Time To Paint? Trends, Tips and When To Hire a Professional

Winter is here, and early sunsets and colder weather can affect your usually sunny disposition.   But with a bit of forethought, a few gallons of paint and some inspiration, you can stave off the winter blues by creating inviting spaces in your home that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy even on the coldest of days.

Interior Painting Trends To Explore Before You Dip In

Once upon a time, homeowners chose paint colors based on how they would look in a space. Now, according to a recent survey, homeowners crave comfort over style. Todays designers aim to deliver both by using out-of-the-box paint colors that play more to emotion than function. So, what does that mean for this year’s paint color trends? The predictions of professional interior designers may surprise you.

Dark Is the New Neutral

According to Sue Wadden, the Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin William, grays and moodier hues are not just trending, but they’re redefining the meaning of neutral. In 2020 traditional neutrals such as white, gray and beige, were joined by their darker counterparts, like navy, sage green and even black.

Why the sudden change of heart regarding neutrals, though? According to Wadden, rich, dark colors make people feel warm and cozy, and they create the type of retreats most individuals crave — especially during the colder months.

Beige Makes a Comeback

Though it seemed impossible just a few short years ago, beige is making a comeback in a big way. Found on walls in bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms and libraries across the country, this soft neutral got an update with some blush undertones, providing for a chic, sophisticated and updated look.

Bright Colors Are Trending

With Gen Z growing up, interior designers are finding themselves using vibrant colors more frequently, and they aren’t hating it. More than a quarter of Gen Z homeowners are likely to request bright paint colors, such as bright yellows and oranges and bold reds and greens, while every other generation still opts for neutrals. Millennials aren’t completely bland, though, with a large percentage requesting deep colors such as blue and purple.

Tips for Painting a Room On Your Own

Many homeowners choose to go the DIY route since interior painting is a relatively simple home improvement project. While we applaud this ethic, we encourage any DIYers — you included — to brush up on proper painting techniques. Adhering to the four Ps of painting may require a bit more effort on your part, but it will result in a far more superior finish than had you just grabbed the roller and jumped in.

Plan Out the Project

Once you make the decision to repaint your home’s interior, two other decisions must follow. The first is which walls you want to paint, and whether you want an accent wall or accent ceiling.

The second decision is regarding what paint colors you plan to use. Once you choose a general shade or shades, pick multiple samples within each color category. Test the shades to see how they work with each other and the objects in a room. Don’t forget to test the swatches in various lights, such as morning, evening and artificial light.

Purchase the Paint

Once you have your paint colors picked out, it’s time to determine how much you will need. A little math can save you a lot of time and trips back to the paint store once you’ve started your project.  Start by measuring the length of each wall you want to paint and adding them all together.  Then calculate the square footage of the room by multiplying the total length of all walls to be painted times the height of the room.

Finally, divide your square footage by 400, which is the average number of square feet one gallon of paint will cover with one coat.  This is how many gallons of paint you will need to put one coat of paint on your walls – be sure to add more for multiple coats if needed, and always round up just to be safe.

Prep

Paint prep is probably the most laborious aspect of interior painting. In addition to purchasing all the requisite materials, such as drop cloths, paint brushes, paint trays, painter’s tape, paint rollers, paint roller extension, rags, etc., you will also need to prepare the walls and the room.

Paint

Once your walls are prepped, your paint is mixed, and the proper tools are in your arsenal, it’s time to get to work. Work slowly from top to bottom, one wall at a time. If you plan on creating an accent wall, paint it last, as dark paint can cover up light paint, but not vice versa. Most walls will require two coats, but some may require three. And be sure to leave plenty of time between coats for the paint to dry, or your walls will turn into a sticky mess.

When To Hire Painting Professionals

Most people assume that interior painting is an easy home improvement project but sometimes this couldn’t be further from the truth. Before you jump into a large or complex painting project with both feet, consider these circumstances in which hiring a painting professional makes more sense than trying to tackle the job yourself:

• You Want To Paint the Whole House: Painting a single room is a fun weekend activity. Painting a whole house can be a week’s, if not months’, long endeavor, and one for which you will quickly lose enthusiasm.
• The Walls Need Extensive Repairs: Professional painters have the tools and know-how to fill holes, make drywall repairs and smooth out imperfections. Do you?
• There Is Intricate Woodwork: Does beautiful woodwork you want to preserve border the walls you plan to paint? If so, hire a professional.
• The Planned Color Change Is Drastic: Going from white to gray may require just a single coat. Going from dark blue to white, however, could require several. If you’re not prepared to paint the same wall three times, plus primer, contact a professional.

Keep those winter blues at bay by giving your home a refresh now. Whether you plan to take the DIY approach or hire painting professionals, these interior panting trends can help your next project be a success.