Interior Painting Tips

By Nicolas Hantge

If you are thinking about painting your interior walls, get ready for a big project! It's not as easy as one might think and it always takes longer than planned! Here are a few tips to save you a headache and some of your valuable time.

1.) Set Aside a Separate Time for Preparation.
When you are planning your interior painting project, make sure to set aside a separate time for preparation. By doing this, it will help you stay focused on your project. The last thing you want to do is rush a painting project. Another reason you want to prepare for your painting project at an earlier time is it will allow your patchwork time to dry. You cannot paint a wall that has recently applied putty. I like to go with a 24 hour rule of thumb on this one. At the bare minimum, make sure you let it dry 8-12 hours.

2.) Remove as Much Furniture as Possible.
If you are going to be painting a room, you do not want to worry about dripping or spraying paint on your furniture. It is much easier to lay your equipment where you want and have a free reign of the room. If it's possible, remove all of the furniture and lay down drop clothes on the floor. Removing furniture might take a little of your time but will be sure to speed up the process of interior painting. PLUS it will ensure you will not ruin it as well! (If you cannot remove your furniture from the room you are painting, push it all together in the middle.

3.) Removal All Fixtures/Hardware.
I know, it may seem easier to just paint around your light fixtures, door knobs and other w but in the end you are bound to drip or smudge some paint at sometime. Also, it is much quicker to paint a complete wall that you do not have to paint around objects. Even if you think you are an excellent painter, removing wall fixtures and hangers will save you time in the long run.

4.) Don't Paint over a Problem
Please do not be the home owner that puts a fresh coat of paint over a crack or holes in the wall. It's not worth all of the time, energy and money to paint a wall without at first fixing the blemishes. If you are tackling your own paint job chances are you have the ability and skills needed to spackle small holes and cracks. The important thing when spackling, be heavy with putty and sand everything very well.

If you would like more painting tips like these, make sure to check out some of my other Ezine articles. If you are looking for Denver painters a good source would be Calco East, Ltd. (303) 594-8295

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Painting Kitchen Cabinets to Save Money

By James Mahoney

If replacing your cabinetry is too expensive for your budget, after cabinet refacing, painting kitchen cabinets is the least expensive option and can really transform your kitchen. Plus this kitchen remodeling job can be accomplished over a long weekend or about 3 days with the right kind of preparation and planning. Depending on the area of the country you live in it is probably not a good idea to do this type of job in the winter months because you will need to have windows and doors open because of fumes from the paint and primer.

Kitchen cabinets take up most of the wall space in most kitchens and because of this by making a change in the look of your kitchen cabinets as in painting, you can greatly improve the look of the entire kitchen.

Whether you want to lighten up dark cabinets or brighten them up with bold colors, paint can provide an instant makeover for almost all types of cabinets. Because of problems of paint adhering well to laminate and melamine cabinets, it isn't recommended to paint these types.
Painting your kitchen cabinets can be the fastest and easiest method to update a tired worn-out looking kitchen and increase the value of your home. Painting the cabinets is a simple and low-cost alternative to an expensive kitchen-remodeling job. Painting the kitchen cabinets can give them a fresh new look. Painting kitchen cabinets will save you money while making it look like you spent a lot on remodeling your kitchen.

You can easily change the kitchen cabinet accessories such as the cabinet knobs and handles. You can leave the insides of the kitchen cabinets alone except the insides of the doors to save even more money on the job and the hassle of having to take out everything that is inside the cabinets.

Preparing the Kitchen Cabinetry for Painting

First you can begin by take off the doors removing any screws and all the hardware from the cabinets. Make sure to clean the cabinets thoroughly before starting to paint with a wood cleaner containing orange oil. This type of cleaner is good for removing grease. If there is any grease, oils or even a little dirt the paint may not adhere to the wood surface correctly. Make sure the surface is totally dry before applying the primer.

Now check for any rough areas on the doors and the cabinet base, sand them down, and wipe away any dust or sawdust from the surface.

Apply an even coat of primer-sealer to the cabinet doors, starting in the center and following the grain of the wood. By using primer-sealer you will not have to sand down and degloss the wood before painting it.

Painting the Cabinetry

When it comes to the choice of the type of paint either a high-gloss or a semigloss paint are recommended for cabinets. Some people feel that semigloss can provide a richer finish however. Use a good quality brush for applying the paint. This will insure a more superior finish. As with the application of the primer-sealer you should start in the center and follow the grain. Two or three coats are required to achieve a good quality finish. The paint should be allowed to dry about four hours per coat. Using thin coats make for fewer brushstrokes and less time for drying.
Once you have all the doors painted, start on the bases. Follow the same steps you did for the doors: sand, clean, seal, then paint. You will not have to worry about doing the inside of the cabinets. It will only be necessary to tape off the edges for a clean finish and just leave them as they are. However you might want to start thinking about replacing the hardware for the drawers and doors to totally complete your new kitchen look.

If you proceed carefully and follow all the necessary steps, you should have a like new kitchen with a fresh look to be proud of.

