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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Interior Painting Ideas

Unless you are comfortable with stark, white walls – and some people are – you are probably going to give due consideration to painting the interior of your home.

There are several reasons why you may want to paint your home interior:

• The Stark White Walls are driving you mad.
• You read about Color Therapy and want to discover if it really works.
• You want to create a special atmosphere.
• You think it will be good for the walls.
• You want the walls to complement your excellent furniture.
• You want your home interior to be the envy of the neighborhood.

Once you have taken the decision to paint, you have to come up with suitable interior painting ideas. That opens a whole new can of worms:

• What colors should you use?
• What color combinations will look right?
• What brand of colors should you buy?
• What interior painting techniques should you use?
• What kind of effects can you create?
• Should you do it yourself or call in the professionals?

If you are going to do it yourself, how are you going to do it yourself?

It will be a good idea to visit your local Hardware and Paint Shop and spend some time there looking around. Look at different color samples, match color swathes, ask about different color brands and the differences between them, ask about the technical requirements and procedures to follow, and the equipment you will need to get started. So long as you don’t show up at rush hour, most hardware shop owners will be glad to assist you.

Here are some tips for painting your house:

Select the right type of colors.
Don’t just go for the ‘oh, those look bright and attractive’ ones. Take the time to consider how the colors will match with your existing furniture, how the colors will stand up to your home lighting arrangements, and how the colors will look during different times of the day. I rented a house with hot pink walls once – the color looked tacky in the daylight and was migraine-inducing in the night. Don’t go for colors because they are ‘different’. Think if you are ‘different’ enough to live with them.

Select the right type of paints.
Most paints usually come in the following types – Flat, Satin, Gloss, Semi-Gloss. Flat Paints, which have a low sheen and sober appearance, are the most commonly used. Satin, as the name indicates, have a distinct sheen and are one better than Flat Paints in being much easier to keep clean. Gloss and Semi-gloss paints are even more durable. The former is usually used to paint doors, door-frames, windows, window-frames, wall-trims, and so on. The latter is used to paint bathrooms, kitchens, and other places requiring easy and frequent cleaning.

Decide on the interior painting techniques to be used.
Most people just use a brush and roller to get the color on and that’s it. Then there are those who believe in adding texture and depth. You can do this by Wall Stenciling, Faux Painting, Rubber Stamping, Cloth Stamping, and so on. In Wall Stenciling, you paint through design cutouts to reproduce the design shapes on your wall. In Faux Painting, you try to recreate the appearance of wood, marble, etc. In Rubber Stamping, you create the shapes you want to reproduce, dip them in the color, and simply stamp them on the walls. Cloth Stamping is similar, just put a cloth over your hand, dip into color, and start stamping the walls. Again, remember, think it through before going for these interior paint ideas. Using different techniques may seem fun at the time. Living with them on a long-term basis may not be so hilarious.

Measure the area to be painted.
Take measurements of the area to be painted so you can calculate the amount of color you will need. The Paint Shop should have a ‘Paint Calculator’ to help you figure it out.

Take precautions.
Take the appropriate precautions to protect your furniture, electrical appliances, and floors. Shift furniture out altogether or if that’s not possible into the center of the room and cover with tarp sheets. Remove or cover electrical fixtures. Cover floors with tarp sheets. And also remember to protect your eyes, skin, and hair. Use goggles, wear overalls and a kerchief or cap.

Prepare your home walls for the coloring.
Before painting or stamping, scrape and sand your walls clean, strip away all old paint, wallpaper, and grime, patch holes and cracks, and prime your walls with a good primer.

Paint your home walls.
Now you can start painting – with brush, roller, and all the stamping techniques you want.

Air the rooms.
Remember to air the rooms for at least 24 hours before occupying them.

Posted on 12/31 at 08:11 AM
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