Painting Tips

Nursery Painting: What Colors and Why

Businesses choose colors based on how they affect potential customers: red makes you hungry, blue makes you comfortable. This technique is used in everything from wall painting in restaurants to font choices in TV ads. At Blue Door Painting, we know that colors can evoke feelings and we love helping you achieve the ideal look and feel of your space. We also know that many new parents are looking to create a certain atmosphere – while remaining on trend – when they paint their baby’s room. Keep these tips in mind when deciding on your nursery’s color and look.

Red

 Photo courtesy of Project Nursery

If trend-spotters are to be believed, red is the new black. This powerful, passionate color is popping up in baby rooms everywhere, bringing with it a bold, emotional atmosphere. We wouldn’t recommend going full red; an accent wall or accent piece would be perfect. Be careful though – too much red can cultivate a lot of emotions…and not just positive ones.

Pink

 Photo courtesy of HGTV

Everyone knows pink as the feminine, light female color, but its calming qualities can come in handy with fussy babies. The romantic color is perfect for a princess theme, and classic pink decor in a girl’s room will never go out of style.

Orange

 Photo courtesy of HGTV

Not traditionally included in nurseries, this color is cozy. The comfortable, warm vibe given off by this hue is fun while still keeping the room calm and welcoming.

Yellow

 Photo courtesy of YouTube

As we’ve discussed in other blogs, yellow is a fun, upbeat color that inspires a cheerful personality. Be cautious with yellow in nurseries though; the brightness can be overwhelming and this color can provoke some unrest.

Green

 Photo courtesy of HGTV

Many moms- and dads-to-be choose green as a neutral compromise, especially if they’re waiting to reveal their new addition’s gender until later. This color has more value than just generic properties, though – it provokes learning and nurturing. The serene nature helps calm babies and promote happiness.

Blue

 Photo courtesy of Project Nursery

Along with pink, blue comes with a stereotype outright: boys. But unlike pink, this color is rapidly finding its way into the other gender’s rooms (in lighter, more pastel tones). For both boys and girls, blue can help with productivity, but the shade is important. Some blues – dustier, grayish blues – can lead to sadness, and deep, dark blues can be overused. Think bright, fun blues for a baby’s room.

Purple

 Photo courtesy of Waplag

If pink wasn’t “princess” enough, consider purple since it’s fit for a queen! The color of royalty, this option lends itself well to girls’ rooms, giving a luxurious atmosphere. On top of the royal treatment, purple also has calming qualities to help with fussier babies.

White

 Photo courtesy of Project Bursery

White in nurseries has taken a backseat to more bold choices and statements, but still has its merits. Even white walls need statement colors – photos here, decor there – but the angelic nature of the color is attractive to some parents who don’t yet know what they’re having. Careful, though – white stains easily!

Black

 Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

Minimalist parents will love the idea of a black (and white) nursery; clean lines, modern edges and a powerful atmosphere. However, strong and dark hues like black should be used in moderation (accents, linens, etc.) and only in rooms with plenty of light.

Have a dream nursery in mind? Get in touch today to let us help you achieve that dream.

Painting Tips

Top 5 – Greiges for Interiors

 Perfect Greige SW 6073, Mega Greige SW 7031, Sticks and Stones SW 7503, Alpaca SW  7022 , Agreeable Gray SW 7029, blue door painting, chicago painters

Gray and beige are two of the Blue Door Painting team’s favorite choices for interiors, so it’s not surprising that we adore ‘greiges’ – mixes of both gray and beige shades. If you can’t decide which neutral to use, get the best of both worlds for your interior updates with our top five greige shades!

1. Perfect Greige SW 6073

This rich, intense color makes a statement while still keeping things neutral. This version of greige is warm and cozy, creating a perfect atmosphere and backdrop for bolder pieces.

2. Mega Greige SW 7031

Step up the intensity of Perfect Greige and you have Mega Greige. There’s so much drama in this shade! It’s gorgeous and pairs will with both light and dark touches, but shouldn’t be used to lighten a room.

3. Sticks and Stones SW 7503

This warm greige has lots of brown undertones and we absolutely love it in kitchens with rich wooden cabinetry and/or decor. White trim and accents work perfectly with this shade.