James Mahoney is the author of many kitchen design articles, visit at Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. If you want to find out more about kitchen design software go to Kitchen Design Software. He also publishes a newsletter on kitchen design. For more about kitchen remodeling advice go to kitchen remodeling advice
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Boy's Room Paint Ideas - Have a Little Fun With It

By Debra T Conrad

Most children like their bedroom to reflect their own personality and interests. With a bit of imagination and a few pots of paint a plain boy's room can be turned into a place of their very own. By all means surprise him - but it won't harm to get some ideas and feedback from the intended resident.

Themed Boys' Rooms

A popular way of making over a boy's room is to theme it according to their interests and passions. Whatever the boy's favorite subject or activity there is likely to be a theme that can complement it. At the risk of gender stereotyping, popular choices involve cars, trains, cowboys, marine themes, outdoors, outer space and sport. Especially if you're on a budget, the important thing with choosing a theme is to make sure that the key features of the theme can be achieved in paint.

Expressing a room theme using paint can involve little more than choosing a suitable color scheme (perhaps a sports team's colors) and recreating motifs associated with the theme. At the other end of the spectrum is the creation of a full-on illusion. If your son is adamant he wants to live in a tree house, you can use paint on all four walls plus ceiling to create that fantasy, using accessories to provide the finishing touches. With faux brickwork (easy with stencils) you can fake a room in a castle or, with trompe l'oeil portholes, the appearance of a ship's cabin.

Imaginative ways to use paint in themed rooms are legion. A young car fanatic might be amused by road markings painted on the floor or faux tire tracks stenciled on the walls. You don't have to stick to murals or borders depicting cars. If the theme is the Wild West or a castle, you can use faux painting techniques to simulate a distressed or antique look. Metallic paints can be used to simulate chrome, bronze and metal features appropriate to a particular theme.

Bear in mind when choosing a theme for a boy's room that children's passions can be short-lived and you don't want to have to redecorate when the fad passes.

Color Schemes and Paints

Themed rooms often invite particular color schemes and treatments. If you're not going for a theme, consider a color scheme that doesn't show the dirt that many small boys seem to attract. Washable, scuff-resistant paints are recommended for active boy's rooms.

Special Paints

Special purpose paints can add humour and fun to a boy's room. A young astronomer might appreciate the constellations in luminous paint on the ceiling, for example. Chalkboard paint is a great idea for children's rooms and serves a practical purpose. It only comes in black and green though you can make your own in other colors. Painted on walls or doors, chalkboard paint allows kids to draw on the walls without doing permanent damage! Magnetic paint is another fun invention that will allow a boy to pin up his favorite pics using magnets.

Getting your boy's room ready? Visit ThatPainterLady.com for tons of decorating ideas and find popular nursery theme ideas for boys too.
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Interior Painting Color Scheme

By John Catech

There's one tip to keep in mind when choosing an interior painting color scheme - it's only paint. If you get the color on the wall and simply hate it, you can always start over again. If you're not certain, buy a quart or a single gallon first, try it out on a section of wall, and see if it's going well. If you like it, you can buy the full amount and mix it together.

In choosing your interior painting color scheme, you may be working to match your paint to a fabric print or to the tones in a piece of artwork. If so, the tried and true, standard advice is to match a coordinating color for the walls to the background color for the print. If you have bright floral flowers on white, then a shade of white should be your wall color. If you have a rose-colored background fabric with deep maroon and black designs, have a version of rose or something from that color family as the primary wall color. Those bright or deep colors can act as an accent color around the room or in an adjoining room as you develop your interior painting color scheme.

Traditionally, the slightly darker is on the walls, while the door and window trim as well as the crown molding or other decorative trim is white or a shade of cream. However, if you're feeling adventurous, try using a lighter shade on the walls and a dark or bright shade on the trim for a striking and different look to your interior painting scheme. You could also use a color on the wall and a very pale coordinating shade for the trim. Again, a more traditional interior painting scheme would include using white or off white on the trim.

A simple formula for choosing an interior painting scheme is to find a fabric or piece of artwork you wish to make the primary background for your room. This fabric should have at least three colors in the design, and you should plan to use this fabric in at least three places in the room (ie: valances, couch and throw pillows or loveseat, drapes and table runner, etc.).

Looking at the fabric or painting, choose the background (usually the lightest shade in the pattern) and select a shade of that to use as the main color on your walls for your interior painting scheme. This will be the main color in your room, with about 60% of the room in that shade. You would then use the mid-tone color as the second most prominent color, often using it in the floor covering or curtains. You could use that color as a trim accent, or accent your room by painting one wall in the mid-tone . The third, brightest type would be used as an accent, and would likely not show up in the paint, but rather on throw pillows or curtain ties
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Interior Painting - What Colors to Choose

By Eugene Makeev

When thinking of a home improvement project that can splash your New York home with the needed ambiance and considerably change its look and feel within the budget, then Interior painting is your best bet. Though it is seemingly simple, do not get fooled as there is more to the job than meets the eye. To make a success out of it, the wall preparation should be done accurately. There are also a lot of things to consider like the paint, finish, and wall painting techniques and processes. Depending on how you see it, choosing the right paint color for your inter painting project can be a daunting or the most fun task.

Through all the plethora of choices, you are bound to find the perfect one for the room you need to spruce up in your interior painting project. What you need to do first is answer these questions:

- Are there constraints to the color selection such as needing to fit into a historical or conservative neighborhood?

