The magic of paint!
I know this site is quickly becoming all about paint, but in that I feel no shame. Paint is magic! It makes all things better and I challenge you to find a decor project that wouldn’t be made better with a few twitches of a paint brush. Carrying on the paint series that we’ve been working on for a while, today we’re talking about how to use paint as a solution to decor problems in your home. I know what it’s like to have a dark room, a tiny bathroom or a space that just isn’t right. My gut feel is that paint can pretty much always help you! Read on for a few ideas for those tricky spots.
If A Room Feels Too Small
This one is quite obvious, but we had to begin with it. Painting walls white, cream, or cool colours (tinged with blue or green) creates the illusion of more space by reflecting light. White or light colours on walls can also lift the ceiling, bringing your eyes up, which makes you feel like you’re in a larger room. If you want your space to feel even bigger, lighter toned furniture and decor can help there too!
If A Room Is Too Large
When a space feels too big, draw walls inward and make it cozy with warm colours (red-tinged) because darker hues absorb light. Similarly, a dark or warm colour overhead (in a flat finish) helps make rooms with high ceilings seem less cavernous. A few hanging lights can help to bring the ceilings down too!
To Create a Calming Environment
The right paint choice can give tranquility to a bathroom, master suite, or other quiet, personal space. Some good choices include whites, beiges or light greys. If you would like more colour, pale lavenders, light greens and wispy blues have the same effect.
To Make An Overlooked Room Feature Stand Out
Highlight notable features in your room with paint. Dress crown moldings and other trims in white to make them pop against walls with colour. Make a fireplace or other feature a focal point by painting it a color that contrasts with walls. If you don’t want to go contrasting, perhaps your palette doesn’t suit that, choose contrasting paint finishes for a subtle contrast.
To Hide Flaws
Not everything should stand out in a space. Using a low-contrast palette is a good way to hide unappealing elements or flaws. Radiators, piping and other components painted the same colour as the wall will seem to disappear. Selecting low-sheen or flat paint colours also helps hide flaws.
To Keep Your Home Clean If You Have Children or Pets
Kids know how to dirty the walls! Trust me. So you’ll want durable, easy-to-wipe paint. That means using an interior paint that has a more glossy finish. The flatter the finish the more it will take on marks and scuffs. If you have a few children and want an even more robust option, go for the highest gloss finish and paint it halfway up the walls. This is a trick you see in schools and it really works!
