Bringing Out the Beauty of the Home Through Painting

Everybody dreams of having a beautiful home but sometimes, it can get a little pricey. With the costs of home décor rising through the roof nowadays, it might not be economical to get yourself new pieces to beautify your living space.

However, painting your house might be a good choice for you especially if you are on a tight budget but still want to improve the look and feel of your interiors. Painting your house the right colors can affect your mood greatly and can even improve your productivity while spending time inside the house. Moreover, using the right colors can potentially cut your utility bills to a fraction of what you used to pay.

The first step to painting your home is preparation. You might be tempted to skip this step but you're better off prepping up than ending up with paint all over the wrong places. Clear the room that you intend to paint of anything that could easily be ruined with pain splatters like curtains and tiny fixtures and furniture. Cover up bigger furniture with plastic sheets like huge couches. Don't forget to cover the floor with old newspapers or washcloths to protect it from splatters.

Decide which colors you are going to use for painting your interiors. An easy trick is to coordinate you existing color scheme as it will give that sense of balance and harmony-one of the oldest tricks of design. Ask for paint chips from your local paint dealer or get quart cans of your chosen colors so you can do patch testing on your walls or furniture. This is to see how light, or its lack thereof, affects the look of the paint on your interior.

Surface area affects the intensity of the colors that you are going to use. Walls typically need lighter hues because they are wider than any of the other elements in your interiors unless you are going for a warmer and heavier feel.

Railings, sidebars and other accessories need to be painted in accent colors. But try to use limited accent colors because too much is overwhelming and can be very loud and distracting. Use at most three colors and nothing more. Using a darker hue of your chosen color is also advisable as opposed to using an entirely different color. While contrast can be pleasing to the eyes, it takes understanding of color elements to be able to pull it off properly.

Finally, use the illusions that color can create for a room. Tiny rooms can appear larger when you use neutral or lighter colors such as white, beige, or pastels. Higher ceilings can be achieved through painting them white or off-white.

House Painting With Natural Paints

If you are truly dedicated to the eco movement, you might consider using natural mineral-based paints for your next house painting project. In addition to being the most environmentally friendly option, these paints have particular characteristics that affect how you use them and when they are practical. Natural paints are those that are manufactured from only natural substances: pigments are often made from minerals and clay; solvents and fillers are also derived from organic sources, such as plant resins. House painting with natural paints, as we will see, is actually quite easy and delivers great results.

Natural milk paints are an excellent choice for interior walls, cabinets and furniture, although they have a different look than standard paints. They give a grainy look with very little shine, and are not particularly washable on their own, so it is often a good idea to seal with a clear coat. Milk paint actually comes in powder form, and you must mix it with water, usually 1 part water to 1 part powder, or according to the manufacturers instructions. They are fairly expensive: priced at $30 (Can.) or more for enough product to cover 150 square feet of surface. But you get both a green product, and a unique finish that is sure to impress.

Milk paint and other natural paints can be applied using conventional brushes and rollers, but the steps to the coating system are a little different. First of all, milk paint requires a porous substrate to bond well. It is excellent over bare wood, for example. If you want to use milk paint on a previously-painted or varnished surface, you'll need to use a special milk paint bond coat. As you work on the project, you want to stir the paint every ten minutes or so, because the solids settle at the bottom over time. Milk paint also dries quickly, so you want to work efficiently to keep a "wet edge"; in other words, don't let the paint dry too much from one area to the next. You will want to apply 2 coats of the paint, and then 1 coat of clear sealer for best results. Milk paint leaves a very even and desirable finish, and the clear coat adds to the color depth and gives a gentle shine.

Other natural paints come pre-mixed, and are used much the same, though they do not require a clear sealer as with milk paint. They also tend to dry fairly quickly. These paints have almost no odor, and no VOCs. Natural paints are great for bedrooms, ceilings, and even areas exposed to heavy wear, but you must realize that they wear differently than ordinary paints; the natural ingredients create a finish that wears gradually, creating an interesting patina and distressed look. They are also moisture and mildew resistant, and allow the material to breath, so they can actually perform well in a bathroom or kitchen. Milk paint should be sealed for improved washability, however. Clean up is very easy, and only requires water to clean tools. Overall, natural paints can make house painting a safe task, and give a very interesting look to your home.