How to Tape a Room for Painting

Before painting any room, you want to ensure that the paint only lands on the wall surfaces you intend to paint. See how to tape room walls and other objects to reduce unwanted splatter.

Color at Home: Creating Style with Paint

Selecting a paint color, whether for a home’s exterior or the bedroom walls, can feel like a perilous venture. For good reason. Like no other aspect of our environment, color has the power to profoundly affect our feeling of well-being. And taste in color is an extremely personal matter: to choose a color—a saturated red, an understated ochre, a sizzling-hot pink—is to say something revealing about oneself. It’s no wonder that committing to a color demands an act of bravery.

With Color at Home, the Echo Design Group’s Meg and Steven Roberts aim to inspire and encourage you to jump into the exhilarating world of color. Illustrated with more than 150 images of color-infused homes across the country, the book will bolster your courage as you develop a color vision for your own home.

Color at Home insightfully explores the emotional territory mapped by each hue—aqua’s refreshing oasis; orange’s warm radiance; the stark, urbane chic of black and white—while providing essential practical advice on topics such as coordinating colors with a home’s architectural style or historical period. The innovative color grids included in the book help you define your preferred palette.

Available at Amazon.com.

How To Paint a Wall

Never picked up a paintbrush? Don't worry. You can still paint a wall like a pro!

Color is Key to Brightening a Winter Home

The cold months of winter can feel very long, as most people are forced to spend more time indoors. When animals hibernate and the colors of plant life fade, our moods and energy often fade as well. Short of taking a monthly vacation to a bright, tropical paradise, one way we can keep energy in our lives is with the creative use of color.

Winter is the perfect time to spruce up the interior of your home. There are simple, economical ways to add color to your interior spaces to improve your outlook during the winter and year round.

1) Paint the winter blues away.

One of the best ways to integrate color into a home without much cost is with the use of paint. Even if you think you don’t have the energy or talent to repaint an entire room, don’t worry. You can add splashes of color by painting just one wall a vibrant hue.

Take cues from Mother Nature to establish optimistic color schemes. For example, bright blues and warm shades of taupe are inspired by the ocean, reds and yellows can represent the brightness of a rising sun, and brown and green tones remind you of those first days of spring when buds begin to appear.

When deciding where to paint, it’s important to ask yourself, “What is the room’s strongest feature?” It might be a fireplace, a view, or even a favorite piece of artwork. The wall around that focal point is the wall you want to highlight! Bold colors work well on these walls because they tend to be broken by the window or fireplace, so the impact is eye-catching, not overwhelming. Also, there really isn’t that much area to paint, so the work isn’t too time-consuming.

Rollers are the DIY enthusiast’s best friend because they can save a lot of time and produce a professional-looking finish. When choosing a roller, make sure it holds an adequate amount of paint without a lot of shedding. For example, the new Wooster Avalon performs like a high-capacity knit while delivering a very low-shed finish like a woven. The special fibers provide a finish with at least 50 percent lower fiber shed count than other rollers on the market. Using a high-quality roller will speed the painting process so you can enjoy your colorful new room sooner, with less effort during the job.

2) If you miss the green, add some greenery.

Do you miss looking outside and seeing full trees and blooming flowers? If so, there’s no better way to brighten your home than to integrate some plants into the decor. Many people participate in some form of indoor gardening, whether having a full container garden, a simple herb garden, or a favorite green plant or two. Ivy, cactus, spider plants and bonsai are all good indoor plants.

If you prefer flowers, you have options as well. African violets are great indoor plants that produce small flowers in vivid shades of purple, pink or white. Geraniums are easy-to-grow annuals with pretty leaf shapes that will flower continuously if given adequate light. Finally, many bulbs work well in an indoor environment. Paper white narcissus flowers provide a strong scent to bring the smell of summer inside your home. Don’t feel like growing flowers? A trip to your local florist or grocery store can provide you with a bouquet that can be displayed anywhere in the house.

3) Accessorize with the feeling of the sun.

