Trim Your Home With
Paint Color
If you love the look
of today's colorful paints, but you're not ready to repaint an entire room,
don't despair! You can give a room-or your entire home-a striking new look
by painting just the woodwork or trim. What's more, it's fast and easy to
do.
Experts say that painting
just the trim in a room can give the space a very different appearance.
But it can also serve as a decorating "stepping stone," allowing you to
repaint the walls and ceiling later on, for a completely new look.
What sort of trim
can be repainted? Nearly any type of woodwork, as well as metal, or even
vinyl. Crown molding, baseboards, window frames, doors, chair rails, mantles
and staircase railings are all prime candidates for color. See how each
of these accents work in your home, and determine how big a change you
want to make.
Next, be sure to properly
prepare the surface that you will be painting. That means thoroughly cleaning
and drying the surface, scraping away any loose or flaking paint, sanding
rough edges and glossy areas on paint, and-for best results -priming all
surfaces with a top quality primer.
Carefully consider
both the gloss level and quality of paint you will use. Selecting an interior
paint with some level of sheen or gloss will help create visual interest
on trim. Paints with higher gloss levels are also more durable, more stain-resistant,
and easier to clean than are flat paints, an important consideration for
trim that is likely to be touched or handled frequently-like windows and
doors.
As for quality, experts
at the Paint Quality Institute recommend that you always use top-of-the-line
paint when painting trim. In most cases, a top quality acrylic latex paint
is the best choice. These coatings go on smoothly and evenly, cover well,
resist stains and touch-up better than ordinary paint.
Now, zero in on the
color of paint you want to use. If you are not quite ready to go bold,
add a fresh coat of white paint to your trim. This will freshen the look
of almost any room. If you are a bit more adventurous, choose an off-white,
ivory or beige for your accents. Even these light tints will make a surprising
difference in the look of most rooms.
If you are ready to
paint your trim a stronger color, and you have neutral walls, you're in
luck. Simply pick your favorite color, since virtually any color will
coordinate with white or beige walls. Neutral walls look great when trimmed
in deep shades, but even pastel accents can add sophistication to a room.
If the walls of the
room are already a bold color, choose a deeper shade of the same hue for
a color-coordinated look. More complex color schemes are especially interesting,
where the color of the trim complements, but does not exactly match, the
wall color. Check the color cards where you buy your paint for some inspiring
ideas on compatible tints, shades and hues.
For more information
on color and interior painting, consult a knowledgeable salesperson
wherever you buy paint. Or visit the Paint Quality Institute's
Web site at www.paintquality.com.
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