Q: How do I choose the right color?
Answer
Color can have a big impact on the comfort of a home, so you’ll want to pick out something that makes you feel good. If you’re worried about your color matching the rest of your home (or a room), go ahead and give this design tip a try: If you have a favorite piece of artwork, couch, pillow, or rug, simply follow that color scheme or choose a color that compliments it. Usually these pieces incorporate colors you like, and it’s a good way to tie the decorations and wall colors together.
Q: What are the differences between finishes?
Answer
The most popular types of finishes are gloss, semi-gloss, satin, matte, and flat. Below, are descriptions of each type of finish.
- Gloss: Highly reflective of light, more-so than any other finish. The hard and shiny finish makes it appear very smooth, and it’s also easy to wipe clean if it gets dirty. Gloss finishes are recommended for wood trim, cabinets, and doors.
- Semi-Gloss: Moderately reflective and has a slightly less smooth finish. This finish is also durable and is a good option for spaces that need to be cleaned regularly. Semi-Gloss finishes are recommended for kitchens, bathrooms, closet doors, trim, and utility areas.
- Satin: Has a slight shine that will hide any imperfections your wall may have, yet allows you to clean it fairly easily. This finish is suitable for high-traffic areas that are likely to pick up nicks and scratches. Recommended areas for use are children’s bedrooms, kitchens, great rooms, foyers, and hallways.
- Flat: Has a dull finish, not reflective of light like other finishes. This finish does not take away from a room; it actually hides a wall’s imperfections really well. Do not count on washing walls with a flat finish, as this is not the ideal paint if you think they will get dirty because it doesn’t wash easily.
- Matte: Similar to a flat finish, this will soak up any light in the room and hide imperfections. This is another good option for rooms that will not get dirt on the walls. Recommended areas for use are adult bedrooms and any trouble walls in your home that you want to hide imperfections
Q: What tools will I need to paint a room?
Answer
If you’re painting the interior of your home, the number of tools you’ll need are pretty limited. If you’re painting a finished room, you’ll want to consider using a drop-cloth or protective sheet of some kind. This will help protect your floor against any spills or paint drops that may occur. Painter’s tape is another highly recommended tool if you need to be very precise with your paint lines, masking off any surfaces you do not wish to cover in paint. A Paint roller and pan reservoir are the most common tools for painting a large surface area, although it is not absolutely essential. You can achieve the same results either using a paintbrush or roller, however, the roller will move things along much quicker. Aside from making sure you have old clothes on, the only other tool you’ll need is a stir-stick. Stirring a container of paint before each use ensures you are mixing the ingredients evenly and getting a consistent color.
Q: What do I need to do to prep a wall for painting?
Answer
There are just five main steps when prepping your walls to paint.
- Fill in any holes or cracks with spackle, and sand them down until they are smooth. Make sure you follow the instructions on the spackle.
- Remove any glue, paper, or debris from the wall.
- Wash the wall with luke-warm water and soap. Use a durable sponge to wipe the wall down, making sure not to get the sponge too damp. Allow the wall to dry completely.
- Tape off any trim, windows, outlet covers, and anything else you don’t intend to paint. This will give you a nice finish with clean lines when you’re finished painting.
- Prime the wall. Use the primer recommended by your local paint and primer expert to get the best result. Priming your wall will ensure you achieve the true paint color you selected and helps with a nice, even finish.
Q: How do I know how much paint to buy?
Answer
Generally speaking, one gallon of paint can cover up to 400 square feet, which is roughly the size of a bathroom or entryway. To find the square footage of a wall, just multiply its height by its width. The benefit of using Klinger brand paint products is that you get the best coverage possible, limiting the number of coats you need to reapply. If you use other brands of paint, you may need to purchase more paint, since you will likely need to apply multiple coats.
2 gallons of paint is the typical amount purchased when painting a larger room such as an 800 square foot living room.
Q: I want to create some energy in a room, is it hard to paint patterns on a wall?
Answer
Not at all! Painting patterns such as Harlequin (diamonds), Swiss Dots (polka dots), Horizontal or Vertical lines, and Checkerboard (squares) are easy to execute as long as you give yourself enough time. Patience is the key with these types of painting projects, as a rushed job will lead to an imperfect end result.
The most valuable tool when it comes to patterns is painter’s tape or a stencil, which is primarily used for swiss dots(polka dots). From there, simply decide on the size and number of each pattern and tape them off accordingly. If you wish to be exact, using a tape-measure and a straight-edge or level is a great idea. If you need step by step instructions, you can find them many places online!