How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Home
One of the most stressful parts of decorating your home is choosing a color scheme. Do you want to play it safe or make a statement? And just how many different shades of greige are there? With so many paint colors to sort through, deciding what color your walls should be can become time-consuming and frustrating. Here are tips on how to choose paint colors for your home and avoid color mistakes.
Get inspired
The best advice for starting any new project is to find your inspiration. Designing a vision board is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Think about what kind of feelings you want the room to evoke, like calming and serene or bright and playful. Whether you make your board online via Pinterest or cut out photos from magazines, you should be looking for scenes with colors that resonate with you.
Choose your furniture
Do you already have furniture you love? This can help narrow down your paint choices and makes the whole process a little bit easier. You want your furniture to complement your wall color so the room is cohesive. For example, if you have dark couches and end tables, you may want to paint your walls in a lighter shade to brighten up the space.
Always get a sample
Most home improvement and paint stores offer samples for those who are torn between a few colors. Get as many as you want and then paint small patches of the colors in the desired room. Having the colors on the wall will allow you to see how the paint looks in natural light and throughout all hours of the day. Keep the samples up for about a week so you can get a feel for which one you like the best.
When in doubt, go neutral
If you really can’t decide on a paint color, it’s best to go basic. When you doubt yourself on color, chances are you don’t want a lot of attention drawn to the walls. Neutral walls allow you to add color throughout other elements in the room, like your art, furniture, pillows, blankets, and other decor.
Have a color consultation
Sometimes you have to leave it up to the professionals. Most professional painting companies are ready and willing to help you. At CertaPro Painters West Hartford, CT, an expert will come to your home and give you a color consultation. A color consultant will help you navigate the sea of options to find a color that matches your home’s interior aesthetic and stands up to your family’s daily routine.
Sure, choosing paint colors can be a daunting task, but always remember – paint is not permanent. You can always change it, so don’t be afraid to explore!
How To Keep Kids and Pets Safe in the Home
When you have a pet, there are certain precautions you must take to ensure your home is safe for them to wander and roam. Add a baby into the mix and that’s double the protective measures! From furniture tipping to accidentally getting a hold of over-the-counter medications, there are many things your little ones can get into that need to be properly secured.
Invisible Fence® Brand Shields® Avoidance Solutions system can keep pets out of unwanted areas in the home, making sure both your pet and your little ones are safe around everyday household items.
Check out this infographic, created by StayDog, with tips and information about keeping your pets and babies out of harm’s way.
Home Improvement Projects to Do Over a Weekend
Transforming a house into a place you call home can take a while. Major renovations, like kitchen upgrades and bathroom remodels, often require a big budget, a lot of time, and a lot of patience. Other home upgrades don’t require much time or money at all, but they can make all the difference when it comes to converting a space into one that feels like your own. In fact, all you need is a weekend! Discover how you can make beautiful updates to your house over a weekend.
Spray paint your hardware. Sometimes, a simple swap is all you need to totally change the look and feel of a room. To refresh the look of your kitchen, bathroom, or even doorways, remove the hardware and spray paint it! Drawer handles and doorknobs usually have a dated silver or gold finish on them. The color experts at CertaPro Painters of Winston-Salem, NC suggest using spray paint in dusted bronze or nickel to give any door or cabinetry a facelift.
Give purpose to your entryway. A few simple modifications can make a statement in your foyer. Install decorative hooks or a cubby system (if space allows) to serve as a storage space for coats, book bags, and purses. A slim table also works wonders in an entryway since it’s both stylish and functional. You can use this piece to toss mail, keys, and other items when you enter your home. Depending on how much space you have and how you decorate the area, you can create the look and feel of an entirely different room in your entryway.
Spruce up your laundry room. An often neglected space decor-wise, your laundry room doesn’t have to be a dull, lifeless part of your home. While it is a place to get your family’s clothing clean, it can also be a place that’s packed with personality. Rachael Lane, an interior decorator in Pensacola, FL, recommends covering bland, white walls with printed wallpaper or stick-and-peel wood planks. This little trick instantly creates interest in the room, regardless of how much time you spend there. Lacking storage in your laundry room? Install shelving to keep your detergent, dryer sheets, and fabric softener within arms reach. Store these laundry supplies in decorative glass jars for an elevated look of luxury – without the price tag!
Update interior molding. Installing or even replacing the interior molding around your home is a quick, easy, and affordable project you can tackle on any weekend. All it takes is a saw for trimming and a nail gun for installing. You can find trim at any local home improvement store. It comes in strips of varying sizes, making it easy to find the width you need to frame any wall, door, or window in your home. There’s also decorative molding that can turn the plainest wall into a work of art.