- What impression or effect do you want to achieve? Would you like to implement something peaceful and harmonious or would you rather have it bold and bright?

- How long do you intend to live in your New York home?

Neutral or safe colors are the way to go if by chance you have plans on selling the house in the n ear future or live within a historical neighborhood. By going neutral, you will not risk having to turn off any potential buyer just because yours and his tastes doe not jive. This color option also helps preserve the classical look of any periodic home adding more value to it.

But if you are in a situation where you are free to exhaust every possible color schemes to integrate into your interior painting, then here are the most common color schemes to look into: the monochromatic using just one color of varying tints and shades; analogous and complementary. These color coordinations can be achieved with the help of a color wheel. If want to get more ideas you can browse through other home interiors, nature, photographs, paintings, fabric designs or just anything that could inspire your color selection.

There are also other factors that you need to consider when choosing colors to get the most out of your interior painting project. Not unless you also plan to buy a new set of everything for the room to undergo interior painting, choose a scheme that would best complement the rest of the fixtures and furnishings. The space or area of the room, artificial and natural lighting, existing elements, fabric furnishing or flooring should also be taken into consideration.

When deciding on whether to pick the darker or lighter hue of your color choice for the interior painting project, here are several tips to help you:

- Light colors give any room a more spacious look and are not ideal to be used with unevenly proportioned walls if you have no plans on highlighting it.

- Unknown to many homeowners, the darker shades require more effort to maintain, absorbs more heat and fades sooner than that of lighter colors.

- And colors presented on the color chips, swathes or just any color samples may slightly vary from the actual look. Be sure to consult with an expert before making that final choice.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Painting Contractor New York. Feel free to use our Interior Painting Calculator.
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Choosing the Correct Wall Paint For Your Interiors

By Percy Johnson

When you choose wall paint, think about what the rest of your room looks like. You should always choose something that will go with what you have if you cannot, or do not want to, change the entire room. Do not match your paint with your floor color or with your drapes. Find a color that compliments or contrasts with those colors to give your room dimension and personality.
You can also buy some accessories in those colors if you want to spice up the room even more. Get things like throw pillows, throw blankets, and art pieces that may feature those colors. These things don't have to be expensive to look good, you just have to choose the right colors.
If you choose a dark color don't worry too much about it dimming down the room. There are a few things you can do to make sure your new, darker color will make the room look better, not like a dark cave. Choose light colored curtains, and use a bright white to paint your trim and the frames around your doors and windows. Not only will it look great, it will also draw in a lot of light and help keep your room looking fresh and new.

If you aren't sure how to choose the right wall paint colors, you can find help in your local home improvement store. You can find some colors you like on paint samples, and then look at the other colors on the same strip. Those colors are ones that will go with the main color you like. If you can find the color of your carpet or your furniture on a strip, you can usually choose your wall paint color from any of the other ones on that strip. Choose something that feels good, and then make your room what you want it to be.

Percy Johnson is an interior designer living in California. Check out these great DIY Home Improvement guides and articles, or maybe Discount Home Improvement is what you are looking for.
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Five Fun Painting Ideas For Kids Rooms

By Debbie Gretsch

So you want to change the look of your child's room but aren't really sure how to do it. You've never really been a painter, but hiring someone else to do is going to cost way too much. So now what? There are some fun and easy painting ideas for kids rooms that anyone can do and will easily change the look and feel of the bedroom all together.

1. Using words to decorate the walls. You probably never thought that decorating the walls with words could change the way it looks. You can keep the background color of your walls exactly the same not even lifting a paint brush. There are several different ways to go about painting words. You can do it by hand which can add a personal touch to any room, however if you're handwriting is less than perfect you can also buy stencils to etch the words across the room.
Some of the most fun and creative ideas come from nursery rhymes and other poems you may have heard. For example, for little boy's rooms you could write the words "Snakes and Snails and Puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of." For little girls who might be sharing a room with sister you could write a cute phrase like, "Two are we, my sister and me." You can make them up yourself or go looking for different quotes to use.

2. Murals. There are hundreds of different murals you can paint onto the walls of a kid's room, however finding someone to draw it for you might be hard to find. Since it's not a "professional" room or model home that you're showing to a lot of people you can get away with having an amateur artist come and draw whatever it is you need. Then once the mural is done you can paint it as you like. Murals can change the look and feel of a bedroom dramatically and can literally make a kids room become a fantasy world.

3. Sketches. Sketching is a great way to use the paint in a bedroom, especially if you're talented with the pencil. So what if you're not? Well, instead of fretting over how you're going to draw what your child wants look through some magazines and books to find the picture, make transparency of it and then project it onto the wall and trace it. It's really that simple. Once you've got the outlines of the character or object you can start painting. So sketches can be a fun and easy way to add some personality to the bedroom whether you can draw or not.

4. Themes. Of course when you're painting your child's room you can always go with a theme which sometimes makes it easier to figure out exactly what you're looking for. If you pick a theme before you begin any of the other stuff you can really get a clear picture of how you want to paint the room and what colors you will want to use. There are thousands of ideas out there when it comes to using themes to paint a room. From ocean sea floors, to princess and space ships the sky is truly the limit.