Adding accessories to your house’s decor that draw from the feeling of summer can really make a difference in revving up a home’s energy. New pillows can instantly transform an old sofa into something lively and new. A new piece of art with a nature scene can brighten a boring wall. Update family photos with favorite moments from the past year’s warm months. A fun beach picnic scene might be just the pick-me-up you’ll need on a cold winter morning. Finally, be sure to open your curtains and allow natural light to enter the house as much as you can during the daytime.

Brightening your home with the feeling of summer is easy when you utilize color. For more information about Wooster painting tools, visit www.woosterbrush.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Hot Home Decorating and Color Trends for 2008

Are you ready to get a jump start on discovering 2008’s hottest decorating and paint color trends? Winter is an ideal time to start planning your interior decorating spruce ups. And one of the easiest, least expensive ways to give a room a new look and feel is with paint.

“The 2008 color forecast contains some extraordinarily vibrant, yet versatile, hues that have been inspired by everyday life,” says Donna Schroeder of Dutch Boy Paints. “The depth and range of this year’s most popular colors provide extensive options for adding accents to a room, changing themes and styles, or even completely redecorating from scratch.”

All of the colors in this year’s forecast can be found in the Trend Palette within Dutch Boy’s innovative Color Simplicity System. The five modern and stylish color themes found in the 2008 Trend Palette are as follows:

Culinary

Have you ever strolled past a bakery mesmerized by the brightly colored pastries adorned with intricate details? Food can have an emotional connection for many people, stimulating the senses, including sight. So, why not bring some of these culinary inspirations into your home decor with the Culinary palette?

Colors in the Culinary palette include: A La Carte, Gazpacho, Pink Chenna, Worn Avocado, Dining Alfresco, Phyllo, Sous Chef and Chopping Block.

Travel

Think distant lands and exotic destinations. The Travel palette takes its cue from faraway locales and memories of times past. Bring your own journeys home by displaying your travel treasures against richly colored walls.

Colors in the Travel palette include the following: African Sunset, Elephant Watch, Victoria Falls, Slouch Hat, Soukous, Cheetah Spots, Kwaito and Open Savannah.

Fashion

Whether it’s a favorite blouse, scarf or dress, find inspiration in your own fashionable favorites and dress your home in color. This year’s Fashion palette was influenced by saturated Art Nouveau colors and graphic Deco patterns.

Colors in the Fashion palette include the following: Roaring 20s, Gazette Gold, Champagne Punch, Nouveau Riche, Deco Detail, Floral Applique, Jade Brooch and Paris Metro Station.

Nature

The beauty and wonder that come from the natural world can be a great place to derive inspiration. By using colors and textures from the great outdoors, you can create your own scenic landscape in the comfort of your own living room.

Colors in the Nature palette include the following: Leafy Glimmer, Brown Noddy, Red Clover Blossom, Dark Forest, Hen House, Haven White, Purple Loosestrife and Patina Verdigris.

Art

Do you have a favorite piece of artwork? If you’re someone who appreciates the classics like Monet or Renoir, focus on adding more “lifelike” colors to the home -- like blues and neutrals. For a more contemporary look, embrace more unique, energetic colors for an abstract experience.

Colors in the Art palette include the following: Minimalist Cream, Picasso’s Blue Period, Skandi, Bartel Blue, Blue Tape, Impressionist Blue and Canvas Sky.

For more information about how to choose the perfect color, please visit www.dutchboy.com or call (800) 828-5669.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Painting Tips

Bob Scmidt gives advice about painting products and procedures to make your painting project go smore smoothly.

Magnetic Paint

New paints from Rustoleum let you turn any surface into a home for magnets, a chalkboard, or both!

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets is an inexpensive way to make your kitchen cabinets look like new. Tim Carter from AsktheBuilder.com shares some tips for kitchen cabinet refinishing to save you frustration and give you professional results.

The Art of Accent Colors

Certain colors innately evoke different memories, thoughts or moods, according to a study conducted by Miami University. If your home is laced with walls that are too white or overbearingly dark, details in your décor can change everything. By recognizing this, it is easy to brighten up or give any room a little extra personality with accent colors.

