How to Choose Paint Trim

How to Choose a Paint Finish

How to Choose Paint Trim
Did you know that picking the right paint for your interior painting project involves more than just color selection

You also need to choose the right paint finish. Didn’t even think about the finish, did you? That’s ok! A lot of people underestimate the role paint finish plays in the appearance of your newly-painted room.

Choosing the right finish for your interior project will affect the look, durability, and ambiance of the room. Understanding the basic differences between paint finishes will help guide your selection process.

The most common interior paint finishes are: flat, matte, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss. Let’s take a closer look at these 5 options:

Flat

Flat finish is only available in latex paint. It’s clean, opaque qualities make it a great choice for walls and ceilings. It is also the least shiny finish available. Unfortunately, it doesn’t clean well. So don’t use it for kitchens, bathrooms, or children’s bedrooms. The only way to get rid of drawings and fingerprints on a flat-finish wall is to paint over them!

Matte

Matte finishes are also low-shine. It’s perfect for busy areas such as hallways, family rooms, and kids’ rooms. It’s easy to apply, washable, and hides existing wall colors well.

Eggshell

Eggshell finishes are used for decorative finishes because it provides a low shine. It cleans up better than a flat finish would, but probably not as well as you would want in a kitchen or bathroom.

How to Choose a Paint FinishSatin

The most popular paint finish is the satin finish. It has more sheen than eggshell, and cleans better too! This finish is a good choice for woodwork, walls, doors, and hallways. It’s also great for bedrooms and dining rooms. While this finish is washable, it’s not “scrubbable,” so this is another one to skip if you’re painting a playroom.

Semi-Gloss

A semi-gloss finish will give your room a subtle shine. It’s scrubbable without being too shiny. This makes it perfect for moldings, doors, windows – and little Picasso’s bedroom, too. However, because Semi-gloss finishes reflect light, imperfections in your walls are more noticeable. We recommend that you prep your walls and make them super smooth before applying paint.

Not sure which finish best matches your project? Check out this product comparison guide from Benjamin Moore.

Choosing the right paint finish is as important as picking a color. Not only does it impact the appearance of your room, it has a big effect on how well you will be able to clean and maintain your walls!

Now that you know which finishes to use, you are ready to pick out paint for your next project. Still not sure or need more help? Ask a GNH expert in our Greenville or Windham locations. They can help you make the best choice for your home improvement project.

How to Create an Accent Wall with Stripes

How to Create an Accent Wall with Stripes

How to Create an Accent Wall with Stripes

Want to give your living room or hallway a fresh and modern look? Maybe you want your kid’s bedroom to look as fun, vibrant and full of personality as they are. It’s easy to create a dramatic effect by painting a bold accent wall! And the best part about this DIY project is that it’s fun and inexpensive!

Painting the interior rooms of your home can have tremendous impact, and it’s a great autumn project with a modest price tag.

Strive for a balance of linear elements and colors, and don’t be afraid to ask the experts at GNH Lumber for guidance and tips along the way. Get your painting project started!

Here’s how to create a bold accent wall with stripes!

What You’ll Need to Pick Up at GNH:

  • FrogTape® Painter’s Tape
  • Benjamin Moore Interior Paint
  • Wall Primer
  • 2-in. Paint Brush
  • 9-in. Roller
  • Drop Cloth
  • Two Paint Trays
  • 220-Grit Sandpaper
  • Damp Sponge

 

Step 1:

Protect floors with a drop cloth, fill any nail holes and sand the wall. Wipe away dust with a clean, damp sponge.

Step 2:

Apply FrogTape® Painter’s Tape just beyond the corner of the adjacent wall to ensure a crisp, clean line.

Step 3

Prime wall if changing from a dark to a light paint color.

Step 4

Paint wall using a ‘W’ shape with a roller until the whole wall is covered evenly.

Step 5

Remove the painter’s tape when the paint is still wet.

Step 6

When the accent wall is dry, start decorating.

 

How to Paint Stripes on a Wall

Want to make a bold, unique statement? Stripes that go up-and-down make a room with low-ceilings look taller, where horizontal stripes give a smaller room a more spacious feel. And remember, the thinner the strips, the busier the pattern, too.
How to paint Stripes on an accent wall
Here are a few tips to paint level, even stripes on your walls.

Step 1

Paint your base color across the entire wall using the lighter and flatter shade of the two colors you picked. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.

