MacafConsultancy

Painting Ideas in Interior Decoration

Contents

»   Interior Painting
»   Painting Tips
»   Paint Techniques
»   Rag Rolling Paint Technique
»   Wall Preparation For Painting
»   Decorative Wall Painting
»   Painting Wood Panel
»   Paint Rollers
»   Cleaning Paint Brushes
»   Glazing Furniture
»   Painting Doors
»   Exterior Painting
»   Paint Sheen
»   Special Paints
»   Sponge Painting Instruction

Exterior Painting

There are a variety of paints to choose from for the exteriors of your house. Depending on the type of finish you desire you can choose paints for the exteriors. The information given below gives you a brief idea of the types and the best exterior paints available in the market and gives you important characteristics of each type.

• Latex paint is durable, dries fast and easy to cleanup. As it is mildew proof it can be applied over damp exterior as well. It has to be applied without using a thinner as it is. Do not spread too thin while applying.
• Acrylic paint is a type of latex paint. This paint is thinned with water and can be applied on any kind of surface including primer-applied metal. This too dries rapidly.
• Alkyd paint is a synthetic paint that has to be diluted with solvent. This paint is a little like oil based paints but dries quickly. Can be used over old oil based paint or alkyd based paint as it covers and hides perfectly.
• Oil paint takes a long time to dry up and it quite messy. But is extremely durable. As it takes a long time to dry, using it for exteriors can be a problem due to insects and rain.
• Primers are used to seal fresh wood and metal. Use only one coat of primer. The same applies for finish use only one coat. Primer cannot be used as finish and vice versa. Applying primer is easier than applying finish, but as the surface is fresh a lot of paint is required.
• Stains can be solvent thinned or water thinned and produce a transparent, semitransparent or solid finish for original wood siding and trim. Some stains have preservatives and other give wood an antique finish.

Exterior Painting of House:

Once you paint the exterior of your house, it should be such that, you need not bother about it for the next 10 years. So think carefully before you choose the color combination for the paints of the exterior of your house. Given below are a few tips on how to choose colors for the exterior, depending on the type of house you have.

For traditional houses:

• For a Foursquare house do not use the usual colors of white for the walls with green for the trim. You can get ideas from various history books. You will find that the top and bottom of these houses were painted in different colors. Choose colors that were historically used for these houses.
• Queen Anne Victorian style houses. For this house you can use as many as 10 colors to paint the exterior. You can choose to use fewer colors but try to contrast the colors. You can use subtle or stark contrast.
• For tropical cottage do not use bright colors for the shutters. Use your most dramatic color for the door and complicated window mullions. If the mullions are ordinary blend them into the color of the house.
• For an English Tudor house, the color of the roof of the house, determines the rest of the color scheme for the exterior. So you may not be able to experiment with colors. Use colors that compliment the surrounding of the house use natural colors on the exteriors.

For houses that have a Classic style:

• For a Ranch the color of the exterior walls will depend on the color of the brick used in the Ranch. If the brick is tan, white or copper try to blend the colors that you use for the exterior wall with the color of the brick. If the brick is red use a contrasting color for the walls, as it is impossible to get the exact red color. Blend the color of the trim with the color of the wall. Using one color for the house will give an illusion of height. Use any dramatic color for the door.
• For a farmhouse people prefer a color like yellow that emphasizes the farmhouse mood. For the window trim and roof trim use an earth color that will off set the bright yellow color. Use a different color for the porch ornamentation. Use teal for the front door and windows for effect.
• For a Craftsman Bungalow the classic combination of green and brown is the best to use. The roof of the bungalow is normally heavy and attractive; therefore a brown trim will emphasize the roof. If the trim is in poor condition then blend it with the color of the house. If it is in good condition highlight it by using some light shade.
• If your house is Split-Level you can bring the different levels together by using dark colors. Use a combination of warm and cool colors. Blend the garage door with the exteriors. Use bright color for the entrance door.

For houses with an Exotic style:

• For a Spanish Colonial house use dark color to highlight the tiles. Hence for the exterior walls use a light color. Highlight the fence, path, steps etc., as they are part of the landscape.
• For a Colonial Georgian house use three or four dark colors for the exteriors. Do some research to find out what colors were used historically and then choose your colors.
• For an Eclectic Suburban house use a few neutral colors to bring together the uneven design.
• Try dark neutral shades for the walls and light shades for the trim. Blend the garage into the main structure and use the brightest color for the door in front. Using neutral shades is a sign of sophistication as well.
• Art Deco style of house is normally set in warmer climates where it is easy to use bright colors. Paint the exterior walls in neutral colors so that you can use darker shades to highlight other details like trims, railings etc.

Painting Outdoor Concrete Patio:

The porch, deck and patio can be made bright and inviting by adding color to the lifeless cement or wood. The dull and uninteresting patio in the backyard can be turned into a space with energy and dazzling style, by decorating it with a few bright colorful paints. Once this is done this areas will be the center of all parties in the house. Bring the outdoor concrete or wooden patio alive by painting it with vibrant colors and designs. Create your own seaside using paints and following the instructions given below.

Things you require:
»   Paint brushes
»   Painter's tape
»   Chalk
»   Water spray bottle
»   Polyurethane

Instructions for painting:

1. Paint the concrete wall in a color of your choice.
2. Take a rug and place it against the wall and mark off the perimeter of the rug with painter's tape.
3. Inside the tape with your free hand draw an uneven border of the rug with chalk.
4. Paint this area with a dark colored paint. Use quick short strokes.
5. Cut out patterns of the sun, shells and starfish in cardboard.
6. Keep the sun cut out in the middle of the rug and draw its outline in chalk. Do the same for the shells and starfish.
7. Fill the designs drawn in chalk on the rug with some color that is neither too bright nor too light.
8. Once this paint dries up, make a palette of all the colors you want to use. Dip a brush in one color and paint with it till the color dries up, then dip another brush in a different color of paint and use it till it dries. Continue this till you have used all the colors on the palette. Blend in the edges of the colors so that the finish is smooth. Use dark colors for the background that will contrast with the light colored designs inside.
9. Take off the painter's tape and with the chalk draw tassels for the rug. Then use different colors to make the yarns of the rug.
10. After the entire painting dries up, apply a coat of polyurethane over the outer limit of the painting. This coat will prevent chemical damage to the paint.