Archive for the 'Painting' Category

Feb 12 2010

5 Great Color Combinations for Your Home

A common problem faced by homeowners when decorating a room is figuring out what colors to use for the décor. Have you ever visited a paint store? If so, then you have probably seen the hundreds of different colors and shades you have to choose from when designing a color scheme. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by so many choices. Some people just don’t have an eye for color and struggle with picking colors that look good together in a room. If you’re searching for ideas for color combinations for your décor, here are five you can consider.

1. Brown, Blue, and Cream
You can use this color scheme in any room of your home. Just keep in mind, when using these colors, that you want the colors to stay balanced, especially when you’re applying the dark brown. So, for instance, if you have a dark brown couch, you may want to lighten it up with cream or light blue pillows. Or if your couch is cream colored, you would choose brown and blue pillows to add interest instead. If you can find patterns that include all three colors, you can add even more visual interest to the décor.

2. Shades of Brown and Cream
Whether you’re looking to create a peaceful retreat in your bedroom or bathroom, try using shades of brown and cream. There’s a wide variety of shades across this spectrum that you can choose from, anything from dark chocolate brown to an off white or light cream color. Although this color combination closely resembles a monochromatic theme, you can easily add more interest. Simply pair a lighter shade with a darker shade, and that will make the room appear much more lively.

3. Blue and Orange
Blue and orange are complementary colors, as the colors lie across from each other on the color wheel. The key to using this particular color scheme is to keep the colors muted. You don’t want to be using bright oranges and blues. By adding white or even brown to the mix, you can easily work these colors into a contemporary-styled room.

4. Black and White
You can use this classic color combination for practically any room you like. The great thing about black and white is that it can be used in a variety of ways. Depending on the pieces you use, it can be modern as well as traditional. You can add even more style to this color scheme with an accent color such as red or green. This is one of the easier color combinations to work with, as there is no shortage of black-and-white home accessories to choose from.

5. Pink and Green
For your bedroom, living room, or sun room, try another complementary color scheme: pink and green. Add a neutral color into the pink and green mix, or you may end up with too much color in the room. You also want to keep the colors the same shade. Mint green and neon pink, for instance, aren’t going to work well together.

If you’re not sure where to start coming up with color combinations for your home, then consider these five suggestions. When decorating your home, any of these combinations should give you some inspiration. You can create a unique look to your home by using any of these suggestions as a base and then adding your own style to them.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has 4 decades of experience in the furniture and interior design industry. He is the owner and manager of popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, dining room, bedroom and wood office furniture. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for a wood bookcases for your home office or a study area or a dining table for your dining room then they have everything you need.

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Jan 28 2010

How to Use Different Color Schemes in Your Home

One thing that tends to overwhelm homeowners is choosing a color scheme for a room. The thing about choosing a color scheme is figuring out other potential colors to incorporate into the design once you’ve settled on a main color. So how do you go about selecting a color scheme for a décor? One of the best tools to have at your fingertips is a color wheel.

What Is the Color Wheel?
The first person to start using the color wheel was Sir Isaac Newton, who came up with this after performing an experiment with a prism. What he discovered was that pure white light had a wide spectrum of reflective colors. Since then, people have been using this spectrum of colors (otherwise known as the color wheel) for classifying colors and help in decorating.

The Classification of Colors Using the Color Wheel
The colors on the color while are basically classified into three different categories.
1. First, you have the primary colors, which are red, yellow, and blue.
2. Next you have the secondary colors, which are orange, green, and violet. These colors are created by mixing the primary colors.
3. The colors red-orange, yellow-orange, blue-green, and yellow-green make up the tertiary colors. Basically, all these colors are formed by combining the primary colors with the secondary colors that are next to them.

Monochromatic Color Scheme Explained
A monochromatic color scheme will look exactly as it sounds. Essentially, you pick one color and use only that color for the entire room. To achieve the monochromatic color scheme, you want to pick varying shades of that color, from light to dark. You can include the color white in the scheme as well, in order to help break up the color.

Analogous Color Scheme Explained
With an analogous scheme, you include anywhere from two to six different colors a room. You want to use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Consider the color red, for example. You might choose orange or purple as the accent colors, being that they are the colors next to red on the wheel. It’s a good idea to choose your main color first. Then you can look at accent color options.

Complementary Color Scheme Explained
When looking for a decorating scheme, people will often go with a complementary color scheme. When you decide on your main color, you then go directly across that color on the wheel to find your complementary color. If your main color is yellow, then the complementary color would be in the purple family. The family of pinks would complement the color green. Remember, you can always play with this a little and mix the family of colors; thus, green would go with pink, but it would also go with red.

Triad Color Scheme Explained
Homeowners also often choose to go with a triad color scheme. Here you use the three colors that form a triangle together on the color wheel. One example of a triad would be the colors orange, green, and purple. Here you have a couple of options. You can choose to make one of these colors your main color and use the other two as accent colors, or you can choose two main colors and then accent with the third.