4. Alpaca SW 7022

Looking for something softer? This light and lovely shade is a cooler take on the greige phenomenon. If you have a darker room that needs to be lightened or a space with natural light that you want to enhance, this is the ideal choice.

5. Agreeable Gray SW 7029

Contrary to the name, this shade is actually in the greige family based on the noticeable beige/brown undertones. It’s light and neutral, and can be paired with a wide variety of colors to accent or brighten a space.

 Perfect Greige SW 6073, Mega Greige SW 7031, Sticks and Stones SW 7503, Alpaca SW  7022 , Agreeable Gray SW 7029, blue door painting, chicago painters

Our Top Five series is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas or color inspiration? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found the perfect greige and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Painting Tips

Order of Operations for DIY Interior Painting

 DIY Paint Tips, Chicago Painters, Blue Door Painting, How-To Interior Painting, Interior Painting Checklist

Looking to DIY an interior paint job? Make sure you’re prepared with our how-to checklist for a professional-looking finished product.

First, the preparation.

Preparation is as important – if not more so – than the paint itself. Start by clearing the area and covering floors and furniture with drop cloths. Then sand and clean all the surfaces you intend to paint. Next, fill any cracks or holes with with high quality spackle. Lastly, line the edges with painter’s tape to keep errant strokes off surfaces you don’t mean to paint. Check out our blog post on wall prep for more details.

Next, ceilings.

Once everything is put away and properly covered, start painting the ceilings. This is partially to get the hard part out of the way, but also because ceilings can dry without worry of being touched or smudged while you work on the rest of the room.

Then come the walls.

Now you get to the meat of the project – the walls. If the paint you’ve chosen doesn’t have a primer in it, prime the walls first (same with the ceiling) and allow time for that to dry before diving into the color. Once color has been applied, make sure everything looks even and apply further coats if necessary.

What about trim?

Completely depends on the job and where the trim is located. Either way, ceilings will still come first, followed then by either walls or trim.

The finisher.

Once the paint is on, let the room do its thing. Avoid opening windows – this may seem counterintuitive, since open windows means free-flowing air to help paint dry, but it can also mean bugs, dust and other particles landing on the wet paint and finding a permanent home on your freshly colored walls. Once all areas of the room have dried, check to make sure everything is coated properly, pack up and clean your tools and accessories, uncover your furniture, and leave your room looking brand new.

Sound like too much work? Bring in the professionals to do it for you! Blue Door Painting is a five-star rated, highly experienced professional interior painting contractor that has been transforming homes in the Chicago area for over 35 years. We’re experts in complete, full-service interior painting for existing homes, gut rehabs, home renovations and new construction projects. Get a FREE quote today!

Painting Tips

Top 5 – Beiges for Interiors

 Top interior beige paint Indian River 985 Benjamin Moore, Pashimna AF100 Benjamin Moore, Tapestry Beige OC-32 Benjamin Moore, Brandy Cream 1030 Benjamin Moore, Accessible Beige 7036 Sherwin Williams

Who says beige has to be boring? At Blue Door Painting, we see a trendy, neutral color for interior updates and chill atmospheres. We compiled our favorite beiges in the list below:

1. Indian River BM 985

This beige is anything but dull! Layer the drama from the very beginning, starting with the walls and working up to the ceiling. This tone is a saturated color that stands up well alongside dark furniture or gold accents.

2. Pashmina BM AF100

Soft and romantic, Pashmina is a muted taupe that ‘s super elegant and comfortable. This beige variant is easy to love in any room.

3. Tapestry Beige BM OC-32

If you’re looking for what we’d consider a classic beige, Tapestry is for you! This shade is timeless but looks fresh and new. Whether it’s the featured color or a backdrop for other design elements, this color can work in any space.

4. Brandy Cream BM 1030

Brandy Cream is a great neutral option when you need to bring light into your space. It works great with a minimalist style and provides a beautiful contrast with dark wood floors. Perhaps more cream than beige, but an unstoppable neutral!

