Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts

Monday, 6 August 2012

Decorative Painting Stencils

Ned Kelly stencils by Ha-Ha, Melbourne

Cutting Out Stencils For Decorative Painting


By 





Cutting out stencils is the extra step of a cut-and-paint stencil design. Cut-and-paint stencils require you to actually cut out the openings (islands) where paint is applied. However, for the extra work, they provide some great advantages.

A cut-and-paint stencil design is usually printed on paper and so it can be reduced or enlarged to fit almost any project size. This is a big deal. If you like a Plastic Pre-Cut Stencil and it comes in two sizes -small at 2' and large at 4'- and the area you have for an image is 1' then the plastic stencil will not work for you. Take a cut-and-paint design to a copy machine and resize it to whatever your project area requires. Flexibility is great!

Also, cut-and-paint stencils are less expensive. You are not paying for the manufacture, warehousing and shipping of a product. If you can find downloadable stencil designs you can have your stencil immediately and no delay to your project. Just download the design and print out on your printer.

So far I referred to cutting out stencils on paper, but you have other options. You can purchase sheets of materials like acetate, mylar, wax paper, stencil film or clear overlays. These options allow you to create a permanent stencil that will be resistant to the penetration of oil, dyes, and water-base paints and ink. Simply trace your design onto the stencil film and cut.

You will find many options for materials useful in stencil making. They can be found at your local craft supply store, on line and office supply stores. You'll find it sold in letter size sheets or rolls for larger stencils. You may even find some clear sheets that will work in your printer or copy machine. When you are looking for a good film for making stencils, you want a material that will accept ink or marker so that you can trace onto it. Look for a matte finish. Also, a matter finish is best for the finished stencil because it will not encourage paint to seep under the edges.

Well on to the one disadvantage: Cutting the stencil.

If your paper stencils are in a book, I would recommend making a copy of each stencil overlay for the project you have chosen. By using the copies, your book and originals are preserved for future use. Don't forget that you can reduce or enlarge the size to fit the area you want to place the picture when you make copies.

Using a craft-knife cut out the objects on the stencil. Make sure your blade is sharp at all times. Dull blades may cause a paper stencil to tear or not go completely through plastic sheeting. The goal is to cut along each line only once with a firm, smooth motion. With your free hand, hold the stencil firmly and rotate the stencil so that you are always cutting with your wrist at a comfortable angle. This will help you maintain control over the blade and not veer off course.

When cutting past a thin bridge area carefully use a firm finger to hold down the paper. Try to keep your fingers well away from where you are cutting. If you are working with a multi-layer stencil don't forget to cut out the registration holes in each of the four corners, which will be used for the alignment of the stencil overlays.

As for recommendations on craft knives, I prefer an X-Acto knife with a #11 triangular blade. But an OLFA knife with the snap off blade refills is a fine option too. Again, just make sure the blade is sharp. Of course, be very careful when working with a blade and protect your fingers. Always be alert.

Well, I am sure that once you get the hang of cutting out stencils you will find the many advantages well worth the extra work. Happy Stenciling!




Looking for some great and unique stencil designs? I have just the place - [http://www.designsfrompenny.com] - You'll find everything from Fleur de lis to Oriental Designs to Tree Frogs and many children's patterns. You can purchase stencils individually or in collections of related images like The Secret Garden, At the Seashore, For a Princess, Old Fashioned Luggage Labels, Wine and Spirits, Angels, Cherubs and Antique Door Hardware. And best of all you can get your stencil as a downloadable pdf so that you can get your project off to a quick start. However, if it's more stencil how to information that you seek then look no further. Just visit http://www.all-about-stencils.com (our sister site where you can find all you need to know).


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Vedrenne

Monday, 30 July 2012

Residential Paint

Light Reflectance Value shown on a Matthews Pa...

Preparation Guide For Residential Painting


By 





A fresh coat of paint can change the entire look of a room. It can add light to a dark room, or even bring much needed elegance to a particular space. Most people assume that interior residential painting is beyond their scope but with the right paint, helpful hints and a little elbow grease, anyone can complete that residential painting job and become their own re-decorator in no time.

• Interior Painting Preparation

Up to 75% of your time can be spent preparing for painting. The first step to any paint job is to make sure the workspace is clear of any furniture or valued item that could be damaged from paint splatters. You can either move them out of the room, or cover with drop cloths or old linens. Plastic floor coverings ensure that your tiles, wood flooring or carpet will not be marred by paint splatters. You should also remove all non-permanent light fixtures and outlet coverings. This will make for a much easier painting job.

• Surface Checking And Repair

While painting can help to hide some of the imperfections on the wall, it will not cover all of them. For any ragged nail holes, be sure to fill them in with spackling paste. Spackling paste is a simple fix for most small to medium sized holes, and can be found at any local hardware store.

You should also keep an eye out for cracked and loose plaster that should be chipped away with a utility knife when prepping for painting. Use a thick plaster paste to repair the crack all the way to its deepest point. Then smooth the remaining plaster for a clean finish. Make sure all repair jobs are fully dried before painting.

• Cleaning And Degreasing

Walls, ceilings, doors and trims, just like any other surfaces in a house, needs cleaning before being painted. Most stains and dirt will come off with a simple wipe down with a wet rag. But for tougher stains that needs cleaning and degreasing, mix a solution of water and basic powered laundry detergent to speed up the process. Use a clean rag soaked with the soapy mixture to wipe down the work surface and help dissolve any grease or dirt build up. Do give the surfaces another wipe with a clean, water-only soaked cloth to remove left over soap as dust or dirt left on the surface will cause your paint to chip. A clean painting surface will lead to a better paint job.

• Using The Right Paint

There are so many paint choices available that it's easy to get lost in the color aisle at the hardware store. But here are some tips to make the job of picking out that perfect color for your residential painting project easier than ever.

First, choose a primer as it will help the paint better adhere to the wall and make for a more even coat. Secondly, decide if you want a matte or glossy paint. If your walls are prone to imperfections, even after repairs, steer clear of high-gloss paints. While the paint offers high durability and easy cleaning, it might make the imperfections on your wall more obvious than it already is. Matte paint will help to hide any unfixable spots, but is much more susceptible to damage, chipping and is not as durable as glossy paint.

Do not be afraid of color and always rely on paint samples from your local paint supplier when preparing for painting. These small cans cost only a fraction of the price and can help you choose that perfect color you desire for your home.




