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Decorating with Color

Here are some simple creative ideas that will give you a new perspective on what you can accomplish with paint color:

Sweet Orange - From sun-kissed terracotta to spicy curry and pumpkin hues, orange is a fabulous, flexible color in the home. In its palest peach tints, orange is also wonderfully flattering to skin tones, making it invaluable in the bedroom or bathroom.

The Golden Touch - Add a touch of opulence to a dining room or guest bath by applying the “golden” rule: splashes of golden, amber, and platinum hues add instant elegance.

Painting Rough Textures - When painting a rough-textured wall such as stucco or textured plaster, remember this rule of thumb: Go one shade lighter when choosing colors. Smooth surfaces reflect light, making colors look lighter. The same colors will look darker on a textured surface.

Paneling Makeover - There is almost no makeover so simple—yet so effective—as painting over dated wood paneling. A tired rec room can be transformed into a fresh, stylish space in a matter of hours with little more than a coat of clean, glossy white paint.

Being Green - Green as an exterior color has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past decade. If you are leaning toward green, remember this tip: grayed, blackened, and low-intensity greens are your best bet when covering a large area.

When Past Is Present - In this age of "McMansions," when houses grow ever higher and bigger, there has emerged a trend toward visual downsizing. You can accomplish this by having a dark roof and horizontal divisions of color throughout the exterior walls of your home.

Checklist of Tools

There is nothing more frustrating than discovering you don’t have the right size brush in the middle of a painting project. Who wants to have to stop painting and make a trip to a store, so that you can finish your project? To help you avoid that, our staff here at Color Store Inc., developed a list of tools you’ll need for most of your projects.

First of all, you will need a brush for painting trim and “cutting in” along edges as well as a roller for larger surfaces. Make sure you purchase premium quality tools, Premium tools will not only make the job go quicker and give you better results they will last a long time if you take care of them.

You will also need a paint tray, tools to open the paint can and stir the paint, drop cloths, painter’s tape, and an extension pole for the roller to reach tall walls and ceilings.

Benjamin Moore has created a paint kit that includes most of the tools you need for the average paint project. This seven-piece kit includes a nine-inch roller frame with two premium shed-resistant roller covers, a two-inch angle sash brush, a paint tray, a paint can opener, and a stirring stick.

If you have all the supplies you need before you start, that will help you focus on your painting and make the project go more smoothly. Order your starter kit today!

Prep Work

For most of your paint projects, you will need to do some prep work, and it is very important that you don’t skip this step. Adding a coat of paint without prep work may not remove all the stains and imperfections on your walls and may even make them more noticeable, so here is a checklist of steps you should take before you start painting.

Remove any peeling or bubbling paint with a scraper, then sand the surface smooth with a fine-grade sand paper.

Most surfaces should be washed with a mild detergent and water to remove any dirt and grime to insure the paint adheres well. Make sure you rinse off any leftover detergent, or you may just need to wipe the surface with a damp cloth to clean it.

If you have mildew stains on your walls or ceilings remove them with a mixture of 1/4 cup of bleach with four quarts water. You may have to repeat this step more than once.

Fill any holes or cracks with filler and use a cotton cloth or fine-grade sand paper to smooth the surface after the filler has completely dried.

Another step is to add a coat of primer before you start painting to help cover imperfections and create a smooth, uniform surface for your paint. Benjamin Moore has a series of primers for a variety of different surfaces including specialty primers for surfaces with water damage and severe stains.

Finally, before you start any paint project use drop cloths to protect your furniture and floors and use painter’s tape to cover areas you do not want painted like the edge of the wall where it meets the ceiling, for example.

If you have any questions about any of these steps, don’t hesitate to ask our staff here at Color Store Inc. We are glad to help.