5. Accessible Beige SW 7036

Like the name suggests, this is an accessible, malleable shade. There are no orange or brown undertones in this color; instead, it’s a crisp, clear beige that radiates light and makes the perfect backdrop for whites.

 Indian River 985 Benjamin Moore, Pashimna AF100 Benjamin Moore, Tapestry Beige OC-32 Benjamin Moore, Brandy Cream 1030 Benjamin Moore, Accessible Beige 7036 Sherwin Williams

Our Top Five series is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas or color inspiration? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found an ideal beige and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Painting Tips

Bold Kitchen Cabinet Colors

Out with the old, boring kitchen colors and in with the new, vibrant tones! Blue Door Painting wants to upgrade your kitchen with these interesting and on-trend color options.

Neutral Grays:

Kendall Charcoal (HC 166)

This luxurious shade pops perfectly against vibrant metals or when paired with bright counters or trim. This versatile neutral would work nicely with most palettes.

Hazy Skies (OC 48) 

Subtlety is key with this delicate option. Hazy Skies evokes a misty, soft feel in any room that reminds us of lazy Sundays in summertime.

Greiges:

Stone Hearth CC-490

 Photo by Benjamin Moore

Photo by Benjamin Moore

A seemly unorthodox choice, this version of greige can accentuate other colors or pair well as the featured shade against bright white cabinets or counters.

Tapestry Beige BM OC32 

You can’t go wrong with off-white! This color is a part of the Benjamin Moore Off-White Collection, and looks amazing against a range of tiles, granites and beautiful backsplashes.

 Kendall Charcoal HC 166 Benjamin Moore, Hazy Skies OC 48, Stone Hearth CC 490, Tapestry Beige OC 32

Cool Colors:
Down Pipe

Dark moody blues are showing up more and more in kitchen designs and we are in love with these saturated rich colors. This shade has deep blue undertones and is a wonderful way to create a dramatic and chic look with your cabinets.

Van Deusen Blue HC-156 

This blue will pair well with white or grey cabinets for a fresh look. A white marble countertop with grey veining would be the perfect finishing touch. For a contrasted look, paint lower cabinets blue and uppers in white or a light grey. Another blue that would work well is Downpour Blue 2063-20.

Forest Green 

 Photo by Studio McGee

We absolutely love the patterned tile to accompany this bold choice. Some other color options to give the same dramatic effect include: Green Bay and Hunt Club.

 Down Pipe No 26 Farrow & Ball, Van Deusen Blue HC-156 Benjamin Moore, Forest Green 2047-10 Benjamin Moore Blue Door Painting

This color inspo is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found your dream cabinet color and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Painting Tips

Top 5 – Interior Grays

 Top Interior Grays Greys Repose Gray SW 7015, Gray Owl OC-52 Benjamin Moore, Timber Wolf 1600, Mindful Gray 7016 Sherwin Williams, Classic Gray OC-23 Benjmain Moore

Gray is anything but bland – it continues to shine as a popular choice in interiors, from interior walls to cabinets and veining in marble choices. The Blue Door Painting design team expects this trend and its “greige” color cousin to stick around.

Thinking about updating your interior with some trendy neutrals? Check out some of our favorite grey and “greige” options, as well as some beige wall colors that combine beautifully with gray decor elements.

1) Repose Gray SW 7015 

This Sherwin Williams shade is the perfect gray base with warm undertones. It immediately creates a comfortable and warm feeling of home. There’s nothing flat or dull about this gray!

2) Gray Owl BM OC-52

Scared gray walls may be too overwhelming? Consider this soft-as-a-cloud option. It features cooler tones and is gentle on the eyes. The adaptable shade is approachable and picks up the tone from the surrounding environment.

3) Timber Wolf BM 1600

Not for faint hearted, Timber Wolf by Benjamin Moore is a bold saturated color that provides drama without draining the light from the room. Embrace the gray and make a daring statement with this moody and deep color. Bonus: It plays well with gold touches.

4) Mindful Gray SW 7016

This versatile and warm gray is in the same family as Repose Gray. This shade is a perfect neutral that works beautifully with any color combinations because it has enough coolness to transition. Mindful is not only great for walls, but makes for a classy cabinet color.