If you’re itching for a home upgrade but don’t feel like you have the time or budget to achieve that, you do! Anyone can complete these projects in a weekend with very little damage to their wallet. What projects will you get done in a weekend?
Six Warm-Weather Home Improvement Projects
Summer is the perfect time to revamp your home from the inside out. The warmer weather allows you to get started on outdoor projects you can’t do in the winter. Plus, temperatures are more desirable for some indoor tasks as well. There are projects you can tackle on your own or with the help of qualified professionals without having to sacrifice all of your summer weekends.
Here are six warm-weather home improvement projects that will add value to your home and make it more enjoyable!
- Makeover Your Backyard:
- What comes to mind when you think of summer? Is it relaxing outside? Maybe it’s sitting by a fire or having a barbecue. Consider buying a new patio set, hanging a hammock, or installing a fire pit. Another easy way to spruce up your backyard is to add some lawn games like croquet, horseshoes, or cornhole, so entertaining guests is a breeze.
- Paint a Room:
- A great way to freshen up your house is through painting; you can paint one room, several rooms, your deck, or even the exterior of your home. The professional painters in Southern Westchester, NY say repainting your home has a return-on-investment since it’ll make it easier to sell your home in the future.
- Power Wash your Home:
- The colder months are rough on your house, so your home’s exterior could use a bit of love in the summer. Power washing your house makes it appear brand new, adds value and improves curb appeal. If you don’t feel comfortable power washing yourself, it may be best to hire a professional. They are trained in the proper ways to power wash your siding, driveway, deck, and fences without creating damage.
- Install Windows or Window Treatments:
- Having newer windows or the right window treatments can help keep your house cool during the hot summer months. Plus, it’ll keep the heat in during the cold months. The right windows can make your room more aesthetically pleasing and lower your energy bill. Sealing, repairing, or waterproofing your windows are some ways you can conserve energy. Consider getting new drapes, blinds, or curtains to cut down on the UV rays and glares that enter your home.
- Clean Out Your Gutters:
- After the fall and winter, it is common for dirt and debris to become jammed up in your gutters. Cleaning them out is a simple way to prevent damage from happening to your home in the future. If gutters are not properly draining, water damage can occur, or your roof can become leaky.
- Organize your Closets:
- If you want to improve your home but stay indoors as you do so, organizing is a great option. Go through your winter clothes and decide what to keep, what to throw out, and what to donate. Summertime clothing can be brought out and organized. You can organize by color or style. Browse Pinterest for additional organizational ideas.
Check some of these warm-weather home improvement projects off your to-do list this summer, and your home will be in tip-top shape for the fall!
Five Simple Ways to Makeover Your Kitchen
When was the last time you updated your kitchen? Since the kitchen is a natural gathering place in the home, you want to make sure the space is optimized and up-to-date. Some kitchen makeovers require a complete gutting, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
Here are five simple ways you can remodel your kitchen:
- Update your appliances: Are your appliances still working properly? If so, that’s good news! You don’t have to toss them. An easy, budget-friendly appliance upgrade is slapping on a coat of paint. If your appliances are making funny sounds or have stopped working altogether, it’s probably time for a replacement. Splurge for a new stainless-steel refrigerator or range. If you have room in the budget, make the switch to smart appliances, as they are becoming more and more popular.
- Redo your kitchen cabinets: The easiest way to update your kitchen cabinets and drawers is to replace the hardware. Their knobs and handles come in a variety of finishes, colors, and designs. Choose a hardware style based on the other elements in the kitchen. Another option is to stain or paint your kitchen cabinets. This will require more time and effort, but the results will be a drastic change. You can also remove the cabinet doors completely if you’re into the open shelving look.
- Refurbish countertops: Kitchen countertops come in many different materials. The key to having them stand the test of time is to opt for something classic and durable like granite. If you like chopping your food without a cutting board, you can get butcher block countertops. Other materials to consider include quartz, copper, marble, or stainless steel.
- Paint the walls: If it’s been more than a few years since you’ve last painted your kitchen walls, now is the time to do it. Granbury painters say you should choose a neutral color if you have an interesting and bold backsplash. If you want to go a more playful route, pastels like marine blue, pale lime, or citrus orange can really stand out in a kitchen. Dark colors like navy, forest green, and black are also making a comeback.
- Add a backsplash: If your walls are strictly painted, consider adding a backsplash in between your cabinets and countertops. This is one area of the kitchen where you can really take risks. Bold patterns, mirrored or metallic finishes, and alternative materials are all welcome. You can also think about extending the backsplash past the bottom of the cabinets all the way to the ceiling.
We spend a lot of time in our kitchens cooking, entertaining, and eating. That’s why we want them to be both functional and beautiful. Start thinking about the ways in which you want to makeover your kitchen today.