So in an earlier post we talked about going to the home improvement stores, picking out some paint chips to take home. Whether your are getting your home ready to sell or just freshening up your interior vibe, paint is one of the least expensive home improvements you can make.

Seeing the colors in both natural light and at night (with your incandescent or LED lights on) will open your eyes to what works for you.

Colors change a lot based on the type and quantity of light coming into your rooms. You’ll want to choose a color that is not too dark at night and not too bright in the daylight – in short one you can live with and feels right.

Start with one color at a time. Now it’s back to the store to get a gallon made up. If you are painting walls in bedrooms and living areas, matte or flat finish is perfectly fine. Kitchens and bathrooms are a good place to use satin finish and trim and moldings and doors is where you want to buy a semi-gloss finish. The shinier the paint the more expensive it is. It’s also much easier to wipe clean which is why it’s great for baths etc.

If you haven’t already purchased brushes and rollers now is the time to do so. You will need a least one trim brush 2″ or smaller, one larger brush 4″ wide and one roller with roller handle. A paint tray is handy to pour the paint into. Don’t forget to ask for one of the paint “keys” from the paint store so you can open your paint lid easily and a paint stick or stirrer.

Once you get your paint home and have covered up the floor with a drop cloth and moved any furniture away from the walls, you are ready to paint!

We’ll get more into techniques and when to brush and when to roll next time. See you then!