To know more about preparing for painting tips, visit our DIY Videos at Nippon Paint Singapore. Check out ourresidential painting singapore packages to best suit your home painting needs.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Patrick

Thursday, 21 June 2012

Painters Painting


Most Popular Interior Home Paint Colors - And Why


By 








From bold colors to soft, quiet pastels, interior home painting can make a statement about each room, and help bring out the right moods for entertaining, or just relaxing quietly for the evening.

Here are the most popular colors for interior home painting projects, and why they've achieved such star-status in homes all over the nation.

Popularity Shifts with Room Function

Before looking at the most popular colors, it's important to note that the popularity of a color will depend upon the room's function, and what mood the home painters are trying to convey. For example, bright orange would not likely be a popular color for a bedroom, as this color tends to keep people awake, and would be far more appropriate for a teenager's study room or a computer room, where concentration is a must.

Keeping that in mind, there are three colors that have been getting a wide amount of usage in interior home painting - white, reds, and various shades of blue.

White

White remains a #1 staple for interior painters - for a variety of reasons. White is a safe color, and goes with every kind of flooring and furniture. Décor can be changed without worrying about having to repaint later on down the road. However, there are some limitations to white, which is why the other colors are gaining popularity. Home design experts agree that too much white can give the home a "hospital" feel - sterile, and cold.

Red

Red is a highly popular color because of its boldness and versatility, and makes an excellent accent wall. It is great for kitchens and living rooms where people wish to make an "activity" statement. By adding a touch of yellow, the red takes on an orange hue, and can brighten the mood without being overwhelming. By adding a bit of brown or coffee shades, the red becomes a dark, subdued color that is perfect for encouraging comfy and cozy dens.

Aqua and Blue Hues

Light blues and bold blue accent walls are very popular for a baby boy's bedroom. Bright blues and muted blues can be interchanged in a spa room to either give energy or add a quiet feel to the room (depending on which shade of blue is used). Blue is considered a relaxing color, and has gained popularity as a "sleepy time" color - particularly the deeper, more muted shades of blue.

Accent Walls

Some home painters break up the white monotone with accent walls, especially if they don't want to go overboard with bold colors. Sometimes interior painters will choose to do an entire room in a single bold color, which works in rooms such as dens and bathrooms. With living rooms, the interior home painting strategy of an accent wall can open up the room, making it seem bigger.

No matter what colors are chosen for an interior home painting project, choose hues that make a statement for each room, and open up a whole new world in interior design.




Steve Mike levy is an expert on Home Decorating. To learn about Interior Home painting colors and how they can be your best decorating ideas, please visit my website at http://www.paintingprosfinder.com

If your in looking to hire an interior home painter, you may be able to access instant price quotes by visiting:http://www.paintingprosfinder.com/interior_painters.php


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Mike_Levy

Monday, 4 June 2012

Decorating And Paint

Dublin Contemporary 2011 is a contemporary art...

Decorating with Paint


By 



When decorating with paint, Use the following ten suggestions for optimal results: g





1. First consider the style or decor of your home. This will impact the color. Work out what sort of look or feel you are going for, whether it is urban, contemporary, modern or traditional. Once you know the look that you like and what look will work well with the other rooms in your home, the choice of color becomes much easier. So before decorating with paint, pick the look you are going for so that the paint you choose can help you meet that objective.

2. Decide on the mood you want the room to evoke. If you want a light happy feeling, dark colors will not accomplish that mood. On the other hand, if you want a mood that invokes intimacy, study, and cuddling up with a nice book in front of a warm fire, then darker colors are perfect. Os pick your mood and you will have a better chance of pickin your colors.

3. When decorating with paint you should know that some paints look differently in different lights; then look closely at the natural light exposure the room has. The amount of natural light and exposure to bright sunlight may influence you towards a choice of cooler shades like blues and greens. Less natural light may lend itself to warmer shades. So, when selecting your choice of colors make sure you check how it looks in daylight and artificial light.

4. Decorate with paint colors that compliment the rest of your home, and your things. The color chosen should especially be compatible with the fixtures which are difficult to replace easily, for example the fire surrounds, furniture, or carpets and curtains inside the home. Paint is a lot cheaper to change then furniture is, so choose colors that compliment what you have, or your money savings in using paint to decorate will go down the drain.

5. When decorating with paint, get sample cards and hold them up to your walls in all different lights, also compare them with swatches of fabrics for furniture, window treatments etc. If you collect samples of everything from carpet to curtains, and put together a storyboard, this will help inspire your creativity and make sure you are happy with your final selection, all before you spend any money at all.

6. Before you start your paint job make sure you have bought enough paint. This is especially important if you are having it custom mixed. It can be difficult to perfectly match colors later, so rather than deal with the hassle, know what you need before hand, and be sure to get a little more than you think you need for touchups etc.

7. Decorating with paint is fun, but cleaning paint off furniture and floors is not, so be sure to clear as many items out of the room beforehand as possible, and use drop cloths to protect your floor. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated throughout your painting job so you don't hurt yourself.

8. Decorating with paint is fairly inexpensive, but you do not want to have to do it every few months, or even years, so spend a little more and make sure you buy a top quality paint. Don't use poor quality materials, and put all your hard work and planning to waste. 9. Prep your walls well before painting, even the highest quality paints do not adhere well to dirty surfaces.
10. Paint color is one of the most profound and powerful ways to shape our surroundings. Don't be afraid to go bold, you can always change your paint later if you find you hate it, but chances are you will wish you had used even more color.




HomeBuildingRemodeling.com is your source for top quality home building, remodeling and home decorating information. For free articles delivered daily by email, visit http://www.HomeBuildingRemodeling.com and enter your name and email under the Free Home Building and Remodeling Updates section.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Calderwood

House Paint

House in Augsburg-Bergheim with Wall Painting

House Painting - My Thoughts


By s





When it comes to house painting you can never be too careful on the contractor you hire. The process for painting a home in Boston should go as follows.

Before any paint is applied the site needs to be set up. The contractor should put tarps down surrounding the house that is going to be painted.

After the tarps have been set up surrounding the home ladders and or staging will need to be set up so the contractors and the contractors crew can work safely while performing the job for you.

Once everything is set up, the home itself needs to be made ready to apply paint. The process of prepping the home sometimes takes just as much time as painting the home itself. Any peeling paint will need to be removed by hand rough areas need to be sanded. Some areas may need to be sealed with caulking.

The prepping phase of a house painting job in my opinion is the most important part of the job. When care is used in this process the overall job will look ten times better than when it is rushed.