5) Classic Gray BM OC-23

Names can be deceiving – this color is actually part of the Benjamin Moore Off-White collection. It’s a subtle nuance off-white with just enough gray to make our top five. Classic Gray walls create a tranquil and serene environment, so this is the perfect base to create a restful space.

 Top Interior Grays Greys Repose Gray SW 7015, Gray Owl OC-52 Benjamin Moore, Timber Wolf 1600, Mindful Gray 7016 Sherwin Williams, Classic Gray OC-23 Benjmain Moore Blue Door Painting

Our new Top Five series will join our Job of the Month series as a regular facet of the Blue Door Painting blog. It is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas or color inspo? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found your perfect gray and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Painting Tips

Get Passionate with October’s Color of the Month

Let Jasmin and the pros from Jasmin Reese Interiors fill you in on the fall trends.

The recent fall chill has us wanting to snuggle up with a glass of wine and a book at home, now that the season of bike rides and rooftop barbecues has come to an end. We’re inspired by the power of the color red to bring vitality and warmth to interior spaces this season. Take a look at some ways to use the bold hue around your home for dramatic and beautiful effects!

Reds works well in the coziest places in your home, such as libraries, bedrooms and dining rooms. The cheery red paint on this living room gallery wall creates a stunning contrast for the white matted photography, simultaneously adding a touch of formality and warmth. You can use red in larger rooms to warm up a space and unify a design, rather than cooler tones you might choose for smaller spaces to make them appear larger.

This lavish guest bedroom’s muted red and gold patterned wallpaper is complemented by the sumptuous velvet headboard and luxe fur bed cover, and is given an extra touch of class from a classic red leather ottoman.

We absolutely adore the unapologetic luxury of these crushed red velvet chairs, adding warmth and style to this cool, airy Paris conservatory. The romantic red furniture paired with the sharp contrast of the simple black and white tile floor is fabulous. You might take this inspiration to your kitchen and get a similarly striking effect by pairing vibrant red cabinets with a geometric black and white tile backsplash, and of course lots of plants!

In the feng shui tradition, red is said to be best for dining rooms because the fiery color can raise one’s blood pressure and heart rate, and may serve to stimulate conversation and connection. We couldn’t agree more with this theory, and have found that reds work especially well in social spaces, like this formal dining room with deep berry walls and dark wood furniture. The gentle glow of the wall sconces complete the inviting feel.

Pantone’s Color of the Year in 2015 was a lovely soft purplish red called Marsala, which offers a strikingly elegant backdrop for this gorgeous white stone hearth.

Here are our paint selects for autumn reds: Sherwin Williams Real Red is a great selection for a brighter tone, or Benjamin Moore Mediterranean Spice for a softer shade.

sherwin-williams-real-red

sherwin-williams-real-red

benjamin-moore-mediterranean-spice

benjamin-moore-mediterranean-spice

There are lots of powerful ways to use red in your interior space to create a daring contemporary look or a homey, welcoming vibe. If you’re not ready to dive in by painting your entire walls red, try painting just the molding and trim in a room, or adding some pieces of red furniture and flowers around your home!

Need help finding just the right red? Call us for a free color consultation.

Looking for professionals to do the painting for you? Call Blue Door Painting today.

Painting Tips

Painting Prep: Walls

Painting isn’t just about colors – there’s an art to the whole process. Understanding the painting process and the order of operations for the project can help you prepare your home or office. First, you prep. Surface preparation is hugely important, though some painting companies will skip it or speed through the process. Believe us when we say that a high quality end result is the product of meticulous work up front, and the prep portion should never be rushed or ignored.

Drop cloths or other covers should be used on floors and fixed furniture pieces to keep dust and paint at bay.

Next, high use surfaces such as kitchen walls and ceilings or mudroom walls that may have additional grease and grime need to be washed since dirt, oil, dust and other particles can prevent paint from adhering fully and properly. A best practice is to use a light detergent (that won’t leave a residue) to scrub the walls, taking extra care with trim and doors and giving a final wipe down with clean water and cloths.