Step 2

Figure out your stripe spacing. Choose a stripe width that can be evenly divided into the wall’s width or height. Generally, 4-12 in. is a good width. For vertical stripes, measure the width of the wall and for horizontal stripes, measure the height of the wall.

Quick Tip: Paint an odd number of stripes on your wall. This makes sure you’ll get a solid strip at the edges of the wall or ceiling.

Step 3

Create your outline. If using a level and pencil, mark your stripe widths across the wall. With your level, draw a light line continuously across, making sure the level is straight.

How to Create an Accent Wall with Stripes

Step 4

Mark an “X” where you want your solid stripes to be.

Quick Tip: Create a guide the exact width of your stripes and use it to make your marks

Step 5

Apply the right FrogTape® product for your surface

Quick Tip: Place your tape on the outside of your pencil line so the paint will cover up any markings.

Step 6

Burnish or seal the edges of the tape. Run a plastic toll along the tape’s edge so paint can’t bleed through.

Step 7

Pull the tape off when the paint is still wet at a slow, 45-degree angle backward toward the wall. Don’t forget to control the end of the free tape so it doesn’t drag along the freshly painted stripes.

Painting stripes takes time and patience. Just follow these steps to prepare the space and you’ll be sure to make your stripes look crisp and straight.

 

Sources: https://www.frogtape.com/inspiration/tutorials/projects/update-your-room-with-an-accent-wall; https://www.frogtape.com/inspiration/tutorials/projects/how-to-paint-stripes-on-a-wall

Stylish Painting Techniques

9 Stylish Techniques for Painting Living Rooms

Stylish Techniques for Painting Living Rooms

Does your living room need a fresh look? Are you thinking about painting your living room but don’t want to go with the same, boring solid walls of solid color?

Don’t worry – there are many creative and out-of-the-box ways to approach your living room painting project. And we’ve gathered up a few stylish and fun living room painting ideas you can try yourself.

Painting is one of the most amazing tools for creating a whole new living space quickly and at minimal cost! It’s a fun weekend project for the whole family. Beyond a rainbow of colors, sheens and finishes, there are also a wide range of textures, effects, stenciling and other creative techniques you can use to really make your living room walls pop.

The only question is: which stylish technique for painting living rooms will you pick?

Get your painting project started!

1. Ombre Walls

Ombre Walls

Image source: www.lushome.com/20-modern-wall-painting-ideas-watercolor-ombre-painting-effects/144403

Watercolor painting, or “Ombre” painting, is a beautiful decorating trend that can personalize modern interiors. It gives the effect of one color melting softly into another color, like a sunset sky. Follow these step-by-step directions from Spruce.com to make sure you get the look just right. This is a really satisfying way to create visual depth in your living room, and lend an airy, ethereal mood.

Here’s what you’ll need to pick up at GNH:

  • Masking tape
  • Two colors of Benjamin Moore Interior paint
  • Disposable measuring cup
  • Five-gallon bucket (for mixing)
  • Large mixing stick
  • Three large paint trays
  • Three medium-sized paint rollers 
  • Small paintbrush 
  • Several large paintbrushes

 

2. Stenciling

Paint Stenciling

Image Source: http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/living-and-dining-rooms/how-to-stencil-a-focal-wall

Break out of the constraints of solid walls of color with stencils! With an endless supply of stencils available, plus, the ability to create custom stencils of your own, the sky’s the limit when it comes to designs.

If you want to create a repeating pattern—or even an entire wall mural—but don’t want to test your freehand artistic abilities, a stencil should be your tool of choice. It’s fun to involve the whole family in choosing just the right stencil pattern to create a design you love. You can stencil a whole wall or just a border to create a range of effects.

 

Here’s what you’ll need to pick up at GNH:

 

3. Rag Rolling

Image source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.DIYWallPaintMotif.Skadoosh

Rag rolling is a paint technique that’s considered “country finish.” Use this simple method on an accent wall to create a focal point, or go bold on all four walls.

To create the rag rolling look, first paint your walls with an overall base color. Allow it to fully dry. Then use a crumpled rag to apply a darker or lighter glaze color mixture over it. You simply roll the rag over the wall in random directions.

Here’s what you’ll need to pick up at GNH:

  • Painter’s tape
  • Base coat of Benjamin Moore Interior paint 
  • Top coat of lighter or darker paint glaze
  • 2 large paint trays 
  • Several large rags
  • Paint brushes
  • Paint rollers

 

4. Sponging

Sponging

Image source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-sponge-paint-wall

Sponging, which is like rag rolling, is another way to create a textured wall that works well with many decorating styles. It’s easy really to do too! Just paint your walls with your desired base coat to get started. Once dry, use a natural sea sponge or sponge roller to dab on your desired top color in random, slightly overlapping patterns.