No matter what color scheme you choose for your home, remember that both white and black are neutrals. Thus, they can be added to any colors without changing the color scheme too much. By playing around with the color wheel and some of these color scheme suggestions, you will be able to come up with some great options for the rooms in your home.

About the Writer…
For over four decades Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior decorating needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Are you searching for a nightstands for your master bedroom or a wood dining table for your dining room then they probably have everything you need.

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Jan 15 2010

How to Decorate Using a Monochromatic Color Scheme

When it comes to figuring out the color sc heme of a room, a monochromatic color scheme is one option. This type of color scheme uses one color for almost all the surfaces in the room. Contrast is added to the room by using different shades of the color, from light to dark. If you are considering using a monochromatic color scheme in your home, here are some tips for creating the best possible look.

Add White or a Neutral Color to the Room
If you pair the color with white or another neutral, you can avoid having a room that looks like it’s too matched or boring. Of course, you don’t want the neutral color to be the main focus in the room but rather an accent. In a blue monochromatic scheme, for instance, although the walls and furniture are blue, you might add in a blue and white area rug. What might also work is to paint the trim in the room white.

Choose the Color of the Room Wisely
When planning out a monochromatic color scheme for a room, you need to be sure that your really put some thought into the color choice. After all, you are not going to end up being very happy with the finished look of the room if you choose a color you’re not crazy about. So be sure to pick a color that you like to look at! Those of you who are new to the monochromatic look may also want to avoid bold colors for your color choice, such as red and orange. You need to remember that once you choose a monochromatic look, it’s going to be much harder to change the décor of the room, since everything in the room is going to be in some shade of that same color. Be sure that you think carefully about your color choice and try not to rush into a hasty decision you may later regret.

Mix Up the Shades of the Color
Once you’ve chosen your color, the best way to find different shades of that color is to visit a paint store and gather up some color swatches. Then you’ll be able to clearly see the different shade of the color that you have to work with. An important key to a monochromatic color scheme is making sure you’re not painting the walls the exact same shade as the furniture. Likewise, you don’t want your floor to be the exact same shade as the walls. By mixing up the shades of color, the room will have more character and interest. You might also use accessories like pillows, curtains, baskets, and candles to your advantage by choosing completely different shades from the rest of the room.

A monochromatic color scheme is not always the easiest to pull off in a room. You really have to be willing to put some planning into the décor, making sure that everything flows well and you have the perfect balance of color.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior decorating industry for 4 decades. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. Are you searching for oak tv stand for your family room or a wood dresser for your bedroom then they probably have everything you need.

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Jan 04 2010

Painting Vinyl Siding

Published by San Antonio Decorator under Painting

As the executer of my father’s estate it fell upon me to sell their home. As I wanted to obtain the best price possible to help support my mother in her declining years I decided to do a few cosmetic fixes to the home. One way to do this was by painting the vinyl siding that had been installed about 7 years ago. In that time it has become slightly the worse for wear. The color had changed from off white to a mixture of pink and brown.

Initially, power washing appeared to be the best way to clean it in preparation for painting the vinyl siding. Luckily I checked with the company that had installed the siding originally. They explained that the power washer could actually do more damage than good. Forcing the water through the cracks and openings in the siding could cause hidden damage beneath the siding. If you decide to do an initial power wash first, use reduced pressure and make all the strokes going down. Upward movement can force the water where you do not want it to go.

The installers’ recommendation to clean prior to painting the vinyl siding was to use soap, water, a bucket, and a sponge. I soon discovered they had failed to mention the key ingredient, elbow grease. To expedite the timing between cleaning and painting I decided to do only one side of the house at a time. Two sides of the house had patches of mold and we were able to remove them with an oxygen bleach. It will not harm the siding or your vegetation while chlorine bleach will. Wear gloves when you apply the bleach. Finally, vinyl siding will oxidize over time. We found a few spots and carefully removed them with steel wool. These spots needed to be primed with a vinyl primer before painting.

I then discovered that once the cleaning was complete, so was most of the work. Between advice from the siding installer and the local paint store clerks, I was able to pick the right paint and tint for painting the vinyl siding. Both said to get the best grade of paint possible and to use a tint that was as near to the original as possible. The paint needs to be a mixture of urethane and acrylic resins that will expand and contract with the siding.

Paint needs to be applied to a clean, dry and cool surface. I choose to paint early in the morning before the sun had made it’s full appearance and the breezes had picked up. This added a little to the days required to finish the job, but made up for it in the smooth professional finish I obtained.

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Jan 03 2010

Panel Walls in Home That Are Hard to Care For

Published by San Antonio Decorator under Painting

Paneling is not the most attractive aspect of your home, but it’s easily fixed. You will find that there maybe some old paneling in your home and you may be afraid that it is going to cost too much for you to process into something beautiful, but you have a lot of options. You will be able to actually hide the paneling by covering it up, and there are ways that you can doctor it up to look wonderful. You will want to make sure that you do something with the paneling, even if you are on a tight budget so that you can have a home that you are proud of. Take inconsideration that paneling can bring the value of your home down, if you are preparing the home for a sell.