If your surface has a gloss or shiny finish on it, creating a slippery texture, it’s necessary to sand that down. Glossy paints look great, but will hinder the outcome of a repaint. After sanding the walls, revert back to the previous step, taking care to get all dust from the sanding process off of the walls before they dry. Your handy vacuum cleaner is great for capturing dust created from the sanding process as well.

Once the surface is clean, filling any holes or imperfections with high quality spackle is next in line. This could mean cracks, nail holes, dips in the surface – anything that might affect the look of the final product. Along the way, there may be areas of loose paint – the loose flakes can be removed by hand, and the surrounding edges can be sanded.

If there is more significant wall or ceiling damage such as large holes or water damage, additional drywall or surface repairs may be needed prior to painting.

Lastly, painter’s tape should be applied to the corners and edges you’d like to keep paint-free.

Seem like a lot of work? Call the professionals to do it for you! Call Blue Door Painting today.

Painting Tips

Adding Order to the Operation

Our last blog explored wall preparation, one of the many steps we take to get your home or office looking amazing. This time around, we want to take it a little farther to help you understand the order of operations for painting any given room.

First, the prep.

We’ve covered this, but suffice it to say that preparation is as important – if not more so – than the paint itself.

Next, ceilings.

Once we have everything put away and properly covered, we start painting the ceilings. This is partially to get the hard part out of the way, but also because ceilings can dry without worry of being touched or smudged while we work on the rest of the room.

Then come the walls.

Now we get to the meat of the project – the walls. If the paint you’ve chosen doesn’t have a primer in it, we’ll prime the walls first (same with the ceiling) and allow time for that to dry before diving into the color. Once we’ve applied color, we’ll make sure everything looks great and dries evenly, and apply further coats if necessary.

What about trim?

This really depends on the job and where the trim is located. Either way, ceilings will still come first, followed then by either walls or trim.

The finisher.

Generally, once the paint is on, we let the room do its thing. Once all areas of the room have dried, we check to make sure everything is coated properly, reinstall outlet covers and any other items removed from the walls during the prep process, pack up our tools and accessories, conduct a final cleaning of the work area and floors, uncover and move all of your furniture back into place, and voila! – leave your room looking brand new.


We’re ready to start at the beginning for you – Call Blue Door Painting today.

Painting Tips

Upgrade with Painted Porch Swings

For city dwellers lucky enough to have a porch, adding a swing is the perfect touch for a livable, enjoyable outdoor space. Aside from enjoying beautiful nights on the swing, you also allow yourself an opportunity to use the piece as another facet of your decor. Take a look at your porch, your home’s exterior and your vision for your outdoor space and consider these paint ideas to help bring all those elements together.

White

Photo courtesy of Southern Living

This traditional, classic look goes well with most exterior color schemes and offers a wide range of decorative options. White painted wood evokes a cottage or farmhouse theme that you can easily extend to the rest of the porch’s atmosphere.

Black

Photo courtesy of Southern Living

If your home already has some darker elements, this is a beautiful option. Adding bright, contrasting furniture and decor around the swing will help make the other colors pop.

Multi-Color

Photo courtesy of Sunlit Spaces Photo courtesy of Thistlewood Farms

You can incorporate any two colors into your porch’s decor with a cute two-tone pattern like the black and white example above. You can even mix it up – paint every other wood plank a different color, paint just the seat and arm rests white the rest a vibrant hue, go with different colored seats, etc.

Bold Hues

Photo courtesy of Design Trends Red painted porch swing Photo courtesy of Waplag

A swing is a perfect accent (or focal) piece for your porch. Get creative with bright and bold statements like primary colors and pastels.

Not sure what color to choose? Call us for a free color consultation.

Looking for professionals to do the painting for you? Call Blue Door Painting today.

Painting Tips

Accent Pieces: Painted Furniture

Thrift shoppers and DIY-ers alike will love this idea: transform a room by taking a bland piece of furniture and turning it into a unique accent with a coat of paint. Recycling (or upcycling) a piece give you a new look and opens dozens of new doors for the rest of the room’s decor.
Whether it’s a piece you already have (think rocking chairs and coffee tables) or a piece you pick up on your next antiquing trip, you can create a new theme and feel with as little as one coat of color.