5. Magnetic and chalked paint. There are thousands of different ways to paint a child's bedroom, and two of the coolest things you can do with wall paint is painting a wall with magnetic or chalked paint. Yes it's true, you can buy paint that will actually make the wall a magnet and create a world of fun for your child. You can also buy paint that will allow your youngster to write directly on their wall like a chalkboard and erase it just the same. Of course you have to be careful that they only draw on the wall that has the chalked paint on it, but other than that it can be a lot of fun. There are literally hundreds of painting ideas for kid's room. The hard part about it is finding one that you absolutely love and your child will love.

Debbie Gretsch is a work-at-home writer. Her interests are parenting, education, pets and relationships. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two kids.
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How to Paint a Room For the First Time

By Mario Sanchez

So, you've just been asked to help assist your friend in painting their new apartment, or you've just moved into your own new place or even home. You've never painted before; either you've relied on someone else to do it, or hired professional help to take care of it. Now, you want to cut some costs and have heard about others painting for themselves. Well, you can do it, too, with a little elbow grease and a few simple instructions.

Determine Your Needs

Take a good hard look at your place and what you hope to accomplish via color and accent. If you're planning to "lighten things up", you may want to choose extremely light pastel paints, which almost look like white, but are tinged with color (i.e., green or pink).

What to Look For

Paint comes in cans or buckets. You are better off buying the buckets which are usually premixed and less expensive. Just let the paint person know at the store what "type" of paint you'll need and for what purpose. Then, fine tune things and choose your favorite color. Paint "types" includes matte, semi-gloss, full-gloss and eggshell. You can also get either the water or oil based types.

Buying the Paint and Supplies

Some other supplies that are essential to painting that you should be looking for in the painting section are: primer, brushes, rollers, masking tape, paint trays and plastic paint drop cloths. Even a bunch of inexpensive rubber gloves are very helpful. You should purchase all of these things at once if you do not have them at home, as it won't be very convenient or wise to go back and get these items later on.

From the Trenches

Make sure that there is plenty of ventilation before you begin painting a room. You should always begin a paint job in your oldest and worst clothes, because it is guaranteed that you'll be covered with spots and blotches of paint as you go along.

Try to clean the room and sweep and dust as much as possible beforehand. This only makes is easier and neater to paint. Mask any areas that are delicate before hand well.

If there are any outstanding holes or imperfections in your walls, it makes sense to spackle them beforehand, so that things look crisp and clear later on.

There is some rhyme and reason to painting a room and an order should be followed. This is an example order: ceilings first, then walls, then doors, and lastly windows.

As for strokes, try to keep them neat and even. It is a good idea to prime, then, do your first coat, let that dry, and do a second coat. Or, if your paint is a one-coater, then you won't have to paint the second time around. Try not to put too much or too little paint on the roller or brush.

Keep it steady and light.

Make sure all brushes are soaked well overnight. Allow the walls to dry, preferably overnight, or with a fan blowing on them. You may preserve the paint on the rollers, by wrapping the rollers in plastic wrap and putting them in the freezer or refrigerator overnight. This way, they won't get hard and dry.

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Soft, Textured Walls - How to Achieve it with Rags

By Anthony J. Namata

Into the 21st century, painting is an ongoing river of creativity. It would be, ostensibly, difficult to imagine a wall without paint. When a thin layer of paint is applied to a wall it converts to an opaque solid film. So basically, what you see is what you get. But when you apply the Rag Rolling technique to your paint job, not only do you achieve a soft, textured effect on a wall, you even add depth and excitement to an otherwise bland surface. This article will explore the different techniques used in creating that lustrous, textured look that can only be achieved with rags.
Now let's get the terminology out of the way first. Rag rolling and ragging are two different things. Rag rolling is rolling or ragging paint on; and ragging is rolling or ragging paint off. The finished product is totally different, however. I'll cover this in a minute, but before I do, please make a note of this: to see the effect you like best, use a piece of cardboard to try out both methods.

Essentially, the principles of rag rolling and ragging are pretty much the same. What will create the difference between the two methods are the shape of the rag and the shape it creates on the wall. Between the two techniques, you will get the appearance of a vertical pattern with rag rolling, whilst ragging will appear sharper in texture-more arbitrary, if you will.

Preparation is easy. With both techniques, you'll want to ensure that the rags you use are wrung first before you apply the rag onto the base coat on the wall. It is important that all of the excess paint--or water in ragging--is removed from the rag if you want to get the best effect. Have several rags to work with, and pour glaze onto a paint tray where you will be dipping the rags into. Give them a good soak. You will be using one rag at a time, so place the extra rags in a bucket and place a lid over them to keep them moist.

Rag rolling paint on involves rolling paint onto the base coat. You need to use both hands to do this properly. The technique is simple: just roll the rag down from the top to bottom of the wall. When the impressions fade, get another rag from the batch you prepared earlier. Make sure you overlap each strip as you continue to roll.

Ragging paint on involves applying a soaked and crumpled rag onto an already glaze base coated wall. Ragging can create a scattered effect, thus in order to achieve a concentrated effect, overlap areas when you apply the paint. Dip the rag, wring it, and then dab it onto the wall. When the color gets lighter, just dip it again and continue dabbing.

