaces feel larger, while darker colors tend to draw the walls in close.
- Consider your surrounding colors, and especially those that are “fixed” (not easily changed, like countertops). Cabinets can be a statement piece, but most often they need to be flexible and play well with other colors in the space.
- Use websites like Houzz.com to explore options, and then talk to a professional painter for tips and insights about your specific space.
10. What Paint Styles are Trending this Season?
Eric Welch Painting found that dark grays and blues, such as Indigo Batik from Sherwin Williams are a great addition to exterior siding with white trim. Another trending detail is interior trim and window frames with black accents. You’ll also notice black trim is becoming more popular on exterior trim as well.
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