Terrific Interior Painting Tips for Great Results

When it comes to color selection and possible color combinations for painting the interior of your home, the sky is the limit! With today’s modern techniques, designer colors, and computerized (exact) color matching available in most home renovation and paint supply centers, interior painting has become an art. One with a wide horizon!

Gone are the days when a fresh coat of white or eggshell paint was considered the most practical choice for interior wall painting. Today’s fashionable colors are diverse; sedated to bold, brazen to hushed, earthy to bright.

In fact, interior design and wall color more reflect the personality and lifestyle of the homeowner than it does the current trend. But with such an array of paint color, type, texture, and technique choices available, how does one go about making the right choice; one with pleasing end results?

How to Select the Right Color of Paint

Color choice is made simpler by taking several factors into consideration, and by understanding how color can be used to enhance a room:

1. Size of room – smaller rooms will look larger with light colored walls and neutral colored furniture. (Save the bright colors and interesting patterns for room accessories such as throw pillows, plant containers, lamp shades, and pictures.) Unless a lot of patterns are used in the room’s décor, walls can be paint textured.
   
   
2. Location of room – rooms that face north, northeast, or northwest receive little or no direct sunlight during the day. A good interior wall painting idea is to paint the room a warm color. This will open it up and make it more inviting. Consider colors such as yellow chiffon, light tangerine, soft peach, earthy-brown, or whispering sand. Rooms that receive a lot of sunshine can be toned down a bit and made to seem more cool using blues, greens, grays, and lavenders.
   
   
3. Room location – an experienced painting contractor will generally advise persons with houses in cold climates to have their rooms painted in warm or neutral colors. They know that people tend to feel colder in rooms painted with cool colors; greens, blues, purples.
   
   
4. Room type – an adult’s bedroom wants colors that are comforting, tranquil, and quiet – conducive to sleep. A child’s bedroom, however, can be painted with bright, stimulating colors. This makes the room more inviting to the child. Dens and offices are usually decorated using warm, earthy colors.
   
   
5. Room shape – long, narrow rooms can be made to look wider by painting one or both of the shorter walls a bright or dark color; the other walls in a matching pale color. One good interior painting idea for a square room without a large window, fireplace, or some other focal point is to paint one wall a rich accent color. This will give the room character and make it more interesting.
   
   
6. Room height – a white ceiling adds height to a low-ceilinged room, whereas painting a ceiling dark makes it appear lower. Large rooms with high ceilings look cozier with the addition of a wide, coordinating strip of wallpaper border. Both at the top and along the bottom of the walls.

Also consider décor theme throughout the house, and house design. And, as any interior painting contractor will tell you, wall color can be used to create or change the room’s “mood.”

Dark colors absorb light and lend an air of quiet intimacy to the room. But colors that are too dark in a room that receives little sunlight can be depressing. Subdued colors are relaxing, bright colors stimulating.

How to Select Color Combinations

If you plan on using a combination of colors in the room, another shade of the same color for trim work, or want multiple rooms painted, you must decide which color combinations are right for you. If you hire a house painting contractor for your interior painting project, discuss which color combinations work best.

Ask the painting contractor to show you a color combination wheel. This will show which secondary or contrasting colors best compliment the primary color selected, and insure the room will look well-coordinated once completed.

Decide Which Type of Paint to Use and How Much is Needed

Of course, all paints are not the same. Even after finalizing color choices, attention must be given to type of paint used.

Rule of thumb; the better the quality of paint and primer or undercoat used, the more attractive and durable the results. Premium quality paint also spreads easier and covers better – requiring less paint. Use interior flat latex wall paint for a soft, matte finish. However, you will not be able to wash the walls.

If you want washable walls, go a semi-gloss latex paint. If you desire a matte finish but want a measure of wash ability, mix one quart of semi-gloss latex to each gallon of flat. For high traffic areas or a child’s bedroom, use two quarts of semi-gloss per gallon of flat paint.

One gallon of paint is usually enough for a single coat of paint to cover four 8-foot high walls in a 12 X 15-foot room. One-half gallon of paint for the ceiling will also be needed. Rough paint textured walls require more paint. An experienced painting contractor will best be able to calculate the amount of paint required, as well as cost.

Which Wall Painting Technique to Use

Wall painting techniques include using a roller, brush, paint pad, and a paint gun. All but a paint pad are generally recommended for interior painting.

A paint roller applies an even coat of paint fast and effectively, and is great for large, flat surfaces. Different type roller covers are required for different types of surfaces. Blended polyester or wool covers, for instance, work best for enamels, synthetic-fiber for latex.

A paint gun is an airless paint sprayer; it uses high pressure to force paint from a nozzle. Only persons with experience using a paint gun should attempt to use one, especially inside the home. Long sleeves, gloves, and a mask approved for use with a paint sprayer should be used. And goggles are a must! Paint guns are used on large areas and rough surfaces.

Brushes come in various sizes to accommodate wide to narrow surfaces. A nylon or polyester bristled brush works best for latex paint; natural bristled brushes for oil-based.

Even when a roller brush or paint gun is used, the narrow edge of a brush can be used to apply a swath of paint along the perimeter of the walls, in corners, and along the ceiling.

Special Effects

Paint textured effects can be made using sponging, rag-rolling, or stippling techniques. Each of these can produce a textured effect on a flat wall. It might be best not to try and attempt textured effects on your own if you haven’t done them before. An interior painting contractor will be familiar with each of these techniques, and more, and can produce professional results.

Stenciling provides a homey, decorative touch. Make floral borders in bedrooms and dining rooms; floral or shell motifs in the bathroom. Barnyard “critters” or cooking utensil designs for the kitchen, and balloon, teddy bear, or star shapes to dance across a child’s bedroom or nursery. Special effects like these can add unique charm to your interior painting project

A professional decorator or painting contractor will have a host of other ideas to help create exactly the effect you want. Dazzling or relaxing, subdued or exciting. Each eye catching and appealing; enhancing the room’s décor, and making it fresh and inviting!

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