Rag rolling paint off is a technique that involves working with a freshly glazed surface and simply applying a wet-with-water but wrung rag to roll the wet paint off. Use a clean rag once your rag gets saturated with paint. Simply apply glaze in small sections and continue rolling the wet paint off. If you want a more subtle effect, wet your rag with water and wring out before rolling paint off. Once the rag becomes saturated with paint, start again with a clean rag.

Ragging Paint Off is similar to ragging paint on, except in this technique you dab the paint off. For a more subtle effect, wet the rag, wring out the excess water, and crumple the rag. And when it's saturated with paint, use a clean rag.

Creating illusions of fabric, stone, wood and other natural surface materials can be easily achieved using faux paint techniques such rag rolling and ragging. It is the way you apply these techniques to the wall that determines the texture. Whether you rag on or rag paint off, you will get a textured look in the end, but to see the effect you like best, try using a piece of cardboard to try out both methods first.

Anthony J. Namata is a successful Internet Marketer and author of How to Become An International Gemstone Dealer and his popular online journal Diary Of An Internet Marketer
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2008 Colors and Color Palette Trends for Painting

By Dhorj Escusa

Color is a fundamental factor of style and design. It is evident to consumers that are becoming more experimental with interior and exterior house painting, or interior decorating. This new sensibility to bring colors in every area means that painting companies need to work on product developments and bring innovations to market to satisfy the consumer’s needs.

Consumers at present, desires the look (and even feel) that they see in magazines, catalogs, retail shops or home depots, Internet and the television. The media power to influence consumers’ conception has always been a premiere influencer on their psychographics.
Painting companies charts their product lineup based on market research from the consumer themselves and forecasts from various color authorities. Companies like the Pantone Color Institute, the world-renowned authority on color has been inspiring design professionals with products, services and leading technology for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity, has always been at the forefront of forecasting color trends, in which other painting companies and design professionals follow.

At the recent 2007 International Home and Housewares Show, Leatrice Eiseman, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute and the Director of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, revealed in her presentation, “Future Color/Design trends: Fulfilling Consumers’ Needs,” the most important influences in design and color trends that entice customers and drive sales, and the importance of style.

The color trends for the next year highlights brown and tan, yellow, green, blue, orange and steadfast classics like grey, black and white.

· Brown (rarely called dark orange) is a warm neutral color that represents wholesomeness, simplicity, dependability, friendliness and earthiness. Using the color brown and its color family (tan, beige, taupe, etc.) can make excellent backgrounds helping accompanying colors appear richer and brighter. It is always considered a fall or autumn color, so if you are intending to paint your house on the said season, it could be a great idea.

· Yellow is always sunny. This color means joy and happiness, and symbolizes knowledge and wisdom. Yellow is a summer color. If you’re painting your house, the color yellow would likely be suited in your receiving area or work room, or any room where light is freely emitting.

· Blue is a cool and calm hue. This color represents inspiration, sincerity and spirituality. The color blue is best represented on winter and spring seasons. The effect of the color blue – depending on its shade or tint --, makes time pass more quickly and can make or help you sleep. This idea is fit to paint in your bedrooms and very much suited if you have a baby room (use the lightest tint of blue like Baby Blue).

· Orange is a vibrant color along its relative color values yellow and brown, which denotes energy and warmth and reflects the color of autumn/fall and summer. For your house, you can paint orange in your dining area because the color stimulates appetite. This color demands attention, stimulates the senses, and used as a healing color. This is a reason why orange walls are eminent in spas and relaxation centers.

· The colors black, white and gray are always a staple in any painting jobs or any design needs. These colors neutralize other hues and best complimented in everything. Seasons come and go, but these colors never run out of fashion and will always be a classic staple.
During Eiseman’s talk at the International Home and Housewares Show, she revealed the eight color palettes forecast for the next year:

HIGH PROFILE -- colors like pristine white, ebony black, rich browns and silvery gray accented with fuchsia, royal purple, gold and silver are best described to fit high-class status.
ETHNIC CHIC -- colors like deep purple paired with misted yellow and stone grays, and burnt orange juxtaposed with vibrant blue and brunette browns promotes sophistication and indigenous style.

RECOLLECTION -- colors like tapestry blues, muted blue greens, elegant champagne and warm peachy tones links the past and the future, therefore, reminiscent.

WELLSPRING -- colors like blues and Aqua colors that have cooling qualities are highlighted with an undersea green, violet and indigo that resonates ocean atmosphere.

SAVORIES -- colors like chocolate hues and daiquiri green with bright embellishing will redefine ‘fun.’

CHINOISERIE -- colors like mauve tones and yellow/ green are based from the Orient cultures.

AGRESTIC -- colors like bruschetta browns, tender greens, golden yellow and vibrant pink are styled for a slightly rustic look.

CHINOISERIE -- colors like mauve tones and yellow/ green are based from the Orient cultures.

NUANCE -- colors like rose red with earthy browns or reddish plums with a green-tinged bronze tone tributes to those neutrals but uses a bright color to draw the eye in.

