7 Ways to Update Your Home with Paint
Are you tired of staring at your home’s beige walls, outdated tile, or dingy countertops? If you think you need to invest in a significant renovation to revitalize them, think again—you can update their appearance by simply brushing on some paint. Consider trying one of these fun and easy projects to add extra pizzazz to your spaces.
Accent walls
Inject life into an otherwise neutral room by creating an accent wall. For example, you can go bold with an attention-grabbing red or create a relaxing ambience with a soothing sage green or sky blue. To determine the ideal color for a space, browse images online or in magazines for inspiration. Alternatively, pick a hue already in the room, such as from the artwork or pillows. For added visual interest, stencil a botanical, floral, or geometric pattern on the wall; you could even make it look like it’s made of brick.
Ceiling
Don’t forget this uppermost part of a room, often called the “fifth wall” by designers. White is a standard choice for ceilings, but it’s not the only option. Consider continuing the shade of your walls onto your ceiling or matching a tone in your wallpaper for a harmonious look. You could also make a statement by painting it celestial blue, raspberry red, or luxurious gold or even go a daring step further with a striped pattern. If your ceiling has minor surface imperfections, opt for a light-colored paint in a matte finish to avoid drawing attention to them. Cover surfaces you don’t plan to paint with tarps, and protect your eyes with goggles as you work. If you’ll also be updating the color of your walls, tackle them last so they won’t get splattered with your ceiling paint.
Tile
You can change the color of your bathroom or kitchen tile, or simply make it look new again, with a coat or two of epoxy paint; you’ll want to use one specifically made for refinishing ceramic or porcelain surfaces. Be sure to rigorously clean and sand the tiles first (per the paint’s instructions), wear protective glasses and gloves, and ventilate the area to reduce potentially harmful fumes. This project can certainly be intensive, but the beautiful new waterproof finish you’ll be left with will make the effort and precautions more than worth it.
Cabinets
If your cabinets are in good shape, avoid the hassle and cost of ripping them out by painting them. Whether they’re laminate or wood, the process is essentially the same: Start by removing the hardware, doors, and drawers. Then clean the cabinet surfaces with Krud Kutter, fill in any dents with wood putty, and make other necessary repairs. Once the wood putty has completely dried, lightly sand your cabinets to help the paint adhere better. Add a coat or two of primer, and follow up with a couple layers of standard semi-gloss acrylic latex paint or one especially formulated for refinishing cabinets. After the paint is dry, reinstall the doors, drawers, and hardware.
Countertops
Do your laminate countertops look like they’ve seen better days? Would you prefer to replace them with stone but don’t have the funds? You can still get the aesthetic you crave at a lower cost by—you guessed it—painting them. Just make sure you’re committed to the project before moving forward since the primer and paint will be difficult to remove once they’re applied. Sand your counters first, then apply primer, two layers of a water-based acrylic paint, and an epoxy resin topcoat. You could also use an all-in-one kit, such as one that makes your countertops resemble marble or quartz; as a bonus, this option would take the guesswork out of which products to use and may include tips to guide you.
Furniture
A little latex paint can completely transform your furniture, whether it’s wood, laminate, or wood veneer—simply follow the same process described above for painting cabinets. Rather than latex paint, consider using chalk paint, which is formulated to adhere well to surfaces without much prep work. For extra fun, let your creativity loose and jazz up your pieces with colorful stripes, gold accents, or a hand-painted design.
Fixtures and more
Spray paint can be used to refurbish many items in your home, including door hinges and knobs, faucets, light fixtures, and picture frames. You could even update your fireplace with the help of high-heat spray paint or your patio or deck furniture with an outdoor version. These changes may seem relatively minor, but they can give a space like your living or family room a completely new look for very little effort or cost.
Once you’re bitten by the painting bug, you may never go back—your home can become your canvas, inspiring you to transform it as you please into your ultimate dream haven.