If you're like me, you try to catch up on household projects over the summer. One of those, for a lot of people, is painting.
Now, I admit, I am NOT painting my house this summer, although I am already a bit tired of the three-year old gray walls. They were also painted with flat paint, and I am a semi-gloss girl . . . but, more on that in a moment.
The walls of your home are one of its most important features. They divide your rooms. They provide structure and stability atop the foundation and below the roof.
They also set the tone for your home, whether you have a subdued decor style, an understated look, or even a bold, brassy style.
They are also one of the easiest parts of your home to change for a new look. Many people can also, if they choose, paint their own walls, so it is not a project that necessarily requires you to hire someone.
If you are considering tackling an inside painting project this summer yourself, or hiring someone to do it for you, here are some tips and tricks to help you before, during, and after you recolor your world.
Tip #1 - Choosing the right type of paint . . .
When it comes to paint type, everyone has an opinion.
Without delving too deeply into paint types in this blog, there are basically five kinds to choose from when painting the interior of your home: 1) flat/matte, 2) eggshell, 3) satin, 4) semi-gloss, and 5) high-gloss.
Each type has it advantages and disadvantages, and each type is like and disliked by any number of people. If you are looking for a cost-effective paint to put on walls that will not be subjected to a lot of wear and tear, then flat/matte paint might be the best choice for you. If you are looking for paint that can withstand a lot of living, including pets and children, and money isn't as much of a concern, you might want to choose semi-gloss and/or high-gloss.
If you are still uncertain, any number of articles on the internet, or even speaking in person with a paint representative at your local hardware store, can help you choose.
Tip #2 - Choosing color . . .
This can, by far, be the most challenging step. I have known many a brave, hearty soul quit at this stage because they could not decide on a color.
First, decide on what you want from your paint and your room. Do you want to open up the space to brightness? Do you have a heavy dark floor, and the room needs to be lightened up? Do you have a lot of windows and you need a more homey, subdued atmosphere? Do you have existing furniture you need to match?
Regardless of how you want your paint to work for you, the best strategy is to bring home two to three of your favorite possibilities in small amounts and paint those in swaths on your walls. Sometimes the lighting, the position of the walls, even the floor and the furniture will give the color a different tone than what you viewed in the store.
And above all, remember, paint is not permanent. You can redo it at a later date with relatively little difficulty.
Tip #3 - Keep the paint around . . .
Be sure, before or after you are done painting, to keep the paper swatch in your files or, like I do, in my wallet. Not only can I buy more for touchups, but I can match pillows, sofas, curtains, or any sort of decor without second guessing the color and/or shade of my walls at home.
"I dream of painting, and then I paint my dream." – Vincent Van Gogh
Tip #4 - Baby jars aren't just for baby food . . .
I am sort of picking on baby jars, I supposed, but I don't mean to. The fact of the matter is, any small jar of any size will do. Put some of your paint in the jar and keep it in a handy spot in a closet, cabinet, or out of the way but easily accessible place. Be sure to keep a clean and small paintbrush nearby.
When you see scratches or scuffs, you can easily spend a half an hour touching those marks up with the paint in your jar.
Tip #5 - Remember - paint is not the only game in town . . .
No one ever said you HAD to paint your walls. Do not forget there are other options to change walls, such as wallpaper (which has come a long way in recent years), temporary wall paper (a relatively new phenomenon), stretched fabric and tapestries, wall-length curtains, wall planking (similar to shiplap), paneling (which has also come a long way as well), and more.
Any of these will give your interior a facelift - and you will be ready to start writing even more stories in your home!
The flavor of the month is not for everyone!
And finally - whatever color you choose to go with - refrain from becoming mired in the flavor of the month.
When I bought my house three years ago, gray walls were all the rage. Granted, it was an unusual color, and most houses were updating to that color. The color goes with nearly every style decor, and buyers, especially, could walk into a house and see themselves in such a neutral color. Now, however, gray walls are already on the way out, and tans and light browns, even whites, are back in.
Remember, you are writing your own story in your own house. You make the walls work for you and color them any way you want. I never loved a red wall like I did the one at my previous home. It spanned a side wall through the living, dining, into the kitchen, and around to the back door. I would do that red again in a heartbeat because I loved it so!
So, remember, the important thing is to do what you love!
And if you choose to sell someday? Paint is one of the easiest things to fix in a home. You can always go back to more neutral colored walls at that time.
In the meantime, enjoy your home and write the chapters that only the best memories are made of!
Donna Hechler Porter is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Elite Realty in Baytown, Texas. An educator, a published author, and an arm-chair historian, Donna runs a small publishing business in addition to educating people about how to build future wealth through home ownership. Feel free to contact Donna at dhporter@kw.com.