Barbara Schmidt, a nationally recognized interior style consultant whose work has appeared in “Architectural Digest,” “In Style,” “Elle Décor,” and “Metropolitan Home,” suggests when adding color to a room the use of pillows, throw blankets and, most importantly, art helps to brighten any space. “People are more and more sophisticated when it comes to color and decoration,” she says. “You can’t just hang up plain artwork anymore and have it look like it’s a finished room. You really need to look at your color scheme and bring complementary or blended colors into your framed art.”

The executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and founder of the Eiseman Center for Color, Leatrice Eiseman, agrees. “Specific colors have the ability to bring out excitement, happiness, relaxation and even aggression,” says Eiseman. “That is why the colors you use in your home are so important. They should represent your personality while creating an environment that inspires you.”

“There is a reason that when people see yellow they think happy. Green is automatically fresh, and red is romantic, hot or appetizing,” says Schmidt. “Depending on the colors you use, your room will have a different vibe.”

Consider these tips from Schmidt when adding color accents to any room.

* “Primary colors on a white wall can make a room look juvenile; subdued colors always end up looking more sophisticated and calm,” she says. “When having a piece professionally custom framed, remember that less contrast between the art and wall provides a more classic look.”

* “If you are dealing with a plain white or beige wall, consider matting all artwork using the same accent color. Even if the art isn’t related, a gallery is created through the matboard.”

* “Hang art in white lacquered frames with white matboard against a brightly colored wall. There will be a nice contrast while creating a cohesive focal point. For a bright color, kelly green is very trendy right now,” says Schmidt.

Schmidt reminds consumers to use professional custom framing to help art keep its integrity. “Guaranteed safe next to any piece of artwork, Crescent’s 100 percent cotton RagMat matboard makes the art larger, more colorful and adds a visual pop of color,” she says.

Lastly, Schmidt recommends custom framing for more than just artwork. “Taking any meaningful item to your professional custom framer can enhance not only that item, but bring new color and life into any room.”

For more information about professional custom framing, visit www.crescentcardboard.com or contact a professional custom framer in your area.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Warm Up to Winter with Fresh Colors in Home Decor

The hint of winter is in the air and late-autumn leaves blanket the ground. The holidays are on the way, lifting your spirits and also inspiring you to give your home a little seasonal lift. Updating rooms with color is a quick and easy way to embrace this time of year, and will put you in the mood to enjoy all the bounties the holiday season offers.

Begin your project by taking a look at what surrounds you. Note the colors you see in everything from the fashions at your favorite store to the cars whizzing past you on the street. Which colors appeal to you? Which make you feel calm? Which energize you? Which give you a cozy feeling that’s just right for the holidays? Let the wheels start turning and see which shades your inner designer is drawn to -- there’s no right or wrong answer.

Color inspiration comes from just about anywhere and everywhere, experts agree. The latest lifestyle collections from Sherwin-Williams, for example, reflect four travel themes that exhibit the power of color and the fun of allowing your imagination to run free. The destinations include: Around the World, Fork in the Road, No Place Like Home and Expand Your Horizons.

“No matter where you’re traveling to this winter, you can easily bring home the colors you experience by incorporating new hues into your living space in paint and other home accessories,” says Becky Ralich Spak, senior designer for Sherwin-Williams.

Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who partnered with Sherwin-Williams for her fall 2007 fashion show, lets her journeys guide her color selections. “I find inspiration in adventure, and these colors from Sherwin-Williams remind me of places I have traveled,” she says. “Colors such as Evening Shadow, Marquis Orange and Iron Ore remind me of the desert; Real Red, Cocoon and Liberty Blue bring me back to a New England road trip; and Aquarium and Frank Blue remind me of architecture in southern Spain and Morocco.”

Deep and dashing, bright and bold, many of the opulent shades that are perfect for winter decorating might seem a bit intimidating at first, but fear not; there are many ways to dive into the wonderful world of color. Consider the following approaches:

* Saturated browns impart a toasty vibe on a living room accent wall.

* Plum hues spark great energy in the foyer.

* Deep purples are both soothing and interesting in a powder room.

* Warm neutrals are a timeless update for all rooms and let vibrant accessories take center stage.

It’s easy to refresh your home with these and other hues, thanks to color selection tools such as the new, larger 3-inch by 5-inch paint swatches from the Sherwin-Williams Concepts in Color palette. These paint chips feature a perforated “window” opening that can be removed to see how coordinating colors will look together and work with the fabrics and accessories in your room. The company has also simplified color coordination by listing designer-recommended combinations on the back of each swatch.