After the home is prepped properly for painting a primer is applied. You should always make sure the paint itself is of the highest quality. Never use inferior paint when painting your home. You are spending money on your home. Quality paints last much longer than inferior paints. A properly painted home, painted by hand will last for decades.

After your home has been primed by hand, the finish coats of paint can be applied Personally I like to apply two finish coats of paint after the home is primed. This method stands the test of time in New England's harsh weather over one coat.

The site is then cleaned up and the final payment should be made to the contractor promptly. This is the right way a project for a house painting should go.

Contractors who take pride in their work are extremely rare today. Care and time should be taken to find such an individual. When you take the time to find these rare contractors the job will speak for itself every time. With so many contractors out there, if you are looking for this type of contractor you have a mission ahead of you.

Great contractors do still exist you just have to find them. Ask your friends, relatives and co workers. Look online for contractors as well. And make sure you check up on the reviews of any contractor you are planning on hiring or even starting to consider hiring.

The time you spend now will be well worth it at the end when drive home after a long day at work and see your new beautifully painted home.




Boston House Painting
We provide House painting services in Boston And Throughout The Boston Area In Massachusetts. We use only the best paints and do all of our work by hand. Contact us Today for all of your house painting needs.
We are the best house painters out there.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_M_Trent

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Home Decorating Supplies

Essential Decorating Supplies Explained


Author: Jessica Thomson

When it comes to decorating supplies there are the obvious pieces of equipment and then there are other devices and accessories which are easy to overlook. Obviously your choice of tools depends on the job at hand. For instance stripping wallpaper will require different apparatus from varnishing an interior door. Therefore here is a guide to the usual suspects and some handy extras in terms of decorating supplies:

When you hear the phrase decorating supplies the things that immediately spring to mind are paint rollers and brushes. One of the most popular forms of decorative domestic work is giving an interior surface a lick of paint. Brushes are useful on things like window sills and frames where detail is important and paint rollers are used where large areas are painted a single cover. Ceilings in particular are common candidates for this as the extra reach of a roller is advantageous. Both these forms of decorating supplies come in various shapes and sizes.

Other essential decorating supplies include scrapers and filling knives. The former is used for getting rid of stray bits of wallpaper and the latter is for filling in holes and cracks in plasterwork using a thick substance which sets and can be sanded - which brings us onto our next decorating supplies; sandpaper is important for getting the final finish needed for painting and wallpapering. Available in various different grains ranging from the very fine for detailed work to coarse enough to smooth out major imperfections, this can be applied by hand or using electrical belt sanders (which get their name from the belt-shaped roll of sandpaper) or orbital ones (decorating supplies which use discs of sandpaper which are rotated at high speed).

As you can imagine none of the above decorating supplies would be effective without large sheets to help reduce the mess left by decorating. Paint splatters and blobs of stray filling agent can ruin a carpet or floorboards so it is necessary to get the right fabrics to prevent your work from being counterproductive.

We have just scratched the surface of what decorating supplies need to be bought. For the above items and a range of other pieces of kit visit Decoratingsundries.co.uk.

Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/essential-decorating-supplies-explained-728413.html

About Author:

Decorating supplies are provided by us at the most affordable prices with a huge range to choose from, we are sure to have what you need. Decoratingsundries.co.uk even provides paint rollers http://www.decoratingsundries.co.uk/- visit us today!

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Home Decorating Courses

Interior Design Courses


Author:

Interior Design Talk

If you talk about interior design, it sure is a complicated profession, many people thinks architecture is an interior designing and many confuse it with decorating, but this is something different, interior design courses will provide a profession in which you plan and organize the interior structure rather than furnishing or refinishing available interior space. It involves delivering interior environment that is practical (functional) and pleasing, interior design seems simple but there is lot more in interior design.

In past few years, there is constant increase in popularity of interior designing as a profession. Now there is licensed design professionals who are qualified by degree, experience and work. There are even organizations who are developing awareness of interior design and with their constant dedication, this profession is now at where we see it.

Interior design courses are now offering widely online, in universities and in colleges and they teach the process, principal, necessary understanding, knowledge and experience to be successful as an interior designer. If you view from consumer point of view, this all give benefits to consumer end.

Decision making process is the key in the interior designing, take a example of home designing, we eat, sleep, entertain, wash and work in home, there is no readymade design, people lives differently, so while making decision, designer make sense in relationship between home, family, owner and lifestyle.

The basic principles of good interior design are natural, the more close it will be to the nature, the more it will be practical and pleasant, 'examine the universe it will teach you how to live'. Interior Designing is an art, art of making life easier by giving environment, it involve the shaping the space, walls and surface. Dedicated skills when combine with artistic waves of mind, transform 'imagination into design'.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/interior-design-courses-1232770.html

About the Author

InteriorDesignTalk.com is an interior design consulting firm, at http://www.interiordesigntalk.com you will find many easy and useful tips of interior designing.

Monday, 2 April 2012

Decorative Paint Effects

Masking tape

What You Need to Know About the Decorative


Painter's Tools


By 





The author of a book on trim voiced his observation about how each generation of carpentry books seem to assume that carpenters know less and less. He cited the way new books having to describe in excruciating detail procedures which used to receive only rudimentary treatment, attributing this to the decline of the apprentice system in the United States. He's probably right.







The pyramids, Solomon's Temple, and the soaring cathedrals of Europe would not have been possible without the skilled craftsmen who learned their craft from skilled craftsmen before them. Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari is said to have learned violin-making in the shop of violin maker extraordinaire Nicolo Amati, but his genius couldn't be restrained, and proceeded to outshine his master . Today, Stradivarius violins, or simply Strad, are the last word in violins.

The shift toward Do-It-Yourself partly explains this phenomenon. Increasingly people would rather do things themselves rather than call in skilled help, no doubt encouraged by the abundant availability of how-to-do-it-yourself books. Often the purchase of a discount wall art or an iron wall art will require the jazzing up of the focal wall, necessitating work that the homeowner feels he can do himself. For that kind of homeowner, here's what he needs to know about tools and supplies.

PAINTBRUSHES AND APPLICATORS

You don't use just about any kind of paintbrush for a particular type of painting work. Synthetic-bristle paintbrushes are used with water-based latex and acrylic paints, while those with natural bristles are used with oil-based paints. Using natural-bristle paintbrushes with water-based paints will result in the brushes bunching together destroying the finish, although there are situations which call for the use of natural-bristle paintbrushes with water-based paints, as when streaking water-based color-washed finish, or dry-brushing water-based paints to tone down faux wood and strie finishes.

