Interior Painting: The Inside Story

Choose your interior paint carefully.

Color can influence our feelings, and the color of a room can set the tone and mood that a space creates. Think of the vibrancy of a red room, or the calm created by beige and other neutrals.

Before you begin painting:

• Think about the function and mood you want for the room. Painting it a particular color can create the mood. Exciting? Peaceful? Fun? Mellow? You decide!
• Create a “mood board.” Assemble color swatches, tile or wood grain samples and fabric swatches on a board. See how they fit together to create the desired mood for the room.
• When everything looks just right, take your mood board to the store where you’ll purchase the paint and supplies.
• Select your paint color(s), but don’t buy gallons of paint right away. Consider purchasing small samples to try out on your walls. This will help you see how the paint looks under various lighting conditions at night and during the day.
• Still love it? Now purchase paint in quantity, and continue your project with confidence!

Choose your masking tape carefully too!

Using the right tape for the job and knowing how to mask properly can help make your interior painting project go faster, easier and achieve great looking results.

When choosing tapes, consider:

• UV resistance: Choosing a tape with UV resistance is important when painting interiors, especially if you’re masking glass or surfaces that are exposed to sunlight (such as the trim around windows). All Scotch-Blue™ Painter’s Tapes are UV resistant.
• Masking on fresh paint: It can take up to 30 days for paint to fully cure and harden. If you’re painting more than one surface in a room (such as walls and trim), chances are that you will be masking on fresh paint. The wrong tape can damage your brand new paint job! Scotch-Blue™ Painter’s Tape for Delicate Surfaces is specifically designed for use on fresh paint (at least 24 hours old).

As important as using the right tape is, it’s just as important to use it properly. With a few tips and tricks, you can help your project go smoother than you’d ever imagined. View our helpful Masking Tips Video courtesy of Amy Matthews, DIY Network TV Star and host of Sweat Equity and Blog Cabin.

Looking for ideas to create a mood for your space?

When thinking of painting interiors, most people picture solid walls and matching or contrasting trim. But there are many other options to consider.

Stripes, diamond patterns, faux finishes and much more: Visit the Painting Ideas and Projects page for a number of ideas and handy how-to guides.

Giving your home a fresh look – without a fresh coat of paint

Nothing changes the look, feel and mood of your home like paint, but paint isn’t the only way to liven up your space. Here are some creative and economical ways to transform your space, without paint:

General Interior Decorating Tips

Accessorize with the Seasons: Pick accent colors inspired by the season – warm, autumnal tones such as yellow in the fall, and fresh moss-green and sage in spring, for instance – and buy pillows, accessories, lampshades and so on in those shades. Experiment with tone on tone, but try to stick with no more than two different colors.

See a New Look Through Windows: New window treatments can transform a room — they’re worth the money to refresh an entire space.

Bring Nature Indoors: Low cost, seasonal accents can liven up a home. Cuttings of fresh flowers and branches are classic, inexpensive ways to add instant charm to any living area.

Slip Into a New Look: Changing couch slipcovers periodically keeps your décor fresh and makes it look like you bought new furniture. Try brown microfiber for fall, white linen for summer and sage green in the spring.

Go on a Treasure Hunt: Go through items stored in your attic or basement – the “treasures” you find might surprise you. Rediscover pictures, vases or your grandmother’s antique buffet.

Start a Story: Think of your favorite hobby or interest such as traveling – then choose accent pieces that represent them. Then your home will not only express your personality, but also will lend itself to being a great conversation-starter and reminder of your cherished memories.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Put Out the Nice Linens: Why limit fancy towels to just your guests? Treat yourself! Fluffy, new towels in the bathroom quickly transform the room.

Retire Your Tired Cabinets: Painting or gel staining old cabinets will breathe new life into your kitchen, for a fraction of the cost of new cabinets. (OK, we said no painting ideas, but really, this is quick, effective and inexpensive!)

Cook Up a New Look: Want a gourmet kitchen without the major overhaul? Add a tile backsplash or under-cabinet lights – both are functional and design-oriented, and deliver a big bang for your buck.

Quick Fixture-Upper: Give your home an instant (and inexpensive) makeover by replacing old fixtures like faucets, lighting and hardware with bright, shiny new ones.