These palettes are forecasts are your exterior and interior painting ideas for home or building that you can follow for the next year or better yet, next season. If you are interested to fill your walls with any of the said colors or color palette, you can contact any painting service company at your local state.
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DHORJ ESCUSA is a web copywriter for a web design company that builds websites and increases web visibility through optimization and promotion.
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Interior Painting Done Right: Techniques to Make Your Room Sparkle

Interior painting is a wonderful way to add color to any room. Depending on the shade you select, you can brighten, clean up or cozy up your space. You can make small rooms appear larger or large rooms seem more inviting. Paint is inexpensive, easy to apply and can serve as a beautiful backdrop to your space – provided that it is done right. Fortunately, there are some easy steps to follow that will ensure that your interior painted space will look great and last for many years.

Selecting the Right Paint for Your Interior Painting Job

The first step is to find the best paint for the room you want to work with. If you are painting an office or dining room, your choices will be very different than if you are looking at dressing up a kitchen, bathroom or kids’ area. For rooms that do not suffer from as much wear or tear, you can have your pick of a plethora of variety and shades.

If you are working with a room that sees frequent use, you will be better off if you choose a paint that is washable. In areas that see plenty of moisture, like your bathroom, a paint that will resist mildew is a good idea. If you have any questions about the best interior painting for your project, you can check the label on the paint can or ask a professional at the home improvement store that you are shopping at.

Preparing Your Walls for Interior Painting

A clean surface will take paint much better, so give yours walls a good scrub before beginning to paint. There are commercial cleaners available for walls and ceilings that do not require rinsing. If you don’t want to use one of the specialty products, you can give your walls a cleaning with good old-fashioned soap and water.

Just make sure that you rinse well and allow the surface to dry completely before applying paint. If you have stains on your walls or ceiling that you cannot get out, use a primer that is compatible with the paint that you will be using. Fill holes and nicks in the wall using a spackling compound. Large holes may require patching, and you can buy kits for this at your home improvement store.

Splash on the Color

Once preparation is complete, you are finally ready to begin adding your hue of choice to your room. Interior painting is generally done with roller brushes to the larger surfaces, and bristle brushes for the edges and trim. The order in which you do these two tasks is mostly a matter of personal preference. Depending on the color you are covering up, you may need a coat or three before your interior painting project is complete. The best method to cover a room is to start with the ceiling, work down to the walls, and finish off with the trim. After your interior painting project is complete, take time to enjoy the fruit of your labor. Congratulations! You have just transformed a room with minimum cost and maximum effect.

Cabinet Painting: An Inexpensive New Look for the Kitchen or Bathroom

If you are lamenting the fact that your kitchen or bathroom cabinets have lost their luster, consider cabinet painting as a way to bring a new look to an old standby. Painting can be a cheap alternative to cabinet replacement, and can bring a dull room back to life when done properly. The key to quality cabinet painting is often in the preparation.

First, you will want to inspect your cabinets carefully for durability before putting in the time and effort for painting. If your cabinets are simply wearing out, replacement might be the only good option. On the other hand, if your wear is mostly aesthetic in nature a fresh coat of paint might do wonders.

Preparation for Cabinet Painting 101

Before removing the cabinet doors for cabinet painting, mark each door so that you know which cabinet it belongs to. You might think you will remember placement after painting is complete, but those doors can look much more similar when they are laid out on your garage floor! Make a mark in an inconspicuous place, and then remove doors and hardware.

Sand your cabinets and doors well before painting, first with a coarse sandpaper, and then with a finer paper that will smooth the surface for painting. Wash your surfaces well and allow them to dry completely before applying any paint. Fill all holes with wood putty, and make sure that all nicks have been thoroughly sanded out.

Cabinet painting should begin with a primer that will cover the old shade and offer a smoother surface for your color of choice. In most instances one coat of primer will be sufficient. Follow that coat with one last light sanding, and wipe off surfaces with a clean, dry tack cloth.

The Rewards are Coming

Once your preparation steps are complete, you are finally ready to head for the big reward at the end – watching your color come to life on your painted cabinet surfaces. A good rule of thumb is to purchase the best paint that you can afford. Often with cabinet painting, the quality is indeed in the price of the paint. It is hard to know how many coats of paint your cabinets will require until you begin applying it. Depending on the color you are applying and the original shade that you are covering, you may need anywhere from one to three coats.

After your paint has dried, it is worth investing in some good quality hardware for your cabinet painting. The selections are abundant, with chrome and brushed nickel being the materials of choice for many homeowners. If you decide to go with novelty pulls such as apples or chili peppers, use the decorative accents sparingly for best results.

Interior Painting - Buy the Best Brush for the Job

By Harriet Hodgson

Painting is the cheapest way to update your home. You may hire a painter or do the job yourself to save money. You will probably use a roller or pad for walls, but will need a brush for cutting in corners and painting trim. The right brush will make these jobs easier. Which brush should you buy? Here are some things to consider.

Price. Cheap brushes are a waste of money, according to the Aubuchon Hardware Web site. You get what you pay for and cheap brushes have few bristles. If the brush doesn't have enough bristles your do-it-yourself project will take longer. Worse, the Aubuchon site says "a poor brush . . . will result in a poor finish."