The first thing that you can do is paint the paneling. You will want to keep in mind that the paint could run and the paneling could show through because it will absorb the paint. You will need to prepare the paneling by sanding. You will need to remove the glossy layer and rub the sand paper in the direction of the wood grain so that you can prepare the paneling properly. You will also notice that a primer will be needed. Keep in mind that if you would like to hide the paneling, then you can always fill the paneling in with compound and then sand it down.

This will make it look more like dry wall. If you are not into all the sanding, then you will want to consider placing white, thick wallpaper. When you do this you will be able to give it a durable coat to cover up the paneling, but then you will also be able to prepare it in a simple way for paint. It is very important that you allow the paint to dry between coats. Also keep in mind that the paint should be a flat finish, because it is less likely to run. Its also a good idea to cover your hurricane windows so you don’t get paint on them.

As for the painting wallpaper theory, you will be able to find wallpaper that is even painted already, so that you can get the appearance of a painted wall. Keep in mind that the best part of getting rid of the paneling is that you can change your décor whenever you want it. You will need to make sure that you use the wallpaper properly and that you take a good opportunity and make it wonderful by taking your time with the wallpaper.

You can also glaze the paneling. Glazing the paneling will add a nice shine. You will first need to clean the paneling with some type of degreaser. Then you will want to paint the color of your choice and let it dry over night. Then you will need to mix some type of satiny top color with the glaze and read all the instructions on the glaze and the paint for the correct mix. Paint over the paneling in sections.

The columnist Greg Hansward is very passionate about ideas corresponding to hurricane certified windows. Through his detailed publications on hurricane windows and storm protection he showed his deep knowledge in the field.

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Jan 02 2010

Interior Painting Ideas

Published by San Antonio Decorator under Painting

It may surprise most homeowners that to give to your house a makeover, all you need is just a new coat of paint. Simple, yes, but the doing quite be tough. It’s a labor intensive work and you may need to brainstorm a little for some interior painting ideas.

However, it’s best you consider the reasons why you are doing this. Interior painting can take many days to complete and it requires a lot of energy to complete the whole job. Painting itself is exhausting work and if you don’t have enough strong reasons to do the work, your interior painting ideas may fall apart and the painting halts midway. So why are you doing this? Is it:

a. Your neighbor is doing it
b. Your walls are dirty
c. Your children have painted the walls with crayons
d. Your spouse cannot sleep at night because it’s the wrong color
e. You cannot stand the color because it reminds you of your ex

When you get the reasons right, it will be easier to see everything through and you will become more creative and you may develop insights to giving your home a new makeover. You may think about patterns on the walls, or use sponges to leave decorative marks on the wall, or create patterns with stencils and stamps.

When you are running through your interior painting ideas, you may want to think about the choice of colors. Choose your colors to suit the walls and all the rooms and its intended function for the rooms. Select colors that will match the furniture and electrical fixtures and appliances in the room. As a general guide, lighter colors tend to promote space and awareness, which are good for kids room or the new born; and darker colors will make a room seem a little smaller but it can also make it a little cozy, like a movie projector room. Different colors can psychologically affect the mood of people, especially in the home. Here are few tips when it comes to selecting color:

Red
Red walls will increase a room energy level. You will never see red walls in a prison for that reason. Red can be consider for your bedroom ideas to increase activities at night, but don’t paint the elderly person’s room red. Red has been shown to raise blood pressure, speed respiration and heart rate

Yellow
Yellow is good for kitchen walls and bathrooms, it is uplifting and creates a feeling of sunshine. In living rooms, yellow can feel expansive and invigorating. Yellow is believed to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

Green
Green is a relaxing and peaceful color. That’s why people go to gardens to relax and seek calmness. Green can be painted in almost any room in the house. In a kitchen, a sage or medium green cools things down; in a family room or living room, it encourages unwinding and also promote comfort and togetherness. It is believed to relieve stress by helping people relax.

Tips on interior painting:

1. Decide on how many walls you want to paint and in which order you want to paint. This not only helps you estimate the amount of paint you need, but also helps you plan where you want to store the furniture temporary when you are painting. You must take into consideration the inconvenience the other occupant may experience. If you painting the kitchen, then all the cooking have to stop.

2. Plan on protecting the floor and all furniture and electrical fixtures. It may be a good idea to use old newspaper to cover exposed items. Your roller may seem fun to use, but the all the splatter may not be so fun to clean up.

3. Clean the walls before you start painting. You don’t want to paint over cob webs and insects crawling on the wall. Patch up holes and cracks to ensure smooth painting throughout.

When you are actively searching for interior painting ideas, remember to include all the pointers mentioned above. Any do it yourself job is always satisfying and could save you a lot money.

You can get more information on interior painting ideas and installing wood floor here.

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