 

 

3. Strié, Dragging or Linen Look

Dragging Painting Technique

Image source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-create-faux-fabric-effect-paint

The dragging, or “Strié linen weave” painting technique is a great way to add texture to a modern, contemporary, or very eclectic space. It’s also easy to create by dragging a coarse brush through a tinted glaze in section. First, mix your satin base coat color of Benjamin Moore Interior Paint and glaze, then apply the paint/glaze mixture on the wall in sections, dragging your wallpaper brush over the wet glaze vertically and or horizontally. The idea is to create the look of a linen weave. It will take some time but the look is stunning.

 

What you’ll need to pick up at GNH:

  • Paint tray
  • 2″ and 4″ china bristle brushes
  • Paint pad
  • Rags
  • Water bottle
  • Benjamin Moore latex glaze
  • Base coat of Benjamin Moore Interior paint, eggshell sheen 
  • Top coat of Benjamin Moore Interior paint

 

4. Bold Accent Walls

accent wall

Image source: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/project-ideas-inspiration/interiors/living-room-ideas-inspiration

If you aren’t brave enough to paint the whole room with bright colors, why not consider a bold accent wall? This is a great way to introduce a pop of color, create a focal wall, or to add depth and texture to the space. You can use a focal wall to showcase artwork, photographs or to direct traffic down a hallway or up the staircase. You can also break up a smaller room into zones with a well-placed wall of color.

Here’s what you’ll need to pick up at GNH:

painted ceiling

Transform Any Room with A Painted Ceiling

painted ceiling

Flip through any home décor magazine and you’ll notice that the ceilings are almost always painted – and, more often than not, in bright, bold colors.

Designers never omit the ceiling when designing the color scheme of a space.  After all, the ceiling is the largest area of uninterrupted surface in a room. Therefore, the color you choose for a ceiling will dramatically impact the room’s overall effect. Think back and remember which rooms drew your eyes in the most and made a lasting impression – they likely had elegant painted ceilings!

Not sure what color to choose? Here are some tips on how to transform your room with a painted ceiling:

Get your painting project started!

  • Deeper Shade

    A grand room with high ceilings can feel impersonal and unbalanced after you’ve added furniture, rugs, drapes and wall art. Why? Because all of these embellishments occupy the bottom half of the room. Meanwhile, the top half is left bare and boring. In a room such as this, try painting your ceiling a deeper shade of the wall color. This will pull the eye upward, and harmonize the room from top to bottom. Deeper shades can also add an element of dignity and luxury to your room as well! You can make any space into a relaxed and refined area to gather with friends and family to unwind at the end of the day.

  • Accent Color

    ceiling-paint1.jpgMany designers love the idea of an accent wall. Well, why not make the accent wall your ceiling? An unexpected pop of color on the ceiling in a room with neutral colored walls can add personality and charm to a room. If you need help deciding on a color, just look to the furnishings and other room elements for inspiration and choose a color that complements them. Don’t be afraid to stock up on color samples to get the best idea of how different combinations will work.

  • Lighter Shade

    If you don’t want to paint your ceiling a vibrant color, that’s no problem! Paint your ceiling a color that is a few shades lighter than the color you have on your walls. Tip: Even a light shade of color is better than white – stark white ceilings are visually disruptive and can break up the flow of a room design.

  • Warm Colorsceiling-paint2.jpg

    Experiment with your bedroom. Warm, organic colors on both the walls and ceiling create a cozy yet elegant look. It can also help unify your space by tying into other design elements, like rugs and furniture. Plus, warm colors can have a positive effect on your attitude and mental health! Add these colors to rooms where you need an extra boost of focus or energy, or transform an office into an outside-the-box creative zone.

  • Dark Colors

    If you live in an older Victorian or Colonial home with a lot of woodwork detail, add drama to a room by painting a dark tone on the ceiling. This brings the eye down and allows the room’s architectural details to become to main focal point.

Experimenting with painted ceilings is a lot of fun, and you will be surprised and pleased by the outcome. Ceilings often go unconsidered during the decorating process, but they represent a golden opportunity to highlight, complement, accent, and add drama to your room. Happy designing!