Shape. Match the shape of the brush to the job. Sherwin-Williams recommends a chisel trim brush with slanted bristles for corners and edges. Buy a square-shaped brush for flat areas. You need an angled brush for windows, trim, and tight spaces.

Bristles. Synthetic bristles -- nylon, polyester, nylon, and polyester blend -- are recommended for water-based paint. Natural bristles, which are made from hog and ox hair, are recommended for oil-based paint. The Do It Yourself Web site describes Chinex bristles, a Du Pont product. According to the site, "Chinex bristles simulate the characteristics of natural bristles."

Shape. Home Depot recommends a one-inch brush (straight-edge or angled) for corners, edging, trim, and window sill. A two-inch brush (straight-edge or angled) is recommended for woodwork, trim, molding, and cutting into corners. You need a three-inch, straight-edge brush for cabinets, doors, beams, and stairs. Use a four-inch, straight-edge brush for ceilings and walls.
Quality. Buying a cheap brush is a waste of your hard-earned money. "A top-of-the-line brush will generally hold more paint, streak less, give a better finish and last longer," according to the Home Depot Web site. Look for a brush with a metal, non-corrosive band. The band should be held in place with screws or rivets, not just bent around the bristles, and the brush should have a wooden handle.

Using the brush. According to Lowe's you should moisten a synthetic brush with water before you dip it in water-based paint. Resist the urge to over-load the brush with paint because this will cause drips and streaks. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to get more coverage. Never soak a brush in water or solvent for hours at a time.

Cleaning. A brush used with water-based paint should be cleaned in warm, soapy water. Clean the brush in solvent if you used oil-based paint. After the brush is clean spin it around in the air to get rid of moisture. Straighten the bristles with a metal comb and lay the brush flat to dry. Store the brush in its original package or wrap it in aluminum foil.
Don't let your paint job turn into a drippy, streaky mess.

Buy the best brush you can afford. After you have finished painting invite your friends for dinner and show them your handiwork. They will give you the unofficial DIY award for your painting efforts.
Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson
http://www.harriethodgson.com/

Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance nonfiction writer for 29 years. She has painted walls, trim, and furniture. Hodgson is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from http://www.amazon.com/ . A five-star review of the book is posted on Amazon. You will find other reviews on the American Hospice Foundation Web site ("School Corner" heading) and the Health Ministries Association Web site.

Please visit Harriet Hodgson's Web site and learn more about this busy author.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harriet_Hodgson

Add Charm to your Projects and Home with Decorative Painting

There have been a multitude of decorative painting techniques that have come onto the market in recent years. From the simplicity of a stencil border to the grand effect of a granite wall, the choices for decorative painting ideas are virtually endless.

If you are looking to spruce up an old bureau or add color and interest to a child’s room, you have choices abounding in providing your own artistic flair to your home. Many of the decorative painting techniques that are used today originated in Europe, where furnishings were adorned with faux marble and wood-tone effects. Now it has become simple to add old-world techniques to modern-day homes.

Decorative Painting is Cost-Effective

If you have shopped for wallpaper recently, you have probably found that covering a room in high-quality wallpaper is far from inexpensive. There are also special tools and pastes that are necessary to complete a project like this.

The good news is that with a can or two of paint and some inexpensive tools, you can often create your own personalized wallpaper effect in a room. By using stencils or stamps, you can give a wall a creative pattern with customized colors that blend beautifully with your décor. In a living or dining room, you can add an elegant stencil that can give a European flair to your dress-up spaces.

For a touch of whimsy in a child’s room, you can create a mural using an overhead projector and picture as a template. Simply trace the chosen drawing on the wall, and then it is merely a matter of paint-by-number!

Some companies even offer patterns for designs and pictures that can be painted directly to your wall surface. If the idea of a mural intimidates you, there are many fun stamps that can be used to apply images to your walls as well. From flowers and butterflies for little girls to bugs and lizards for the youngest males in your household, you are guaranteed to find the perfect stamp to add a decorative painting touch to any room in your house.

Decorative Painting can Really be Used Anywhere

Well, almost anywhere. From furniture to accessories, and walls to ceilings, there are very few surfaces that cannot be accented with decorative painting techniques. Even kitchen cabinets can sport stenciled borders or stamped patterns.
The key to adding decorative painting is making sure that you have a good smooth base coat in place to act as your canvas. If you are unsure how to get started with a decorative painting

Choosing Interior Paint Colors

By Budda Oliver

Changing the color of your interior walls is an excellent way to increase the resale value and appeal of your home. It is a cost-effective way to add style, personality, and warmth to any room. In fact, it is so cost-effective, that some choose to paint their walls quite frequently in order to change the mood of a room, paint a room according to the season, or just to express their personalities.

So what colors should you use to repaint your walls? Well, that is completely a matter of taste, but there are a few things to remember that may make it a little easier for you to choose the perfect colors for your taste.

Psychological Effects of Colors It is important to remember that colors have a relatively strong psychological impact on us. It is common knowledge that lighter colors, such as white and yellow, tend to make a room appear brighter and larger, while darker colors can make a room seem smaller.

There are also warm colors, like red, orange, and yellow which are inviting. Green, blue, and purple are some examples of cool colors, which tend to be relaxing and soothing. Light blue is commonly thought of as the most calming color, which is why you may see schools, daycares, detention centers, etc. utilizing it in their paint schemes.

