The Springtime Spruce Up
It's been one long winter in New England! At times I've felt as though I were living in a snow globe, and I've lost track of how many days we saw temperatures in the teens. I've had enough!
A few weeks ago, desperate to bring some warmth into our home and freshen it up, I decided it was time to paint.
My daughter Gia and I had a lot of fun choosing the colors and trying out lots of combinations before we decided on the right ones.
Painting was a bigger job than I remembered, but worth the effort. Our home looks beautiful, and each time I walk into my kitchen I smile at the lovely colors on the walls. As you can see from the photo we decided on two colors instead of one to make it more fun.
It's important to prepare a bit before jumping in to paint. Consider these 3 things before you start:
1. Sample colors at home. It's very difficult to know how a color will look on your wall based on a small piece of paper in the store. And, while investing in a test quart can be expensive (especially if you can't make up your mind), it's worth the time and effort. These days many paint manufacturers offer smaller samples of paint, which I highly recommend.
Consider, too, the finish of the paint. While glossy paints are easier to clean, they make blemishes stand out. I prefer an eggshell finish for the walls and a flat finish paint for the ceilings.
2. Get the room ready. Although you might think that most of your time painting a room would be spent actually painting, the truth is that about 80% of your time is spent doing prep work! Make sure you clean the walls before you paint so that dust and debris don't get trapped underneath. Patch, spackle and seal stains to smooth out any imperfections in your walls.
It's important to lay drop cloths and clear the room of all furniture so that you can easily move around while painting. Depending on the color you choose and how much repair work has been done on the walls, you may need to put down a primer coat first.
3. Use the right equipment. Make sure you're using the right-sized brushes for the job. Use large brushes to cover large surfaces and smaller brushes for smaller areas. By doing this, you'll be applying the right amount of paint to each area. To cut in at the corners, use a 2" brush with tapered edges. Make sure you have brushes with high quality bristles that flex at their tips, so that they spring back into shape after each stroke. Also, tug on the bristles before you buy each brush; if more than two bristles fall out, you need to choose a higher quality. Lastly, make sure it feels comfortable in your hand.
Invest in an extension pole to save your back, and have a good, sturdy ladder for painting around the ceiling and molding. Use rollers for big, flat areas and make sure the nap matches the job.
Use these last few weekends of early spring to transform your home with beautiful colors and a fresh coat of paint. You'll be surprised at what a difference it can make! And when the warm weather finally settles in, you'll be too busy enjoying the great outdoors to paint!
Crank up the tunes and paint away the winter blues!
