North Jersey Home Design News: Whether you need to set up a nursery for a new baby, or update a room for a growing child; painting is an easy and cost-effective way to create just the right atmosphere. But knowing how to get started can feel overwhelming. These tips will help you choose the best type and color of paint, while keeping the process quick and stress-free.
Sheen Savvy
Sheen determines how shiny your paint looks when it’s dry. Choosing the right sheen adds the perfect finishing touch on a room, and it can make a big difference when it comes to cleaning up.
Semi-Gloss – Brings a soft shine to the room without being overpowering. It’s good for kids’ rooms because it’s durable and easy to clean. You can wipe off crayon and pencil marks with common non-abrasive cleaners.
Eggshell/Satin – Has a smooth finish with a subtle sheen, and is washable and scrubbable.
Flat – A beautiful matte coating with no shine. It is ideal for low-traffic areas and hides minor dents or nicks best.
Choosing Colors
For many DIYers, choosing paint colors can be a tricky and time-intensive process. There are so many options and many people worry about making a big color mistake. Get inspired – Look through magazines, websites such as Pinterest, an online pinboard, and even at friends’ homes to get some ideas. You can also take some inspiration from these color collections by Glidden Paint – available on their website.
Top 10 Baby Colors
Celery Sticks
Bubblegum Pink
Iced Purple
Spring Bluebell
Early Morning Sun
Sweet Baby Boy
Sweet Baby Girl
Walnut Bark
Mint Shake
Rich Navy
Top 10 Growing Up Colors
True Turquoise
Blue Marina
Rich Navy
Sunbaked Orange
Spring Green
Refreshing Mimosa
Blooming Fuchsia
Fresh Pink Lemonade
Lilac Bouquet Sunbeam
Try them out – Once you’ve narrowed down your color choices, try out your top picks to see how they will look in the room with your specific lighting conditions. For example, Glidden paint testers come in a variety of colors from the Glidden Brilliance Collection paint, which is available only at Walmart stores. The testers have a built-in brush and hold enough paint to cover three square feet so you can experiment with several colors before making a final decision.
Painting Tips
Consider using a combination paint and primer – it can save you time and money by eliminating the need to use two painting products.
Work from the ceiling down to the baseboards.
Do one entire wall or area at a time.
Use wide masking tape to mask off areas you don’t want to paint, such as window panes or trim.
Use a roller to paint in blocks of roughly 4 x 4 feet.
Paint adjacent blocks before each previous block dries to help blend the edges.
Paint molding and woodwork with a brush, in the direction of the wood grain.
Use short strokes to coat the surface, then use longer, smoother strokes for an even and finished surface.
Make sure the room is well ventilated as you paint.
Pick a paint that dries quickly and has low odor, so your child can move into the newly painted space sooner.
To get more inspiration and helpful painting tips, visit www.Glidden.com. You can also try a virtual room painter or calculate how much paint you’ll need for your next project. Glidden & Brilliance Collection are trademarks of the AkzoNobel group of companies and Pinterest is a service mark of Pinterest, Inc.
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