Throughout the course of our work, we’ve seen a lot of interiors undergo changes. Perhaps the most dramatic change for the smallest investment is paint. Whether you’re looking to totally change the look of an interior or the current paint is just starting to show its age, here are 5 things you should know before getting started:
Pick the paint color last: This doesn’t apply to investment properties unless they’ll be furnished (regardless, you’ll probably want to go with a fairly neutral shade for tenant-occupied spaces), but for those of us who will be living within the painted walls, the color is the absolute last thing you should pick. Why? Because it’s usually a lot easier to pick a color that will compliment your home furnishings than the other way around. Once you’ve got wall art, accent pillows and the like, then it’s time to pick the perfect shade to compliment and tie the items together.
Test colors in the space, throughout the day: There’s a reason the home improvement store sells paints in sample sizes. Before you commit to gallons of paint, get a few smaller containers and paint them on the intended wall. Not only will this give you a chance to see how it will look with your furnishings, but it will also let you check it out in the light where the color will live. It’s important to go back and look at the paint colors throughout the day as their appearance will change as the lighting does.
Know how much paint to buy: A good rule of thumb is a gallon of paint for every 350 square feet. Remember that you can subtract for windows, doors, etc. Also keep in mind that you’ll probably want to plan to buy twice that amount of paint if you’re covering a significantly darker color or if you are painting raw drywall (it’s will absorb a lot of the paint).
Get a pack of Wet Wipes: Regular old Wet Wipes or facial wipes will work … keeping those handy will save the hassle of scraping dry paint off of the floors or other surfaces if you can quickly wipe them up while still wet. The alcohol in the wipes works wonders!
Remember—Top to Bottom: To avoid wasting time painting back over mistakes, you’ll want to paint ceilings first (if necessary), then walls, then trim and save the floor for last if it’s part of your painting project.