Paint…the basics
Choosing paint colors and the type of paint can be one of the most difficult things you have when it comes to sprucing up your home! There are so many choices to pick from and so many different shades of colors!
When updating your home, paint is one of the best things you can do and gives you the most bang for your buck1. My advice on choosing paint colors is to pick a neutral paint color. You can always add color to a room with furniture and accessories. Choosing a neutral color is easier to live with and if you are looking to sell your home, it will appeal to a wider range of buyers!
The top three neutral colors you can choose are those colors in the beige, gray and white color families.
Beige. Let’s start with beige. Beige sells because it is a warm and light color and is a color that get along wonderfully with anything in the room. One of the best beige colors that I like is Kilim Beige by Sherwin Williams. I would say that this the neutral of all beiges and coordinates beautifully with things. However, don’t do the builder beige. It’s looking a bit dated now!
Grays. Grays are emerging as the new beige now. Think farmhouse grays. Warm grays are the best to choose with selecting a gray color. However, grays can be a bit tricky because they have a tendency to look blue and cool. Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige is a great go to gray because it coordinates well with any color scheme! It seems to pick up the colors in the room and pulls from there. It can look more beige gray to a softer light gray. Depending on the coordinating decor.
Whites. White paint is clean and fresh. You really can not go wrong with white. White walls look amazing with wood floors, wood ceiling beams, and reclaimed brick walls or fireplaces. White needs a lot of texture in the room to balance it and wood fixtures does just that! Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a very neutral white.
PAINT FINISHES
Now when choosing what type of paint finish to use, here are some tips.
If you want to hide imperfections, or to paint the ceilings, then flat finish paint is the way to go. Flat paint is also a good choice for walls as well because it’s easy to clean, especially with kids and fingerprints.
Eggshell finish is also best for walls and ceilings and is easy to wipe down as well. Eggshell is a good to use in bedrooms, dining rooms and living areas. Most people pick eggshell for most of their projects.
Semi gloss paint is perfect for bathrooms and kitchens where there might be a lot of moisture and humidity. It also works great on trim and cabinets. The sheen reflects and shows flaws, so never use semi gloss on ceilings. Semi gloss also holds up to be cleaned easily as well.
Gloss paint finish is good on furniture and some types of accessories. For example, it looks great on millwork in a library or accentuating trim or wainscoting in an room or entry way.