Utilizing Colors When choosing a paint color for the inside of your home, take your furniture, floors, etc. into consideration. The goal is o choose colors that compliment the colors of your furniture, appliances, floors, accessories, and other established colors within your home. The use of contrasting colors can also be utilized to your advantage. You can use colors that contrast large pieces of furniture, artwork, etc. to emphasize these objects.

Paint color can also be used to draw attention to architectural features, such as arches, trim, doorways, and any other unique aspects of your home that you may want to incorporate more fully. Furthermore, well-chosen color combinations can also cover up or hide certain design flaws or unattractive aspects of your home’s design.

Tools to Help You Choose There are several options available to help you choose what colors you want for your walls. Every paint store supplies paint color samples. Remember that the color may not appear the same on the little card as it will on a twenty-foot wall. Normally, the samples appear slightly darker, while the color will seem brighter on a large surface. There are several computer programs that let you preview what your color combinations will look like in a model of your home.

Probably the best method of coming to a solid conclusion as to what colors you would like to use on your walls, is to ask a professional. Professional painting contractors have much useful knowledge and experience including, not only color choices, but what type of paint is best, type of application, and other information useful to your unique situation. What better source of advice?

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent for Dramatic Changes. The interior painting specialists works in and around the Richmond Virginia metro area. For more information on interior painting contractor in Richmond Virginia please visit their website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Budda_Oliver

Painting a Room

By Bill Brennan

Painting can be an enormously satisfying job for the result that you will see when you are finished. However, preparation is very important to ensure that there are no messy and hard to remove mistakes.

To prepare your room, remove everything, including curtains and blinds. If this is not possible push all furniture to the center of the room and cover it with old shower curtains or sheets. Cover the floors with tarpaulins or thick canvas.

Use masking tape to tape down your floor covering. Roll the masking tape out across the floor and the wall where you will be painting. Use masking tape also to cover any skirting boards, door or window frames. Masking tape can make your job so much easier, as you will end up with a good clean line when you peel it off. Just be sure not to wait too long after finishing your painting to peel it off as it can cause dried paint to peel.

Wash the walls using sugar soap. This will remove any grease or dirt. It will also help you identify any other imperfections which you may need to touch up. If previous paint is peeling, scrape the surface back and sand it until smooth. If there are any cracks, these should be filled using premixed filler and sealed using an acrylic sealer undercoat. Once this has been done, sand the walls until smooth and wipe away any dust with a dry cloth.

When choosing your brushes, be sure to check out all the options available to you which may make your particular situation easier. There are many different styles of brushes and in particular some which are designed for sliding along difficult to paint corners. Brushes and rollers should be chosen for quality, it can be quite frustrating trying to pick away loose brush hairs from your freshly painted wall.

Once you are certain that your surface is clean and smooth, you can begin painting. When applying the paint begin at the top of the furthermost corner from the door and work your way down and back. When using a brush, a diagonal crisscross pattern is the best, rather than straight up and down. Be methodical and pedantic to ensure that you get the most evenly spread surface. Be a perfectionist, fixing each problem as it comes up. Depending on the original colour of the wall that you are painting, you may need two or even three coats.

You may wish to experiment with a different paint finish. These are applied after your base coat. One popular paint finish is sponging. To do this dip a dried sea sponge into paint and dab it on the entire surface of the wall. Another method is rag rolling, where you apply paint rolling a paint covered rag across the wall. Combing can be quite effective, but requires some concentration and coordination. For this method cut even notches into the edge of a squeegee blade.

Paint a coloured glaze over your dried base color and draw the squeegee blade through the glaze. These types of finish are best achieved by two people working together, as you often need to work fast after the gloss has been added, before it has time to dry.

Now that your walls are fresh and new; it's time to start on the floors with some area rug decorating ideas.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Brennan

Bedroom Colour

The nonaligned chamber promotes and air of tranquillity and loosening. In such a scene there should be no conflicting hard colors to trouble the heart or intervene with the soothing result of fluid, cosmetic round.

To avert having claustrophobia, ceilings should be equally light as the new surfaces, but never complete good, which is old and closed. Soft away good on the new deal harmonizes good with new neutrals.

Keep chamber color combinations to those tones of objective that have a touch of warming pink, yellow, or rust in them, to avert creating an old, unwelcoming way, but think to keep the one undercurrent throughout the healthy system.

There are factors, specific to the chamber, that further both the cosmetic advertising the physical; important among there are right bedclothes. Use small cotton or linen and heavy, soft duvets or big, satin bounce blankets.

Pile the bottom with large pillows and cushions, using build and texture to stress their several quality, but be certain they are possible as good. The bottom topcoat will give greatly to the fabric mixing, whether it be of velvet, mohair, cashmere, false pelt, or a combination of these.

Combine tusk and beeswax with a touch of stalk yellow, to keep the sensation of passion and solace introduced by the fabrics. Alternatively, take quick ointment its success from the housemaid bottom treating, complemented with appropriate highlights, much as cushions in easy burnt chocolate and old ochre.

A chamber can be rich without being overstuffed and it can be clear without being old; balanced is all.