And once you’ve narrowed down your favorite shade, it’s a breeze to experiment with your top choices before your final painting project begins. For example, an online color visualizer allows you to preview your color selections in a room, and the company’s Color to Go program allows you to purchase a quart-size paint sample for less than five dollars.

In the end, no matter which colors you select, just remember that paint is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to the change the atmosphere of a room, so “don’t be afraid to try new colors and patterns and to play with contrasts,” Rowley recommends. By following your instincts and personal fashion sense, both you and your home will feel warm and toasty this winter.

For more color inspiration, visit sherwin-williams.com or your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

It's Easy Being Green When Painting

As we become more aware of the impact our choices have on the world around us, there are plenty of simple do-it-yourself projects to embrace that can beautify a home while still being kind to the environment.

Whether it’s adding energy-efficient lighting or appliances, upgrading to water-saving plumbing fixtures or painting walls with a fresh coat of environmentally friendly paint, a few smart home-improvement decisions can make it easier than ever to be “green.”

“Homeowners can easily incorporate ‘green’ elements into their living space,” says Dan Johnston, national director of the American Lung Association's Health House program, which aims to educate consumers about the importance of indoor air quality. "Products such as low-VOC paint are not only better for the environment, but can also improve air quality within the home.”

Paint is one of the quickest ways to “green” your home while sprucing up its appearance. What could be easier than refreshing a child’s room, kitchen or bath with colorful hues that not only look stunning, but will dazzle for years and are gentle to the environment and the well-being of the home’s residents?

No matter what color you choose to incorporate into your space, here is some expert advice to keep in mind when it comes to paint selection that is both good for your home and the environment:

VOCs: How Low Can You Go?

The buzzword (or initials) in paint these days is VOC, or volatile organic compound. Simply put, VOCs are vapors that can be detected by odors in the air -- such as gasoline emissions or even the smell of pizza -- that can affect a home’s indoor air quality.

When it comes to paint, look for products that have low to no VOCs. For example, Harmony Interior Latex from Sherwin-Williams is a zero-VOC, low-odor coating that allows for immediate use of newly painted spaces. That makes it an ideal selection for rooms such as nurseries or kids’ play areas.

“A low or no-VOC paint is a great ‘green’ option for any do-it-yourselfer,” says Steve Revnew, director of marketing, product development for Sherwin-Williams. “With a product like Harmony, you do not have to wait for paint fumes to dissipate before moving back into a space. This paint can even be applied with other family members in the room.”

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff -- Or the Splatters

With advancements in environmentally friendly paint, you won’t have to worry about cooking splatters and spots in the kitchen; water marks in the steamy bath; or remnants of your kids’ murals on the family room walls. In other words, using “green” paint doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice quality or durability.

Products such as Duration Home Interior Latex from Sherwin-Williams, allow you to wipe away most smudges, spills and splatters with water or mild soap without scrubbing. And its antimicrobial properties resist mildew and mold, making it a good choice for high-traffic kitchens, baths, hallways and children’s rooms -- anywhere long-lasting stain resistance is essential. This paint also negates the worry of unsightly burnish marks -- the “shiny” spots that can appear when walls are cleaned or accidentally rubbed.

Confident In Color

Finally, you’ll want to look for an environmentally friendly paint that maintains its color without rubbing off. Ask the store representative how well the paint washes even in the deep, bold accent colors that are popular today for the home. In the past, a drawback to using these bright hues has been how poorly they wash, but new technology creates a smooth paint surface guaranteeing enduring results.

In the long run, a vast number of environmentally friendly products for your dwelling abound and refreshing your home with a splash of paint is a simple way to put a little “green” into your home – without compromising on quality or spending a lot of “green.”

For more information on environmentally friendly paint solutions, visit sherwin-williams.com or your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Angie's List Offers Homeowners 9 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

Angie's List (www.angieslist.com), a consumer organization that helps homeowners nationwide find reliable help in more than 280 categories of service, conducted a poll of its members and found that nearly a quarter of them don't keep up on routine home maintenance. Of those that don't keep up, 44 percent say they just don't know what to check and when. Of those that do keep up, nearly 70 percent say their efforts save them money.