To clean paintbrushes you need brush combs to remove residual paint from brushes and align the bristles to allow for proper drying. Brush combs have a curved side opposite the teeth. This is for cleaning paint rollers.

Decorative painters also use stencil brushes, which have small and large versions. Small stencil brushes are used for fine detail work, and large stencil brushes for designs with large openings. Both synthetic- or natural-bristle stencil brushes may be used with acrylics.

Decorative painters also use artist's brushes: fan, liner, and flat. Remember always to gently stroke the bristles with your fingers after cleaning them in a stream of water using mild soap, and storing them upright on their handles afterward.

There are also sponge applicators for application on smooth, flat surfaces.

Painting walls next to moldings, ceilings, and corners can be tricky, and that's why you have paint edgers with guide wheels.

PAINT ROLLERS

If you have a wall or ceiling to paint, you use paint rollers. Paint rollers have three parts. The extension pole has a threaded female that accommodates the handle of the roller frame. Choose roller frames with nylon bearings and a threaded end. Roller pads are available in different nap thicknesses. Use synthetic or lamb's wool roller pads with water-based paints. For painting on smooth surfaces like wood, wallboard, or smooth plaster, use short-nap roller pads (1/4" to 3/8"). Use medium-nap and long-nap roller pads for everything else.

TAPES

You need tapes to cover any surrounding areas. One type is painter's masking tape. Another is painter's tape, a strip of wide brown paper with only one edge having adhesive. Stencil tape looks like masking tape, but differs from masking tape in its ability to stick to Mylar stencils without damaging them.




This Article was provided by Danita Lickfelt who writes for an online metal wall art store that features musical wall sculptures and metal wall artwork.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danita_Lickfelt

Saturday, 24 March 2012

Interior Decorating Painting

Conceptual Interior Design | 3D Decor Design |...

Interior Decorating


By 








Interior Decorating refers to the decorating and furnishing of interior spaces in homes, offices, schools, and public spaces. It deals with all aspects of lighting, color, texture, paint, furniture purchase and placement, flooring selection and installation, fabric installations, window treatments, and accessories. An Interior Decorator is charged with applying or updating the finishes and elements that will be included within a room space.

The manner in which you design the interiors of your home, it is an important factor in making your home more attractive and relaxing. A great part of your home needs some point of enhancement, and this you can easily do so by using appropriate carpeting, painting, tiling, lighting fixture, furniture, murals, and so on. However, you also need to keep in mind that home interior decorating and styling are constantly changing. Practically every day, you can find a variety of new designs. Well it doesn't matter whether you have a big space or a small one. With a bit of creativity you can always do something wonderful with it. For example if you have a small space, you obviously would not need a lot of furniture pieces around. However, if you have a bookcase that you cannot do without, simply integrate it into a wall so you can save space. You can invest in some good quality lampshades, wallpaper, linens and many others to liven up a room. Interior decorating of home can be really exciting and enjoyable.

There are many ways that you can upgrade your home with interior decorating yourself, or you can even hire a professional interior designer to do the work for you. When you are starting an interior decorating of your house, there are several things you should keep in mind. For starters, you need to think of the style of design you are going for. It can be a bit upsetting if each room has a completely different style, so give this a lot of thought. There are many styles of interior decoration, from modern to French country. Some people prefer a spotless white look while others prefer to fill their space with colour. It is important to refer to home decorating and design magazines to see what other people have done and find out which style strikes your fancy!! Just remember that every little thing you put into your home becomes a part of the decoration, so choose carefully.




Vishal Khanna is 24 year old blogger and a marketing specialist. He writes from his endless study as well as knowledge on furniture, bedroom sets, bedroom furniture, home furnishing, furniture designs, wardrobes, sofas, dining tables, interior decorating and home decor. He has written various articles on this subject and has expertise on it.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vishal_R_Khanna

Monday, 12 March 2012

Decorating Paints



[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Oil Painting Workspace (Photo credit: nimbu)"]Oil Painting Workspace[/caption]

Enhance Your Home Decor Using Decorative Paints


By 



Home decoration revolves around a wide range of aspects, right from the furniture to the artifacts, appliances and even the lighting used. Apart from these decorative wall paints play a pivotal role in the decor of a home.





To understand why and how can wall paints affect the home decoration exercise you first need to know what exactly decorate paints are. These paints are an extension of the plain coloured paints applied on the walls. These come in endless varieties, textures and finishes. Using these you can create patterns, drawings of your choice on your home walls and make them look no less than piece of art.

How can these decorative paints help?

Decorative wall paints are available easily in the market and you just need to introduce them to your painting contractor or interior designer (if you feel the need to hire one). They can give you inputs on how these paints can be used and you can get the desired effect on your walls. There are a few examples of finishes that you can choose from:

* Murals: When any kind of art is directly painted over the walls to create a certain ambience it is known as a mural. So if you want to depict the Victorian era in your living room, then you can get a painting done of the similar fashion using rich colour combinations on the walls. These look stunning even on the ceilings.

* Theme based: You can make use of decorative paints to suit your theme. If you want to create a cool sea-side atmosphere in a corner of your home then you can get the perfect background by painting the walls with glossy blue or sea green. The gloss would add a different texture and if you play with the right wall colour combinations then you can achieve the desired results.

With the help of decorative wall paints you can change not just the look but also the feel of your home walls. There are a lot of texture options like stone, rustic, plaster and even embossing, this means you can make use of wall paints to paint wood and even replace the tiles.

Your home walls will no longer be left standing plain and sober; you can incorporate them in your home decoration and make your walls look alive and splendid. Elegant designs, contemporary or an arty appeal; making walls interesting is just a matter of getting them painted with the right kind of decorative paints. Gone are the days when you thought just spacious homes could be decked up; you can even make your one room apartment dazzle by painting it with the correct paints and balancing the use of other elements.




You can give your home different and new looks as you imagine by using decorative wall paints, excellent colour combinations, texture colour themes, designed patterns, etc. They all make your home painting experience creative and enjoyable.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Carri

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Painter Decorator Courses

A painter painting a room in a house

Interior Decorating Classes


By 








The primary objective of an interior decorator is to make a room more attractive, comfortable and functional. If you have the creativity and the desire to decorate a room, but lack the formal training, you can avail yourself of online training classes to help enhance the skills that you already have.

