Sep 05 2010
The Power of Paint
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to transform any room is through the use of paint. With just a bucket of paint and a weekend, you can make your entire home feel fresh and new. It’s the perfect solution for any budget decorator.
Updating the wall color in a space can create a completely new atmosphere in your home. If you cannot repaint the entire room, consider painting an accent wall instead. Choose an accent paint color that works with the other elements of the room, and has a medium to high level of contrast to your existing wall color.
Select a wall that will make sense when accented. For example, choosing the wall with the fireplace will naturally reinforce the fireplace as the focal point of the room. Other good accent walls may contain a large bank of windows, interesting architectural details or amazing artwork.
If you have a chair rail or other decorative molding, you could paint an accent color above or below the trim. This is a simple way to add pizzazz to a space without painting all of the walls at the same time.
While changing the color of the walls is a great way to use paint, there are other ways to harness the power of paint. Painting your existing wood or metal furniture is a way to add punch to your room while keeping your budget under control.
Think about painting a side table in tropical turquoise. Or, perhaps the bookcase in the corner would look richer when painted tomato red. You can paint just the legs of a table, or the top of a desk. Lamp bases, candlesticks, picture frames and other accessories also come to life with a fresh coat of paint.
If your room contains mismatched pieces of furniture that you have collected over the years, painting them all a fresh shade of ivory or chocolate brown will instantly make them feel as though they are part of a matched set.
To choose a paint color, look to hues found in the accent fabrics in the room, and you cannot go wrong. For best results, use an oil-based gloss or semi-gloss paint for furniture as it offers the most durable finish. Small metal items and oddly-shaped accessories will be easiest to cover with spray paint.
While paint is inexpensive, it gives you amazing bang for your decorating dollar. Never underestimate the power of paint!
Platinum author Jennifer Wezensky is editor of http://BudgetDecoratingOnline.com, the one-stop resource for how to decorate on any budget. She leads a team of interior decorators to offer tips, trends and ideas for the budget decorator. Wezensky also creator of the popular Facebook page, Decorating on a Dime.
Believe it or not, no matter how small your budget, it’s possible to bring style to any room in your home. There are so many inexpensive ways to add style to your home, giving it a whole new look. Following are some great ways to decorate any room in your home while sticking to your budget.