Photo courtesy of Frog Prince Paperie

Photo courtesy of Frog Prince Paperie

Create an accent piece that fits the flow of the room:

Photo courtesy of 33 Dodo

Photo courtesy of 33 Dodo

You can get creative with patterns too:

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Photo courtesy of Serena and Lily

Photo courtesy of Serena and Lily

But white pieces make for pretty additions too:

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Get creative – try a new piece, a new finish, a bright color or a bold metallic to spice up your home. There are no limits and no reasons not to accent your spaces with personal, colorful touches.

Not sure how to work color into your home? Call us today for a free color consultation.

Painting Tips

Freshen Up Your Space with Green

Need a little color inspiration? Let our interior design partners at Jasmin Reese Interiors tell you about May’s color of the month: green!

Here in Chicago, the spring comes pretty late in the year. We’re just starting to see a riot of flowers budding on the trees in Lincoln Park, and so many lovely shades springing up all over the city!

For us, green represents renewal and revitalization, and reminds us to appreciate and be inspired by nature. To highlight the visual appeal of this undeniably fresh color, we have selected some of the best uses for green we’ve seen in the design world recently.

Photo courtesy of Rue Magazine

Photo courtesy of Rue Magazine

Green is a beautiful and versatile choice for the walls in your home. Bolder than a typical neutral tone, but always classic and crisp, green is often a fabulous choice for interiors.

We adore the way this jungle-esque large-print banana leaf wallpaper combines with an elegant, muted rose upholstered dining set to deliver just the right amount of zing to the room.

Photo courtesy of the Glam Pad

Photo courtesy of the Glam Pad

We just installed this delightful green zebra-striped wallpaper by Schumacher in a sassy Lincoln Park powder room, and we’re so happy with the results!

Schumacher - Zebra Palm Linen Print

Schumacher – Zebra Palm Linen Print

This addition of a rich green accent wall gives this room an air of sleek sophistication, and we love how it draws out the bright hue of the palm plant.

Cilantro Green Sherwin-Williams

Benjamin Moore Seaweed Green

 

Right now, our favorite green paint picks are Benjamin Moore – Seaweed and Sherwin Williams – Cilantro. Don’t forget — effective lighting for your rooms is essential to help the colors shine!

Naturally, green evokes plants and the organic world. We’d like to leave you with this image of maze gardens at Ruspoli Castle in Northern Lazio, Italy for inspiration.

Maze Gardens at Ruspoli Castle / Northern Lazio, Italy

Maze Gardens at Ruspoli Castle / Northern Lazio, Italy

Think you’d like to liven up your home or office with some naturally inspired hues? Call us for a free color consultation with Jasmin.

Painting Tips

Make a Statement with Metallics

Sometimes you want a room to feel spectacular – more than just a regular coat of flat paint can provide. For those daring enough to make a statement, paint companies are selling metallics.
Generally reserved for dining rooms, the metallic look is making its way into other areas of the house with patterns and new color options.

Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

These options are great for a statement wall or sitting room, or for a naturally dark bedroom. The metallic textures take a few more coats than a normal gloss, but they add a warm glow and an upscale, classy look to any room.

If you aren’t interested in a full sheen, consider patterns like these:

Photo courtesy of Cutting Edge Stencils

Photo courtesy of Cutting Edge Stencils

Photo courtesy of Cutting Edge Stencils

Photo courtesy of Cutting Edge Stencils

And don’t just consider gold, silver and bronze when adding extra glam to your home – Sherwin Williams and Ralph Lauren both have metallic options that span the color wheel.
 

Think metallics would look great in your home? Contact Blue Door Painting today for a free estimate.

Painting Tips

Paint Types: What Do They Mean?

So you need to paint something in your home. Calling the experts is always our recommendation, but what if you just need to touch something up? Or maybe you’re feeling creative on a budget. Just making a trip to the hardware store isn’t enough when it comes to a quality paint job, especially when there are so many options on shelves. Take a look at the ins and outs of paint types and what all the buzzwords mean before you make a purchase.