You will have to undergo a comprehensive training course that includes the following subjects: elements and principles of design, design related to construction, colors, furniture, textile and flooring, history of design styles and their periods, window treatments, traditional and modern designs, and the design business. With a home course, you can take the classes at your own pace. If you are a fast learner, you can complete the course in less than six months. If you want, you can take as long as two years to finish your training without the expenses varying. You can even juggle your new career in interior decorating and a full-time job. Even if you are always on the go, you can bring your study references along with you and learn them on your own time.

Getting into the industry does not require you to have any background in interior decorating. Though it is not necessarily required of you to have formal training to be successful in this field, it is necessary that you have certification or a degree to help build your credibility. Online courses will help you acquire the basic knowledge you need to get ahead. These classes do not only prepare you for decorating homes, but also help you tackle design projects in the workplace, commercial and retail establishments, hospitals and many more.

With practice, and later on, experience, you can easily evaluate a design project so you can minimize the waste of materials and labor. This allows you to be more efficient and it helps you and, in turn, your customer, save a lot of money and effort.




Interior Decorating provides detailed information on Interior Decorating, Interior Decorating Ideas, Home Interior Decorating, Office Interior Decorating and more. Interior Decorating is affiliated with Home Interior Designs [http://www.i-InteriorDesign.com].


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy

Monday, 20 February 2012

Interior Decorating Paint

Cover of "Color (The Essential Style Guid...

Interior Decorating Ideas -


Choosing Paint Colors


For Small Rooms


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While decorating small rooms it is very important to choose the right paint since the paint on your walls reflects your personality. The walls should look welcoming to your guests as well as appealing to you at the same time.







Painting is one of the most important aspects of the house and one of the most essential basics that you should consider when you are thinking of decorating small rooms. Paint is obviously very important for the preservation and beauty of the exterior of the house but the paint in the interior of the house is equally important.

Ideas for painting small rooms include painting at least one wall a vivid color and then using softer colors in similar shades for the adjoining walls. The boldness of the accent wall depends on your personality and how much color you can tolerate in the room. Bright color can also be added to the room in the form of artwork and furniture.

There are so many paint colors on the market today that sometimes making a choice can be quite confusing. However, it is now possible to run a computer simulation of your painted rooms so that you can decide upon a perfect choice of color for a room.

Another way to decide on paint color is to choose from the graduated color paint strips that you will find in every paint department or paint store. Take these home and hold them up against the wall as well as the furniture in the room to get an idea of how the paint would look in the room. To go a step further, some paint stores sell a small sample of paint for you to try on your walls before making your final purchase.

Remember that it is important to choose a paint color when decorating a small room that is easy to maintain. It is wise to choose paint that is durable against natural wear and tear and will last for the next several years. Keep in mind that wall color will look different depending on the lighting in the room.

Do not compromise on quality when looking for paint. It is ok to pay a little extra for a paint that will last for several years than choose cheap quality paint that will chip and show smudges in a few months. The paint on the walls should be easy to clean and maintain so that your house always looks beautiful.




To help keep your home organized, download a free copy of the ebook "The Essential Guide to Organizing Your Home". Download it free here: Organizing Tips.

Lynn Cressy has a love for decorating and shopping for home decor. She owns a home decor web site and writes articles on home decorating and organizing your home and your life.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Cressy

Friday, 17 February 2012

Decorating Paint

A collection of cans of paint and other relate...

Home Decorating - Paint - Every Decorator's


Friend


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Any designing school, art teacher or interior decorating handbook will tell you that color is one of the most important aspects of just about anything. You've probably seen this fact for yourself. Simply changing the color of a room can significantly alter the mood of the room, the feeling of the space and, in some cases, even the whole room itself.





Thus you need to carefully plan out all of the colors you'll use in decorating your home and see if they tie into each other. This planning stage is even more important if you intend to use a different color for each room or space. It's a popular technique nowadays that gives individuality to each room, but you must make sure that all of them still stick to a common theme.

It is for this reason that paint is one of the primary items in any home decoration project. Aside from giving the base color to the walls and the surface, you can add an artistic twist to painting and thus add your own personal touches to a room. There are also many other methods for applying paint, and each of them has a distinct effect on how the final result will turn out. And paint doesn't just give you solid colors, either.

If you think about it, paint is one of the most versatile home decorating tools you could get. A single can of paint can yield very distinct results just by your altering the way you apply it to the surface. For example, applying paint in uniform strokes with a thick brush will yield different results from applying the same paint in random strokes with a thinner brush. Other non-conventional methods such as sponges or paint rags further expand the range of possibilities.

Some of the newer paints on the market now even have 'special effects' such as textures incorporated into them. These new kinds of paints allow you to have a lot more diversity in the way you decorate your home because of their added visual effect. They can also add to or accentuate a motif you might have for a given room. And just like any other paint, you can use different methods of application to get varying results.

Perhaps the best thing about paint is that it's affordable. Buying a couple of cans of paint should easily fit into anyone's budget, and you can do a bit of DIY work to get the paint onto your walls. Try visiting the nearest home improvement or hardware store today and see the kinds of paint that are immediately available. Plan out a theme, buy a couple of cans and let your imagination go wild.




Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Remodeling and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Home Remodeling web site. For more articles and resources on Home Remodeling related topics, Remodeling Contractors, Home Remodeling Loans, Remodeling Ideas and much more visit his site at: http://remodeling.need-to-know.net/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Paint Decor Ideas

A palette of watercolours and a brush. Deutsch...

Teen Bedroom - Painting Ideas


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As a general rule, teens want themselves to be different from the others and therefore you should have some exquisite teen bedroom painting ideas to convince them. Teens are very different from the normal kids in the sense that it is extremely difficult to please them. So, you should put serious thinking into it before you set out with your bedroom painting ideas.

There are in fact a huge variety of options available on the market, that you often find yourselves confused as to which to select. So, it is essential to narrow down your research to some bedroom ideas that will suit the taste of your teen. A bedroom is basically a person's private room. Therefore, it becomes essential that the bedroom is a place where you can spend time when you are happy as well as sad.

It would definitely help to conduct a small research on the internet. One can find a large variety of bedroom paining ideas that people have used to color their teen's bedroom. This will definitely throw some light on the bedroom painting that will be best for your teen. You will realize that selecting the best bedroom idea for your teen can be an interesting task. The painting idea should reflect your teen's taste and personality.

