Budget-conscious Remodeling; Color Tips

Deciding whether to buy a new outfit or to outfit a room in your home may seem silly.  But in terms of cost, you really do have that choice.  According to the Paint Quality Institute, the cost of refreshing a room with a new coat of paint is actually less than most people pay for a new set of clothes – at least if you do your own painting.

“When it comes to economical remodeling, nothing can compare with interior painting,” says Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Institute.  “Rarely does the cost exceed $100 for an entire room or living space.  It can often be much less.”

The reason interior painting is so inexpensive is that it requires, more than anything else, just a little careful work and attention to detail, which almost anyone can provide.  The only materials that are needed are some tape, a good brush and roller, a roller tray, and of course, a gallon or two of paint.

Getting started is, in some ways, like shopping for that new clothing outfit:  “Just as people look through magazines or go online to see what color and style of clothes are in fashion, many homeowners look in the same places for painting ideas,” says Zimmer.

Whether you rely on these media or not, choice of color is all-important when redecorating with paint.  The first step in the process is to visit your local paint retailer or decorating center.  There, you’ll find a rainbow of color cards from which to choose.  Yet for some people, that’s the rub.

Research by the Paint Quality Institute has found that some homeowners are intimidated and overwhelmed by the wide range of colors available today.  This is especially true of many novice painters and younger homeowners with limited painting experience.  Afraid to make the wrong color choice, some choose instead to tolerate a tired-looking interior rather than seize the chance to easily and economically improve the appearance of their home.

To help the less confident, the color-challenged, and other do-it-yourself painters, Zimmer offers some tips on making the right color choice:

Select a few color cards that appeal to you and take them home.  Cut each card apart or fold it so that you see only the specific colors you are considering.  Then tape them to the wall, and be sure to observe them in the daytime and at night, since colors can change dramatically when exposed either to sunlight or artificial light.  (To see a slightly bigger color sample, use several of the same color cards placed end-to-end.)

If these color samples are too small to properly evaluate the colors, then purchase one or more “testers” – very small cans of paint that cost just a few dollars — to test your color choices.  Apply a 3’ X 3’ section of each paint color to one of your walls.  Again, see what they look like during the day and at night.  Doing this will be a big help in your color choice.

Still uncertain?  Don’t despair.  Remember, you selected these colors because you liked them, so making the final choice isn’t always easy.  Maybe both or all of the colors you selected will look great in your room.  But if you feel that you need a tie-breaker, Zimmer offers one final tip from her own experience as a do-it-yourself painter:

“Most paint colors look darker than you expect when applied to an entire room, so it’s often safer to go with a lighter or more neutral hue, rather than a darker shade.  That’s probably the way to go if you’re not 100 percent confident of your color choice.”

Once you’ve decided on your color, it’s back to the paint store or decorating center to purchase your paint, as well as the tools and materials you’ll need to apply it.  For the best painting results, quality is the watchword, especially since the biggest investment you’ll make when painting your home is the time spent doing the work, not the out-of-pocket expenses.

Assuming that you’ll be applying one of the popular water-based latex paints (popular because they have little or no odor and offer easy clean-up), choose quality brushes and rollers with synthetic bristles and covers.  Synthetic materials will keep their shape regardless of the amount of water they are exposed to, so they’ll apply the paint smoothly and evenly.

Quality is even more important when it comes to the paint you purchase.  The best interior paints are 100% acrylic latex coatings.  They make the job easier and produce the most aesthetically pleasing results.  Top quality 100% acrylic latex paints tend not to spatter, or show brush or roller marks.  Maybe most importantly for those who are time-pressed, top quality paints are better at hiding the color of the surface below, so a single coat is often sufficient to produce a great-looking paint job — saving you valuable time, labor and, yes, money.

So, what’s the biggest difference between outfitting yourself and outfitting your home?  Long after that new set of clothes has either worn out or fallen out of fashion, you’ll still be enjoying the appearance of your beautifully-painted room – not just on special occasions, but on every single day of the year.

For more advice on affordable interior painting, visit the website of the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com.  There, you’ll find much more on color choice, instructions on how to paint, and other helpful information.