Easy House Painting Tips - Newsletter December, 2008

Table of Contents
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Interior Paint Finishes and Where to Use Them

Paint Swatches - The Secret To Successful Decorating!

There are different types of interior paint finishes and each one refer to the finishes reaction to light. Since latex paint is the most common type of interior paint used, we will only look at latex paint finishes in this article.

Flat paint finishes have virtually no sheen when the paint has dried. Flat paint absorbs light and does not reflect it. Flat paint finish is great at hiding any imperfections that you may have in your walls and also looks good in most colors. The best rooms to use a flat finish is rooms that usually receive little traffic such as bedrooms or closets. Don't use flat paint in a room that will require a lot of cleaning because it is difficult to clean when it gets dirty.

An eggshell paint offers about as much sheen as an actual eggshell, hence its name. It is mainly flat but offers a small amount of luster. It is easier to clean than flat paint so it would be a better choice for areas of your house that receive more traffic such as a hallway or a living room. Another benefit of eggshell paint is that like a flat finish it also looks good in a variety of colors.

A satin paint finish is much easier to clean than flat or eggshell paints, just be careful not to scrub too hard because you could possibly remove some of the sheen which will leave an uneven finish in your wall. A satin finish will not hide imperfections in your walls as well as flat or eggshell finishes will. Since satin paints stand up better to cleaning they are a great choice kids rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

Semi gloss paints are a step up from satin and reflect more light. It is a good choice for painting trim but could be used for a kitchen or bathroom because it does not absorb kitchen greases or bathroom condensations as much as the other paint finishes do. It could also be used in playrooms since it is much easier to clean up. Semi gloss paints generally look better in a lighter shade of paint.

Gloss paints offer the most sheen of all of the other finishes and is also the easiest to clean. Gloss paint is generally used for painting trim and is usually not a good choice for walls. Gloss paint is also commonly used to paint cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms.

Choosing a paint finish is a matter of personal preference, just remember that the more sheen a paint has the more durable it will be. In general, you get what you pay for. Buy the best quality paint you can afford. High quality paint makes the paint job last longer, is less prone to turning yellow with age, goes on smoother, and is also less likely to leave brush marks in the finish.

If you are not sure of what sheen or color will be best for the room you are painting, it would be a good idea to buy several quarts of paint to test before you purchase the full amount of paint that you will need. Many of the large retail paint outlets even sell small sample containers of paint which are great for testing different sheen's and colors at a small price.

Paint swatches are your best friend when it comes to choosing paint colors to decorate the walls, furniture and other items within your home. A paint swatch has been designed to show you the many shade possibilities you have if your focus is on one particular color.

For instance, if you wish to paint your room blue possible shades that await you include: azure, cerulean, periwinkle, denim, navy blue, cobalt blue, sapphire, ultramarine, light blue, indigo and hundreds of other hues.

Something else you will notice when looking at blue paint swatches, for example, is that you can choose blue hues that feature tones of green, purple and gray. Therefore, you have plenty to consider when you go color hunting.

The only problem is, with so much to choose from, finding the right shade can be both a difficult and tedious task.

To help you narrow down your decision making when it comes time to stare at the wall of paint swatches at your local paint or home improvement store, the following are some helpful interior painting tips you can keep in mind:

Warm or Cool - Think of the room you will be painting. Is it an area where you do most of your relaxing, entertaining or eating? For instance, if you are painting your bedroom it's a good idea to choose a cool color such as blue or green that encourages relaxation.

On the other hand, if you are painting a kitchen or dining room you may want to use a warm red or orange to help increase appetite and conversation. Warm colored paint swatches include red, yellow and orange, while cool colors are blue, green and purple.

Light - Medium -Dark - Once you select the main color, you need to decide if you would rather a light, medium or dark shade. Light shades are a good choice for rooms that are small such as bathrooms, or for rooms that have few or no windows. Light colors also create a more subdued look.

Medium tones provide a more dramatic look and are a better choice for kitchens and large open spaces such as the family room.

Dark tones are not typically used for walls and are more commonly used for painting room accents such as furniture, trim or cabinets. However, dark walls may be desirable in bedrooms or to compliment a theme.

When looking at paint swatches you will notice that the colors featured on each swatch move from dark to light. Notice how different the darkest shade is to the lightest. Depending on if you use the dark or light shade will create an entirely different affect on the room you are painting.

Theme - Do you have a theme that requires certain colors? For instance, if you are doing a country theme, light yellow and blue are ideal choices. On the other hand, a Mexican theme would require spicier colors such as cinnamon and terracotta. This is something else you need to keep in mind when looking at paint swatches.

Neutrals - One of the biggest problems with adding color to walls is the color you choose may limit your ability to keep a space versatile. In other words, it is more likely for you to grow tired of a room that has a defined color on the walls than one with a neutral shade. There are plenty of neutral swatches you can consider.

The more specific you are with your color preference the easier time you will have selecting helpful paint swatches.