It would be better if you sit along with your teen and plan the bedroom painting together. It would make your teen feel good that you are seeking their opinion to form a decision. Moreover, it is they who best know what their bedroom should look like. One should select a theme which will impart a sense of intimacy and serenity.

Bedroom scheme selection of boys often differs from that of girls. It is difficult to generalize the preferences of teens. Different people have different personalities and hence different liking to various painting ideas. Girls generally like to decorate their bedroom colorfully, whereas boys like to have some mural painting work done on their wall. Teen girls like to have wallpapers on their bedroom wall. They can be the posters of a landscape, film stars, pop stars, role models or anything that they like. They tend to have more liking towards fairy colors such as lavender, pink and light blue.

Basically, it is all about personalizing the room to reflect your teen's taste and personality. It certainly pays to do a small research on various teen bedroom painting ideas before setting out to decorate your teen's bedroom.




Find out more useful information on http://www.bedroompaintingideas.org/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Violin_Nikolov

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Decorative Furniture Painting

Stainless steel table with eucalyptus wood FSC...

Refinish Old Furniture With Paint


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If you have old furniture in your house, you do not have to toss it out right away. One way that you can make your used chairs, tables or armoires look like new is to paint it. You can use a variety of different techniques when you paint your old furniture to look like new that will end up giving it a whole new look.

If you have old furniture, you may be tempted to toss it in the trash. But if you spend a little bit of time on it, you will find that you can recycle it so that it looks appealing. Painting is easy and can bring a whole new life to any old but favorite piece.

Before you start painting you will want to take out any drawers as well as take off the handles. If the furniture is varnished or has a veneer, you are going to have to paint over it with primer. Paint primer will make paint stick to anything, even tiled floors. You will need to give all veneered pieces a couple of coats of paint primer that you can find in your paint store, to get it ready for painting.

Choose a color that you will like and will brighten up the room. One choice you may want to make is to paint it a pastel color that will be bright, especially if it has been a dark piece of wood. You can simply paint it white, or you can use a variety of different techniques to get it the way that you want.

You can give the painting a distressed look easily enough. You just have to paint the furniture and then rub off certain spots with a piece of fine sand paper. This will make it look like the piece is worn. You can even paint an undercoat and then rub off some of the top coat to allow the undercoat to show through. This is often done with patina painting techniques in which a gold undercoat is used over a soft blue green color.

Crackle painting is another technique that you can use when you are panting furniture and gives the item a worn, antique look that is also attractive. You can find crackle paint kits as well as other types of decorative paint kits at your local craft store.

You can paint furniture and also paint floors or throw rugs to match the new furniture. With throw rugs, you can use a fabric dye and dye them so that they match the new decor. This is an easy way to keep the throw rugs in the home without having to get rid of them. If you have a plain area rug, you can paint a design on it and use the same design on the painted furniture.

Using stencil designs or hand stamps is one way that you can refinish your old furniture after painting. If you do not want it to look too plain, you can add a decorative paint touch. Once you start to paint old furniture, you will never get rid of old furniture again.




If you enjoyed this information about Interior Design, then you are going to love this area rug store.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Crosset

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Painting And Decorating Tools

DIY Network logo

Buy DIY Tools Online - For A Hassle-Free Experience


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Your home is your castle, and with some do-it-yourself ingenuity you can renovate your home with surprising creativity. All you need is the right DIY tools and some inspiration to get you started.

Which are the tasks that are compatible for DIY home improvement? Almost anything that you can think of. You can paint the stairs of your home, give a great look to your worn pieces of furniture with a bit of yarn, and add some pizzazz to your bathroom with trendy wall coverings. Or, you can get going with some great architectural accents such as crown molding in your dining room.

Why do some people prefer DIY tasks? For one, it is fun to build, modify, or repair something in your home without the assistance of professionals or experts. Applying your knowledge and skills provides you with an immense sense of self-satisfaction. For instance, let us consider a seemingly simple task of making a box container that you have designed to house many items. The entire job of drilling, making threads, filing, and finishing the box not only requires the right DIY tools, but also the precise dexterity and enthusiasm on your part.

Apart from the fun part, there exist a significant number of young homemakers for whom there is no other option but DIY. New homes, more often than not, require refurbishment and repairs that are best done as DIY more so for cost considerations than anything else. So, whichever way you look at it, DIY is a great British obsession that has allowed people to unwind themselves, reduce stress, and enjoy a creative and a productive activity.

When you decide to do a DIY home project, your first task will be to buy the DIY tools that are appropriate for the job. But then, you may not be so lucky to have an all-purpose tools store somewhere in your neighborhood or anywhere even in your town. In such situations, a convenient way is to surf the net and look for stores that sell DIY tools and products online.

DIY Online stores offer a wide variety of tools suited to any type of DIY home renovation work. Here are some examples of what you can get from an online store.

* Painting and decorating tools consisting of wallpaper steamers, polythene dust sheets, disposable brush sets, scissor sets, and paint pads.

* Power and hand tools and drills for miscellaneous jobs.

* Garden tools and equipment consisting of power lawn mowers and hedge cutters.

Before you hop in and buy power tools, ask yourself whether a set of simple hand tools will do the job. You will be surprised how much work can be done by a common set of handsaw and a chisel. Therefore, think well before you buy expensive power tools that could be of no use once you get your home renovation work done. But, if you foresee more use of DIY tools in the years to come, buy the best available brands in the market that will give long life and lasting value.

DIY online stores have gained confidence of buyers as they offer convenience in making a selection of the right type of high-quality products from among a host of choices.




DIY tools and other related products offered for sale at the site diy-home-renovation-tools.co.uk. Buy a variety ofDIY home improvement items online. For ordering and other details visit the specified link.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margret_Ross

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Painting Decorating Courses

The Mona Lisa.

Decorating Courses, Jobs and Training


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Tape Measure

Only buy what you need, if you live in an average three bed semi buy a 15'/5m tape; you can buy a 75'/25m tape for a few more dollars/pounds but its money you don't have to spend.

Pencil

For marking, a must

2 Sets of Step Ladders

Ideally two sets to hold a plank, one with a tool tray at the top that falls into place when you open the steps, which holds your paint container as well as tools; the other set could be just a work mate for added stability, it has a clamp, its a work bench and its some where to put your cup of tea. However it all depends on the height of your ceiling you may well need two pair of large steps. You could just buy one and ask next door can you borrow there's.

