(bringing back one of my early favorite posts from last winter)
Let’s Roll…
Or brush, or sponge, or rag…even spray! No matter how you do it, just paint!
For most of you (not me!) it’s the dead of winter and outdoor projects are pretty much out of the question!
Even if you’re going to hire someone, it’s too cold to go out there and even show them what you want done! So what to do? How can you scratch that remodeling itch when the mercury drops to unmentionable levels?
I asked myself that question and the first two things I thought of were painting and lighting. They go hand-in-hand and I’ll touch on great lighting tomorrow. But for today, let’s talk about paint.
See the Room as Art!
There is an artist in you whether you know it or not! If you already know it, great! If not, just look at some pictures and ask yourself “Does this inspire me?” When you start to feel inspired, that’s when you’re on the right track. Follow that look and you’ll find what you want for your new space! Let’s start with a simple one and work our way up to CRAZY!
Simple, right? But beautiful too! The contrast of the darker wall color against the bright white trim works great in this nook! Great use of similar colors in the art and furnishings brings it together. A small area like this can be tackled in a weekend and make an impression for years!
Make White Sing!
A white wall has many great characteristics. They make spaces seem more open, and of-course, brighter. Sometimes, when there’s a shortage of natural light or to go with a particular design, white is the way to go.
Two thoughts about white walls:
- Even if your room is already white and you want it to stay white…repaint it anyway! If the paint is more than a couple of years old, it will make a difference. You might also change a shade to “tweak” the look a little bit. There must be 1,000 “white” colors!
- Add color with furniture and decor, like in the photo above. You might have an old chair laying around that you can repaint in two hours. Try it…it could change your life! (at least a little bit)
Look Past The Walls!
Feeling inspired yet? If not, check your pulse! These cabinets ROCK! I’m not so sure about the ABC’s on the glass, but I do love the use of color in the kitchen cabinets.
It can easily run $40,000.00 or more for new cabinets. Why not look a little closer and ask that artist in you what other options there might be? If you get a good answer, I’d say you should buy the artist a cup of coffee or something! If not, keep reading…
Hit the Door!
Painting the kitchen cabinets a little bit of a reach for you? You’re not alone.
The impact you can make by painting a door or window is really astounding! I can’t decide which one I like better, the blue or the red?
What do you think?
So, honestly, don’t you feel like painting? You have options:
Walls, Ceilings, Trim, Doors, Floors, Furniture…
Everything including the Kitchen Sink can be painted, though you might want a pro to hit the sink for you.
The bang for your buck is unmatched and the D.I.Y. difficulty factor is among the best you’ll find. Go for it!
Get Radical!
If the artist in you still has not stirred, I have one more trick up my sleeve. If this doesn’t get you going, there may be no hope…I’m sorry.
Now THAT is color!
Oh, a couple more details…you have to do it right! The web is full of great resources. I found a site here that has good advice on exactly how to paint. You can also email me for my thoughts if you’d like. I would love to see your before and after photos. I’d love to help.
Let me know if I awoke the artist in you in the comments, and use the ShareThis feature to share this new blog with friends. Just click on that little green button and all the options will show up before your very eyes. If nothing else, it’s colorful!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Your blog is awesome! I love it. Thanks so much for introducing yourself. You are off to a great start!!!
Happy day,
Melissa
Thanks Melissa,
I’m pretty impressed with your blog too!
The Inspired Room
Thanks for the encouragement!
I just have a quick question…I have CHEAP kitchen cabinets. The doors have wood-like veneer sheets on them. Can I paint these?
Thanks,
Stacy
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Stacy – There is always a point where a door, wall, floor, or as is your case, cabinet, is just too far gone to be worth the effort.
That said, the fact that they aren’t the fanciest cabinets in the world wouldn’t be how I would decide. If your cabinets are pretty solid; basically of sound construction, then you could make them look NOT cheap by painting them well.
When you say “wood-like veneer sheets” I wonder if you mean plastic laminate, like formica. Or, you could mean real wood veneer, like plywood. Or, you could be referring to a very thin plastic laminate called melamine. All of these can be painted, but the process is a little different.
In general you want a smooth, solid surface that is not too slick (if it is, sand it some), then you can paint on a primer followed by paint and a top coat finish. Your best bet would be to take a cabinet door to a local paint store. Better to find a mom and pop shop if you can. If you have to go to a big box or chain, just make sure you’re dealing with someone who knows what they’re talking about. An experienced paint store salesman will be able to tell you exactly what to do if you bring them a door or drawer front. Good luck, and send me some pictures!
Tim
I love your blog! We are starting some smallish remodeling jobs at our home (not done by us), but even choosing which jobs to do now is proving daunting for me (you know how it goes, when you actually start looking at all there is that could be done, you find more and more and more…). So, thank you for all the beautiful photgraphs and ideas!
Ok, so I read your link on the basics of painting and now I want to know what brands you’d reccomend for interior painting. Our local store carries Valspar. Is that good? I think my only other local option is walmart – which I imagine is on the “cheap” end of the spectrum. What brand do you use?
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