Putting off routine home maintenance nearly always results in headaches, wasted time and sometimes major expenses. While it's called "routine" maintenance, many homeowners don't know where to start when trying to plot a home maintenance course.

"Making a list of items to check around the home each month or season can really benefit homeowners," says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. "Our poll found 78 percent of respondents take steps to maintain their home. Of those respondents, 68 percent say it's helped them save a few bucks down the road on repairs."

Angie's List went to the experts to develop a fall home maintenance checklist to help homeowners do what it takes to keep those home-related headaches at bay.

• Continue to mow your lawn until the first frost. Remove the leaves when your grass has stopped growing.
• Those falling leaves will eventually clog your gutters and downspouts. Not cleaning your gutters can damage your homes foundation. Schedule gutter cleaning with a professional before winter arrives.
• Clean your outdoor furniture, and refinish it if necessary, to prevent rust and damage from freezing. If you store your outdoor furniture inside for the winter (which is recommended, if at all possible) allow for some airflow. Encasing the furniture tightly in plastic could lead to moisture damage.
• Schedule any indoor painting you need done. The weather is usually ideal for leaving windows open for ventilation.
• Properly discard or store paint, caulk or adhesives in a heated area to prevent them from freezing. Call your local hazardous material removal service for instructions on discarding products that could be toxic. Drain all gasoline containers, including lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered tools.
• Check insulation in your attic, basement and other areas for any dirty spots, which often indicate air leaks into or out of your home. If you find any holes, seal them with caulk.
• You can save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing air leaks in your home, so take a look around for drafts around doors and windows and seal those you find. One easy way to test for air leaks is to hold a lit stick of incense around windows and doors. Drafts will cause the smoke to drift with the current. Pay special attention to any airflow beneath your doors, as opening and closing often causes door sweeps to wear out.
• With dark days ahead, exterior lighting is very important. Check all your bulbs and consider using timers to turn lights on at dusk and off in the morning.
• Before you light the first log, get your chimney cleaned and make any necessary repairs. Fireplaces that are used regularly during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent chimney fires.

*1,334, Angie's List members took our poll. Responses are representative of Angie's List members, but not the general public.

Angie's List is where consumers turn to get the real scoop on local contractors and companies in more than 280 different categories. Currently, more than 600,000 consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie's List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the Angie's List magazine, which includes articles on home maintenance and improvement, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie's List complaint resolution service. Get more home maintenance information and consumer tips at www.angieslist.com. Learn more about Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks, at www.angiehicksbowman.com

Source: PRWeb

Venetian Plaster Step By Step

VideoJug: Venetian Plaster Step By Step With Firenze Marmorino
This video shows how to Venetian plaster from base coat all the way to sealing with protection soap.

A Helpful How-to for Picking The Perfect Paint Color

October, the busiest painting month, is just around the corner and homeowners everywhere are heading out to their local home improvement centers to pick up the proper tools for the task, including paint rollers, primer and painter’s tape. And even though it’s easy to read labels to find the products you need to get the job done, finding the perfect color for the room can be a different story. With endless color possibilities available, it’s easy for any DIYer to feel overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

To help you get started, flip through some home decorating or interior design magazines to find inspiration. Tear out pages that catch your eye and compile them into a book. Or take a stroll through your home and find a few favorite accessories. It might be a throw pillow, a piece of clothing or an antique vase.

Eventually, you’ll start to notice a pattern of your likes and dislikes, making it easier to sort through your ideas to find the perfect paint color.

But don’t choose a color just because you like it. It’s also important to consider what the color says about you. Do you want it to be calming and relaxing? Or do you want it to be energetic and fun?

“Believe it or not, colors can tell a lot about a person’s personality,” says Peggy Van Allen, Pratt & Lambert color specialist. “If you really want to make a statement, bolder hues like reds and golds are the way to go. For a softer appeal, try lavender or beige.”

Here’s what the most common colors say about you:

Red

Red has the greatest emotional impact and is most closely associated with passion, romance and energy. Because it’s also known to stimulate appetite and conversation, this color might be best for the kitchen or dining room.