A Plank

A plank will save a lot of time, I've seen telescopic planks on Amazon over 4 meters coming down to 2 meters for storage; there $164 around 100 pounds sterling, a great idea. Alternately you can pick up what was always used by decorators; a plank of wood around 8'/2.5m x 8"/30cm x 2"/5cm lest than quarter of the price, rigid, and you'll have it for years; buy with a family member and you'll both have it for years.

Internal Filler

A large box will do a number of projects, its always needed and easy to mix.

2 Scrapers, 2.5"/10cm & 1.5 "/4cm

A 2.5" scraper, should be fairly flexible for removing wallpaper, filling cracks in walls and mixing filler. The 1.5" scraper should be quite rigid for scraping off flaking paint and it will also double as a putty knife.

Decorators Caulk

Is another form of filler which you can use with a sealant gun. Mostly used for long cracks in corners or along skirting boards or anything that has a long run that needs filling; it comes with a plastic nozzle that you cut at 45 degrees and run along the crack squeezing at the same time. The mistake most people make is they run the gun along the area their filling pulling the gun towards them when you should run the gun along the crack way from you.

Small Hawk

Mostly used by brick layers its just a square piece of aluminum with a handle attached in the centre, holding it in your left hand you apply the filler with a scraper in your right hand. You can make a customized one, with a piece of plywood about 15cm square, a screw and cut 15cm off the handle of your mums sweeping brush; at your own peril.

A Float for filling

A float can do the same job as the hawk its smaller and less money. I've put them both in because together they'll be needed if you have to fill a larger area or do any small plastering work.

Sandpaper & Block

You will always need sandpaper for sanding down areas you can't reach with an electric sander; the block can be bought where ever you buy the sandpaper, usually made out of cork and quite inexpensive, you could use just a off cut of wood. Wrap the sand paper round the wood, making it a lot easier to sand down walls.

Plastic Containers

Mainly for painting, but also for mixing filler. If you try and paint strait from the tin your asking for trouble. First stir the paint in the tin then pour what you think you may use in one of the purpose built plastic paint containers, about half way, you can always pour in more later if you need it. The reason for doing this is to give you room when loading your brush; you dip your brush in the paint coming about a third of the way up the bristles, then tap your brush on ether side of the container, this forces the paint into the brush. Keep large food containers, their just the job.

Sugar Soap

Is a strong degreaser used for wiping down walls and paint work before you attempted to paint them, this should always be done on every job, looking at a room you may think it looks, nice and clean but try just giving it a wipe near the ceiling and you'll see what I mean, especially with open plan kitchens. If you don't wipe off the grease you'll have a layer of dirt and grease between the new paint and the ceiling; tree months down the road it could start flaking off.

2 Insulated Screw Drivers

1 Flat one and a Phillips screw driver; If not for anything else to open your paint tin. You'll find your self loosening light switches and sockets to push the edge of wallpaper behind.

A Bucket

Without a hole; for your paste and washing walls and paint work.

6" Paste Brush

For pasting and also comes in handy for applying water to walls when striping off old wallpaper and smoothing over filler about 10 minutes after its been applied.

Pasting Table

You can use the kitchen table, but ideally look at it as an investment there only $30/20pounds not every well made but last for years if your nice to them. You can get your money back by taking a trip down to your local car boot sale and setting it up with all your unwanted.

Large Shears

When your putting up wallpaper or lining paper.

Plumb Bob

Plumb bobs are not to much money and you will only need it for the first piece of wallpaper you put up, to make sure its strait. Really any kind of weight on the end of a piece of string will do. Make the string about 21'/7m long and it will also do for putting up your first piece of paper on the ceiling. You measure the width of the wallpaper out from the wall and put a mark on the ceiling at ether end of the wall with your pencil, so you have two marks ether end of the wall on the ceiling now get your string and pull it through your thumb and a piece of chalk, get your self another pair of hands and hold the string up to the two marks, pulling it quite tight with your right hand and just pull it away a little from the ceiling with your left hand and letting go; this will create a strait chalk line on the ceiling.

10" Papering Brush

To smooth down wallpaper and air bubbles, again not much money but a nice clean cloth will do the same job.

A 2.5" & 1.5" Paint brush

These two brushes are all you need for painting your wood work; any bigger you start losing control and the paint goes every where.

White Spirits

For diluting thick paint, making up primer paint (first coat on new wood). You can buy primer paint in your local DIY which will cost about $11.00 around 7.00 pounds sterling a liter; mix 4 to 1 white spirits with white undercoat and its the same thing for next to nothing.

Dust Brush

This Is your most important tool; any time your painting, undercoat or topcoat your biggest enemy is dust; wash it, fill it, sand it, dust it, the very last thing before your paint brush touches the surface your painting, DUST IT AGAIN!

Window Razor Scraper

Used for getting paint off windows, small, plastic, takes Stanley knife blades. Removing paint from windows is easy with this inexpensive scraper; the trick is to let it dry (the next day) and attack it at 90 degrees to the window frame, if you try and do it parallel with the frame there's a chance you'll run into the paint work.

Dust Sheets

Or bed sheets to cover up the furniture and carpet; you can use polythene on the furniture but don't put it on the floor, it moves on its own.

Paint Roller, Tray and Extension Pole

Paint Roller and Tray cost about $15/10 pounds for a good one. Extension Poles can cost $30/20 to $45/30 pounds sterling, depending on length and movement. What's left of your mum's brush handle will do, and cost nothing, but you'd better get your mum a new brush.

Palm Sander

Now you want to beg, steel or borrow one of these. If there's one tool that's change the world of decorating its Palm Sanders; no matter what job your doing in painting and decorating your always sanding down and 'Palm Sanders' make the job 10 times easier.

Stanley Knife

Always comes in handy for sharpening your pencil and a lot more besides.

Tool bag, electric screw drivers and one or two other general tools could be added to the list, but the list above will enable you to start a decorating business or decorate any room in your house.




How to become a Painter and Decorator

If you want to become a painter and decorator or your just redecorating a room the links below will take you to a site with a number of links that take you through decorating a room from start to finish, by a professional Painter and Decorator. You can leave comments and questions for the decorator to help you through your job.

Preparing, Painting your ceiling, walls and woodwork, Hanging wallpaper to cleaning your tools at the end of the job.

Copyright 2010 Tools You'll Need to Become a Painter and Decorator by Tony Casey, all rights reserved.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_J_Casey

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Decorate Paint

Dried green paint

Enhance Your Home Decor using Decorative Paints




Home decoration revolves around a wide range of aspects, right from the furniture to the artifacts, appliances and even the lighting used. Apart from these decorative wall paints play a pivotal role in the decor of a home.

