Painted Walls
Painting Walls
Painting walls and painting ceilings in your home or office can be a great way to give any room a makeover. Whether you’re looking for some fresh new color or just want to give the walls in your home a facelift, knowing what kind of sheen or finish and color is important when it comes to painting your interior walls.
When selecting the right sheen level for the wall to be painted, there are several options including flat/matte, eggshell or satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Flat/matte is best used on ceilings and low-traffic areas such as a living room or family room as it doesn’t clean well but offers excellent coverage and hides most imperfections that may be visible; Eggshell paint is also commonly used on living room and bedroom walls and it has a better clean-ability; while satin or semi-gloss or glossy is great for bathrooms, mudrooms and kitchens as it’s more moisture resistant and easier to clean.
Picking out the perfect color of interior wall paint for your walls can be, sometimes, a bit challenging. Paint for walls is available in thousands of shades and hues...how do you decide which one is right for you? Fortunately, there are a few tips to help make the decision easier.
First, consider the feeling and atmosphere that you want your room to have. Bright colors can create an energetic vibe while softer tones will give off a more relaxed feeling. This should also influence whether you choose warm or cool colors - warmer hues such as red or yellow often stimulate conversation and energy, while cooler shades like blue or green tend to be more soothing.
If you’re still unsure about what kind of color to go with, try looking at some design magazines for inspiration or take a trip to your local home improvement or pain store for samples and swatches.
Once you’ve chosen a color and sheen to paint your interior walls, then comes the fun part! It’s time to get your hands dirty and start prepping the wall for paint.
Before you put any paint to the wall you need to inspect the wall for any holes or dents that need filling. Spackling compound is an ideal material for fixing these imperfections - simply apply a small amount over the problem area using a putty knife and let dry overnight. Once it's fully hardened, lightly sand the area with fine-grit sanding screen until smooth before moving on.
The next step is gathering all of the necessary supplies. You'll need things like paint rollers, an extension pole for hard-to-reach places, drop cloths for protecting furniture and floors, painter's tape for crisp lines around trim and windowsills, primer if needed (most paints these days are self-priming), brushes for detail work, sponges or rags for cleaning up any spills or drips once you're done. That's just the basics - more specialized jobs may require different tools.
Next, clean off any dirt, grease, grime or dust that might be on the wall. Use a damp cloth with warm water and soap (or an all-purpose cleaner) to wipe down the surface thoroughly and remove any residue buildup. It is important to clean the surface to be sure that your paint will adhere to the wall. If your an inexperienced painter, it's best to tape off the area with painters tape to assure you stay within the lines.
So, now everything is prepped...let the painting begin as your walls are now ready for a fresh coat of paint. Best place to start is with the trim around the edges. It's usually easy to tackle since you can use a brush or small roller for precise coverage along corners and baseboards. After all is trimmed, you can move on to the roller. Start by rolling a big "W" on the wall and roll the paint out evenly. When the wall is complete, step back and marvel at what you've just accomplished. Now, let it dry for the recommended time and, if a second coat is needed...do it again.
And there you have it. A new, fresh look to brighten up your home or office.
If that all seems like a lot of work and you would rather watch someone else do it...
Call the trusted professionals...
the Painting Pros of Mentor
at 440-535-1470
and we'll handle everything from prep to clean-up.