Orange

Orange, when paired with its complementary color, blue, can have a dramatic effect on a room. It is exuberant and active -- a perfect choice for a playroom.

Brown

Brown is associated with taste and sophistication. It is seen as confident, yet calming. Try it in a family or living room where guests can relax and unwind.

Green

Green is the ideal color for an office space. It’s been said to promote concentration -- perfect for picking up a good book or burning the midnight oil.

Yellow

Use yellow in rooms where little or no natural light has access. If you paint the den or basement walls, it can give the appearance of natural light and brighten up the living space. But when choosing the shade, keep in mind that bolder, deeper yellows can be overpowering.

Blue

Because the bedroom is mostly used for sleeping purposes, you don’t want a color like yellow or red that screams. Instead, stick with a cooler tone like a soft blue or gray that will give your room a calm, relaxing feel.

Neutral

Neutral shades like white, gray and black are best when you want low-intensity. If you already have bright colors or heavy-patterned furniture in the room, neutrals are a great way to make them stand out.

Purple

Purples have a powerful connection with our romantic, sensual and introspective sides. So consider this hue when you’re deciding a color for the bedroom. But use a bluer purple to keep it more restful. Using a redder purple can give it a more energetic feel, which might make it harder to fall asleep.

“Choosing the perfect paint color for a room doesn’t have to be impossible,” says Van Allen. “Just consider what you want the room to say and don’t be afraid to try something new. Pratt & Lambert even offers 2-ounce sample jars of paint so you can try as many new colors as you like. As long as you’re having fun with the painting process, the room is sure to shine.”

For more information, or to locate a Pratt & Lambert retailer, log onto www.prattandlambert.com, or call (800) BUY.PRAT (800.289.7728).

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Painting Preparation Generates Quality Results

Painting is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to update your home. A fresh coat of paint can give new life to a dull room, or a completely different color can add personality and pizzazz throughout your living space. To ensure a professional-quality job, take the appropriate preparation steps.

“To achieve great painting results that last a long time, it’s crucial to prep the surface thoroughly and get the right tools,” says Anne Horst, customer service manager at Wooster Brush, a company dedicated to producing quality painting products. “Surface preparation is key for getting expert-looking results.”

Preparing the surface is the most important part of any painting project. If the paint doesn’t have a smooth, clean surface to adhere to, the result will be a poor-quality job that doesn’t last very long. “You should spend at least as much time on surface prep as you will be painting,” advises Horst.

Start by clearing the space. If you can’t move the furniture out of the room, push it all into the center and cover it with drop cloths. Remove outlet covers, wall heating vents, light fixtures and other hardware. The job will go faster because you won’t need to paint around these objects, and the overall coverage will be more professional.

Next, scrape or sand flaking paint from the surface. If you are painting over a semigloss or gloss finish, the gloss should be removed or else new coats of paint may not adhere. Horst recommends using sandpaper with 220 grit or a liquid cleaning/dulling agent.

As you prepare the surface, look for flaws. Fill cracks, gouges, chips, and nail holes with the appropriate patching plaster, spackling compound, or wood putty. When the patch is dry, sand it lightly and feather the edges of any rough spots so they’re level with the rest of the area. Remember, the smoother the surface, the better it will look after it’s painted.

“After sanding the surface and fixing chips, wash the wall with a 50/50 mix of ammonia and water to get rid of grease, dirt and dust. Allow it to dry completely, then lightly wipe with a damp cloth. This helps ensure the wall is clean and ready for paint,” says Horst.

Before priming and painting, make sure to get the proper brushes and rollers so the job goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. Horst points out, “If you are a fairly steady painter and you’re using a high-quality brush like Wooster Ultra/Pro, you might not even need to tape off the trim. Steady or not, if you’re working with a cheap brush you’ll need to buy masking tape and apply it, adding to the cost and time of the project.”

When painting ceilings, cover the entire floor with drop cloths. For walls, you can simply cover the floor next to where you’re painting.

The final step is to prime the walls. Use the correct primer on the entire surface if it is newly constructed, stained by water or smoke, prone to mildew, rusted or aged. Your local paint store can provide recommendations. Primer helps to seal and even out the surface so the paint goes on smoother, adheres better and lasts longer.