Primer

Though it isn’t technically considered paint, primer is important. Primer helps cover and smooth a surface prior to a new coat of paint, and should correspond to the type of paint you plan to use – oil-based or water-based. Skip it if you’re just touching up a corner, but larger jobs can benefit from a primer coat.

Oil-based vs. Water-based

Pros of oil-based paints:

  • More durable overall than water-based options
  • Oil-based enamels are shiny

Cons of oil-based paints:

  • Takes longer to fully dry
  • Cleaning oil-based paints is more difficult – you’ll need harsher, more potent chemicals to truly clean it

Pros of water-based paints:

  • Requires just water and mild soap to clean
  • A longer lifespan; resists the “yellowing” sometimes seen with older oil-based paint jobs

Cons of water-based paints:

  • Not as shiny as oil-based counterparts

Finishes

Each paint has a specific chemical make-up, but also a distinct finish. Take a look at the three most popular finish options and what they mean.

Eggshell paint finish

Eggshell paint finish

 

  • Flat finish: If you’re looking to update walls and ceilings, flat is a popular option.
     
  • Semi-gloss and Gloss finishes: These are generally shiny, hard wearing enamels, and many people like to use them on wood surfaces.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paints are water-based and, unlike latex paint which lacks actual latex, includes acrylic in the ingredients. This type can get confusing, as you’ll see “acrylic latex,” “acrylic enamel” or “acrylic latex enamel” but suffice it to say they are all water-based and offer varying degrees of shine.

Specialty paints

In some cases, you can find paints with additional perks like anti-mold features or hypoallergenic ingredients. There are even anti-condensation additives in some options, making those brands great for kitchens and bathrooms. Take a look at all brand options – and ingredients – before making a decision.

Need more direction or help deciding on a color? Call us today for a free color consultation. Overwhelmed with the options? Let us give you a free quote for your project.

Painting Tips

Spruce Up Your Interior Painting With Pastels

Interior Painting Tips Using Pastels

Whether you want to get a jump on summer trends or follow springtime traditions, pastels are the perfect addition to your color scheme or interior painting project. These pale palettes can add a relaxing feel to any room, as well as open up a world of decorating opportunity with accents and furniture.

Bedroom

Bedroom Interior Paint Recommendations

You want your sleeping space to be cozy and soothing, so pastels are a natural color choice for bedrooms. Popular for nurseries, these paint tones can bridge the gap between kids’ rooms and adult living spaces if done correctly.

Photo courtesy of thedecorguru.com

Light colors allow for freedom with linens – whites, beiges, grays and other colors can be seamlessly worked into the room without contrasting with the walls and decor.

Photo courtesy of Behr

Kitchen

Kitchen Interior Paint Color Ideas

Though sprucing up the walls with a fresh coat of pastel yellow paint like Benjamin Moore Pineapple Grove (color code 333) can instantly brighten your kitchen, don’t ignore other aspects of the room. Pastel appliances, chairs and other elements can take an otherwise bland room and make it an enjoyable space with style and function. Likewise, painting kitchen cabinets is often an inexpensive option for giving your kitchen a fresh, updated look.

Photo courtesy of toriejayne.com

Living Room

Painting Tips for your Living Room

Pastels are versatile – they don’t need to keep a modern theme. If you’re feeling vintage, work some yellows and greens into your living room to compliment wood floors and beige furnishings.

Photo courtesy of Behr

Not into the throwback look? Keep pastels in mind as an alternative to safe tans and creams. They aren’t going to distract from the room in the way a bold, bright accent wall might, but they’ll give you a more personalized, individual look that will guide the rest of your decorating decisions.

Photo courtesy of Behr

Bathroom

Interior Painting for Bathroom Walls and Ceilings

Your time in the bathroom should be calming and relaxed, so create a light, airy theme or a beachy look with pastels. Walls and ceilings shouldn’t be ignored, but this look can be achieved with towels, stylish rugs and small decor pieces in an otherwise bright, white space.

Photo courtesy of waplag.net

Ready to spruce up your interior with some beautiful pastels? Contact us today for a free quote. Still need some ideas? Talk to our interior design experts for a free color consultation before diving into a new look.