To understand why and how can wall paints affect the home decoration exercise you first need to know what exactly decorate paints are. These paints are an extension of the plain coloured paints applied on the walls. These come in endless varieties, textures and finishes. Using these you can create patterns, drawings of your choice on your home walls and make them look no less than piece of art.

How can these decorative paints help?

Decorative wall paints are available easily in the market and you just need to introduce them to your painting contractor or interior designer (if you feel the need to hire one). They can give you inputs on how these paints can be used and you can get the desired effect on your walls. There are a few examples of finishes that you can choose from:

* Murals: When any kind of art is directly painted over the walls to create a certain ambience it is known as a mural. So if you want to depict the Victorian era in your living room, then you can get a painting done of the similar fashion using rich colour combinations on the walls. These look stunning even on the ceilings.

* Theme based:You can make use of decorative paints to suit your theme. If you want to create a cool sea-side atmosphere in a corner of your home then you can get the perfect background by painting the walls with glossy blue or sea green. The gloss would add a different texture and if you play with the right wall colour combinations then you can achieve the desired results.

With the help of decorative wall paints you can change not just the look but also the feel of your home walls. There are a lot of texture options like stone, rustic, plaster and even embossing, this means you can make use of wall paints to paint wood and even replace the tiles.

Your home walls will no longer be left standing plain and sober; you can incorporate them in your home decoration and make your walls look alive and splendid. Elegant designs, contemporary or an arty appeal; making walls interesting is just a matter of getting them painted with the right kind of decorative paints. Gone are the days when you thought just spacious homescould be decked up; you can even make your one room apartment dazzle by painting it with the correct paints and balancing the use of other elements.

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

House Painting Ideas

mural painting

Interior Decorating: Understanding Paint Finishes


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Once you've selected your colors for your room makeover you think you're past the decision portion of your interior decorating project, right? Wrong. There are a number of paint finishes you can choose from and each serves a different purpose.

So put the paint brush down and let's brush up on the most common interior paint finishes:

Flat Finish. Flat (or matte) finishes reflect the least amount of light and are a good choice for walls with imperfections - such as cracks, rough patches and dings - that need to be hidden. While some flat finishes claim to be washable, they will not hold up to hard or regular scrubbings.

Flat Enamel. Just as they sound, flat enamels have a hard, matte finish, which makes them an excellent candidate for areas that will require some regular cleaning, including guest bathrooms. It can withstand better cleaning than flat finishes, but still won't hold up as well as an eggshell or satin finish.

Eggshell Finish. By far the most popular choice for interior walls, eggshell finishes have a slight sheen and are more durable than flat or flat enamel finishes. This is an excellent option if your walls are in good condition.

Satin Finish. This finish can be used for a number of purposes - for door, wall and window trim as well as for children's rooms, bathrooms and kitchen walls. Satin finishes have a smooth finish that is specially-designed to withstand regular washing.

Semi-gloss Finish. A popular pick when paint trim around walls, doors and windows, semi-gloss finishes can also be used on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Just be sure that your surface is properly prepared before painting since the finish's low sheen reflects light that draws attention to irregularities in the underlying surface. Semi-gloss' are very durable and clean up nicely.

Glossy Finish. Known for its highly-reflective qualities, gloss finishes are not a typical choice for interiors. They are more frequently used to paint furniture and cabinets. However, if you want to create a very dramatic modern or formal affect, this may be the choice for you.




Shelly Galvin, owner of Color by Shelly, offers residential color consultation services for homeowners who feel the services of an interior designer are too much, but can't quite do it themselves.

Shelly also stages homes for sale on the real estate market in the New York metro area and in Florida.

Before starting Color by Shelly, she was a professional copywriter for nearly 20 years. By authoring a series of decorating self-help articles, Shelly is able to enjoy her two passions in life: color and words.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelly_Galvin

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Paint Colors Decorating

Paint (software)

Choosing the Right Color - Decorative Painting


Ideas to Fix Any Wrong Paint in Your Home


By 





You took days and finally you found "the perfect color". Spent hours preparing the room, and even more hours putting on the color...and now you hate it! It is not the color you had in mind, how do you live with this horrible mistake? You have options many in fact and most are easier than re-painting the room.







Before you start working with any other option, please remember test everything, practice until you get the exact look and color you want. I can't stress this enough. Make the sample boards large so that you can try several options. Remember if you do several tries and still do not like the outcome repaint the board and start again. Don't be afraid to walk away for a day and start over, sometimes it takes that for the new inspiration to take shape.

The most often heard complaint is that the color is too dark. This can be a very easy fix, I usually suggest going over the wall with a lighter color wash. Sometimes I use only white paint, but not just white paint; it must be combined with an extender product (be sure to check on the product label to see the ratio of paint to extender usually 1 paint to 4 parts extender). This extends the drying time and most importantly it gives the illusion of color, because it creates a translucent look.

Do the opposite if too light add a wash over the wall that is darker; darken the paint by adding a touch of darker paint black, brown, or gray, and add the extender same process as working with the white. Then apply either one with a cloth, roller, large brush, or sponge. Less is more it will be much thinner than the original paint so apply a thin coat.

You can also use a large sea sponge using more than one color; never more than 3 colors. Sponge the new colors over the existing paint. Again practice and also use the extender in all the colors you use. With this technique you will apply the colors over each other, less is more if you get too carried away you get a muddy look...practice, practice and practice some more. The results will be worth the extra time spent getting the exact look you want.

When playing with color, you can add a little brown or black (key here is practice and adding very small amounts especially black). You can add other colors like grays, yellows, even blue to change the color to something closer to what you wanted. Don't be afraid to experiment to find the best one. Use only a tablespoon of paint each time and write down the combinations and approximately how much you put in, you will want that info when you find the perfect combination.

Go to the craft stores and purchase the small 2 oz containers of paint very inexpensive and easy to use when mixing and matching.

You do not have to mask off the molding or the ceiling use the large piece of card board or one of the metal products the professional painters use to protect the adjacent wall. You can find them at any paint or hardware store.

Look at this as an opportunity to expand your color mixing skills and working outside the box, happy fixing.




For more helpful tips and complete directions for many Interior Design Projects check out this amazing 300 page full colored instructional training on virtually any design project. It also has great bonus material, please follow me to http://www.ThePaintColorIdeas.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenda_Millette