One technique experts use to save time and get a high-quality finish is to use a mini-roller for small wall spaces, trim work or edging close to the ceiling. The Jumbo-Koter mini-roller has a special cage frame that provides a smooth operation without skidding, and the roller fabrics match the full-size Wooster covers so you get a uniform finish. It eliminates the band of brushmarks around the wall edges or near the baseboards.

For more information, visit www.woosterbrush.com or look for Wooster products at your favorite paint store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Faux Marble Painting

In this video from DIY Network, learn a faux marble look with DIY Real People guest Susie Goldenberg.

How to Smear the Paint on the Wall for a Faux Finish

Learn how to smear the paint on the wall for a faux finish, in this free video.

Color Trends 2008

Fashion runways have long been the inspirational source for home furnishings and decorating color choices. Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute shares 2008 trendy paint palettes.

“Consumers’ increasing color confidence and personal style makes any color fashionable for 2008”, Zimmer says. “From glass-like blues, botanical greens, dramatic black and white and whisper soft pink, color directions will drive towards individual self-expression, glamorous living experiences or an increasing awareness of important environmental causes.”

Zimmer’s Top Three Color Palette Choices for 2008:

“Go Green”
“Green may just become the newest “neutral” color.” Used as a subtle backdrop to reflect an enhanced eco-consciousness and social responsibility, green will be representative of the growing environmental movement. Mid-tone hues of fern, palm, pine and sage will be used on their own or coupled with clear blue or aqua to create a living space that conjures up a sense of outdoor-friendly living. Sandy tan and adobe brown can be intermingled to complete that earthy and eco-friendly feel.

While suitable for all areas of the home, these combinations are an especially good choice for bathrooms, kitchens and family living spaces.

“Sophisticated Elegance”
Gaining popularity in 2008, black and white paint hues will enhance opulent living spaces filled with accessories, lighting, mirrors and rich fabrics. Silver metallics and high sheen finishes along with rich textures benefit from the sophistication of this striking palette. Zimmer suggests, “For an unexpected color punch, add cause related hues such as dramatic red or maintain the room’s classic undertones with subtle pink or taupe.” Dramatic and sophisticated, black and white is becoming the backdrop of choice for glamorous spaces.

Master bedroom suites and living rooms are two of the spaces that can benefit from sophisticated elegance.

“Crewel Colors”
Many consumers continue to strive for simplicity in their technology-driven overloaded lifestyles and seek a return to a gentler way of life. The crewel color palette reflects consumers returning interest in crafts, home cooking and family focused activities. Like a rich and color filled needlepoint pattern, these hues add a soulful and personalized feel to any space. “Handcrafted items create a sense of stability and security and these warm, creamy rich colors will do the same in your space,” says Zimmer. Rich cranberry reds, warm browns, along with pumpkin orange help to create a nurturing and caring environment. Mix in deep-toned blue and the tapestry is complete.

Crewel colors remain an excellent choice for kitchen or dining areas and can be warming, like a knitted afghan, in family spaces.

“No matter which paint hue or palette attracts your individual attention, consumers continue to have an increased appreciation for paint quality and value. After all it’s a personal choice for a personal space—your home,” Zimmer says.

About Rohm and Haas Company
Leading the way since 1909, Rohm and Haas is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. The company’s technologies are found in a wide range of industries including: Building and Construction, Electronics and Electronic Devices, Household Goods and Personal Care, Packaging and Paper, Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Water, Food and Food Related, and Industrial Process. Our innovative technologies and solutions help to improve life everyday, around the world. Based in Philadelphia, PA, the company generated annual sales of approximately $8.2 billion in 2006. Visit http://www.rohmhaas.com/ for more information. imagine the possibilities™

About The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute
The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute (sm), based in Spring House, Pa., was formed by the Rohm and Haas Company, a worldwide producer of specialty materials, in 1989 with a charter of independence and objectivity to educate painters everywhere on the advantages of using high quality paint, as well as to inspire them with information on innovative ways to use paint and decorating and color trends. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute Web site at http://www.paintquality.com/.

Source: PRWeb

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