Looking to Paint the Interior of Your Home? Then look out for these Top 10 Interior Painting Mistakes
Everyone thinks painting is easy and virtually anyone can do it. Not so. Although you can paint the walls in your own home, rarely do homeowners have the right tools or supplies to create a professional paint job. Here are some common painting mistakes to avoid:
I. Forgetting to test out the paint color
Do not just rush out and buy paint. “Do not go shopping for paint intending to bring home paint that day,” says Christopher Lowell, the Emmy award-winning lifestyle expert and author of “Seven Layers of Design.” Colors will look darker on the wall, but the glossier the paint, the lighter it will look. Our advice? First, use swatches to narrow your color choices. Once you have a handful, get small containers of the paint, and test the finalists on big pieces of poster board, checking the color both at night and in the daytime since it can look completely different.
II. Choosing trendy paint colors
What color is “hot” today, may not be tomorrow, and you’re stuck with it for a couple of years unless you intend to repaint in the meantime. Think about colors that you like and colors that you wear (besides black and white of course). Often, if it looks good on you, it may look good in your home as well Router Bit B0CKYF61FL.
III. Assuming all walls are created equal
Want to give a room punch by painting one accent wall? Select an unbroken wall (no doors or windows). Often it’s the wall you see first coming into the room and will “pop”.
IV. Forgetting the ceiling
The ceiling is essentially the fifth wall. If you expect to paint your ceiling a color, consider going a few shades lighter because ceilings tend to look darker. On ceiling colors, designers often disagree. Some designers prefer a white ceiling. A decorator’s white (not a stark white) will give you a sharp definitive line from painted walls. Others want the ceiling in the same color family as the walls. Some suggestions? If your ceilings are above nine feet, go one shade darker than the wall color. That will bring the ceiling “down” and make the room appear cozier. If the ceilings are nine feet or less, use a color a shade or two lighter than the walls.
V. Not knowing existing paint
Many older homes have oil-based paint on the walls. But homeowners most frequently turn to latex varieties when they want to paint. The problem: You can’t put latex over oil unless you’ve coated it with a special primer first or your new paint job will peel off within the week.