As painting contractors, we can help you choose colors that work for your space, we can show you how to choose the right paint, ( yes, every brand is different), and we can recommend the sheen for the surface and finished look you desire. Read on and we will teach you how to do the proper prep so you get the professional painting results you are looking for.
There are 1000’s of Colors, how do you choose the colors that will look good in the space? Can you use more than one color?
When choosing your paint color you want to find one that makes you feel good and creates the mood you want for that room.
If you really don’t have any idea what color you want to paint your room we suggest first browsing through magazines or home decor pages on the internet. See what rooms jump out at you, what rooms are appealing and make you feel good, even pay attention to colors you don’t like and make sure you stay away from those choices.
We suggest taking something you already own and love in your house, pull some colors from your favorite bedspread, pillow, area rug, or even a piece of clothing that sets your decorating side on fire, take the color that is the smallest and use that on your walls. You will want to pull out other colors to use as your accent pieces. The rule is that you use the color least used in a print on the largest space, and the color most used is on the smaller accent pieces.
We suggest you take home paint chips and see how they look in your room at all times of the day, (they are there for you to use as samples so don’t feel bad about taking a few of each color). You want to see how the color will look in the morning, noon, and at night with your lamps and artificial lighting on. We actually like to tack the samples on the wall by the window or light so we can see the true colors.
Multi color Combinations are an Option
If you have a chair rail, wainscoting or a border divided wall and you want to do two colors we suggest you follow a few simple painting rules.
If you are using more than one color in the room, we suggest keeping a few things in mind: use the darker colors on the bottom and the lighter colors on the top. As the darker colors will look “heavier” it is best to have the “lighter” feeling colors on the top for balance. The same would be true if you wanted to divide the wall in half with a border, use the lighter color on the top and the darker color on the bottom. Just remember dark colors are visually heavier than light colors.
We suggest you paint the baseboards and window trim a shade lighter than the walls to accent and add charm, painting the ceiling a bit darker will create a cozier feeling in the room, and painting it a shade lighter will make the room feel more open and airy.
We will be sharing in a later newsletter how you can use a color wheel or the “Paint Chip Ladder” to find color combinations that will work and look stunning in your home.
Using Paint Effects and Techniques on your Walls
There are numerous painting effects you can use to add character, charm, and personality to your walls. Sponging with glaze, stencils and raised stencils, washing, blocking and ragging are just a few. You can also use a variation of colors and paint additives to achieve some amazing finishes. There are numerous videos on Youtube from professional painting experts that will teach you these simple techniques, or watch for upcoming lessons in our newsletter.
Sheen? What is a Sheen and What one do I want?
Once you have chosen your color you will want to pick a sheen and the right one depends on the traffic area you are painting.
Flat: Flat paint does not wash well so it is best used on low traffic areas. It sometimes has a bit of a chalky feel so fingerprints and rub marks do not wash off easily. It is perfect for ceilings or long hallways where the matte finish cuts down on glare from artificial light.
Satin and eggshell: Satin and eggshell are very popular for walls in bedrooms, living rooms, and hallways. They have a very slight shine and are fairly easy to clean, offering a softer look than semi-gloss and gloss paint.
Semi-gloss and gloss: Semi-gloss and gloss paint has a very high shine which makes them easy to wash and keep clean. This is why they are best used in kitchens and on kitchen cabinets. We also recommend them for bathroom cabinets and vanities.
How much Paint do you need to Buy?
To figure this out measure around the entire room, take that total and multiply that number by the height of the wall from floor to ceiling. Measure the width of all the doors and windows, walkways etc, add these numbers together and subtract that number from your other total. This will tell you the “room area”. Normally a flat surface usually requires one gallon for every 400 square feet, some surfaces are rough and bumpy. We always suggest you use two coats so double the amount of paint needed for one coat.
You can also follow this link for more accurate numbers.
Prepare to Paint like a Professional
To get a top notch professional looking paint finish it is very important to do your prep!
It’s much easier to paint when you have removed all furniture in the room and taken off all electrical covers that will not be painted. Now is the time to remove your baseboards if you are not painting them the same color.
Wipe down your walls to remove dirt, dust, and grease with TSP or dish soap, TSP is great for slightly roughing the surface slightly to help the new paint stick.
Make sure and fill any holes and cracks in time to let them dry before you start to paint.
You want to have all the necessary tools you need before starting. Once you get painting you will want to continue until the job is done, stopping to run to the the local hardware store will be time consuming.
Tape off Areas to Be Painted
We love FROG tape, it stops the paint from bleeding under the tape which causes a mess and takes time to remove. We suggest you tape off the trim, ceilings, windows, doors, and anything else that should be protected from paint. Taping these areas will ensure you get nice, straight lines and you don’t get paint in an area where it is not wanted. This is also great if you are using more than one color.
Start at the Top and Work your way Down
We suggest you always paint from the top of the wall to the lowest, if you are painting the ceiling start there and work your way down. Start with the ceiling or top of the walls and work your way down, always watching for any runs or drips that you will want to brush away immediately.
Thin Coats vs Thick Coats
It is not better to load your roller or paintbrush up with paint! It is more effective to have a light amount on the brush or roller and use long, even strokes to apply thin coats. Putting on thick coats so you won’t need a second coat will not work and the end result will not look professional, sometimes thick coats will actually bubble and look horrible when dry. We like to do one coat of coverage, let it dry completely and then add our next finishing coat.
When do you Paint the Trim?
This depends if you have removed the trim from the wall before painting. If you have removed the trim you can paint it anytime and let it sit to dry. If you have left the trim in place now is the time to remove the painter’s tape from the trim ( which you had placed there to protect color going onto the trim) and add it to the wall. You can easily just move it up. I usually will tape a line along the floor as well, it is time consuming at the start but will save you time once you get going.
What you need to be Painting like a Professional
FROG TAPE- We’re big fans of FROG tape as we find it works the best for no-bleed through and never pulls up paint when removed.
DROP CLOTH- Having a drop cloth will mean less clean up later.
PAINT TRAY- We like to use ones you can just remove the liner for easy clean up, we can also change paint colors quickly without washing the tray.
PAINT ROLLER & REFILLS- Always pay attention to the Knap. Rollers are made to do a professional job on may surfaces from smooth, flat, rough etc.
EXTENDER FOR ROLLERS- We like to use an extendable aluminum and fibreglass pole that can be lengthened so when we are getting lower we can shorten the handle accordingly.
LADDER- A large full size ladder for the top cutting in technique and a smaller one for closer to the floor painting.
BRUSHES – We use brushes to ensure a smooth surface, brushes come in all sizes, prices and quality.
BUCKET AND RAGS – We like to have a bucket with warm water and some rags close by to clean up any spills or accidents that may happen.
Merritt Painting provides professional Interior and Exterior Painting Services from our location in Merritt, BC. Our service area includes Logan Lake, Kamloops and Kelowna.
