The Basics of House Painting

By Charlie Angeles 


Your house is your lifetime asset. And it's a matter of time when you take a notice that your house needs renovation - not because it's getting old, but because you feel the need of vibrant colors in your house.

Repainting your house is a tricky business. Some rely on painting companies to do the job for you. Hiring the house painting service may also cost you. But if you are planning to paint it yourself, you might want to consider the basics; and consider the time and effort you will put on painting your house.

PAINT
There are many types of paint available today, some giving different surface finishes, others are designed for a particular application. Choosing the correct paint type may appear to be confusing at first, but once you have projected which theme you would like to paint your house and sorted out which job and what finishes you want, the choice is rather easy.
There are two bases of paint for your house: solvent-based (oil or alkyd) and water-based (latex). Oil-based paints dry slow - usually taking up to 24 hours. The best clean up for an oil-based paint is turpentine or paint thinner. Latex paints' advantage is that it dries relatively fast, but it is not desirable in hot weather or direct sunshine. The best clean up for latex paints requires just soap and water. So if you are painting the inside of your house, it is recommended to use water-based paints, while solvent-based paints are suggested for painting the exterior of your house.
There are different types of paints that is either water-based or solvent-based that produces different finishes that is measured by its sheen factor. "Sheen" is a term used to describe the degree of light reflection the paint has. Lesser sheen for an interior or exterior paint means it has lesser stain resistance.
· A Gloss paint is easy to clean and resists scuffs better. This is ideal for rooms that are constantly used. Most gloss paints are best recommended to use on woodworks, baseboards, kitchen and bathroom walls, doorjambs, and window casings. The downside of using gloss paints, however, is the noticeable imperfections in the wall surface.
· A High-gloss paint is highly reflective and works well for highlighting details, such as trim and decorative molding. They are also the best choice for doors and cabinet - or any area that sees a high volume of abuse.
· Semi-gloss paints are very similar to gloss plaints except it has lesser sheen. Semi-gloss is also suitable for rooms with high humidity (best used for children's room) and can be used for trim works and casings. These paints ensure maximum durability.
· Eggshell paints provide a smooth and low-sheen finish. Paints that are smooth and low-sheen that is ideal for your living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and dens. It is washable and ideal for bedrooms, hallways, home offices and family rooms.
· Satin paints offer a good combination of easy-clean and moderate sheen. These paints go a step above eggshell in scrubbing ability. They perform and look great in just about any room.
· Flat paints (matte paints) are non-reflective and always a good choice for large walls and ceilings. Flat paints hides imperfections on wall surfaces and spatters well during application. Flat paints are the best choice for vinyl and aluminum siding that is scratched or dented because it hides imperfections and spatters less when applied. These paints are ideal for low-traffic areas such as formal dining rooms and master bedrooms.
Special paints have been innovated from different consumer insights and brilliant paint technology that allows specific paints for specific needs.
· Ceiling flats are designed specially for ceilings. These are usually extra spatter-resistant.
· Primer paints may be oil- or water-based and are used to seal unpainted surfaces to prevent covering coats of paint soaking in. The appropriate type of primer should be used for the surface being painted - wood, metal, plaster or tiles. There are some 'all purpose primers' available which are designed for two or more of these surfaces.
· Anti-condensation paints are used for rooms with humid conditions such as kitchen and bathrooms. This paint is usually formulated to prevent condensation and often includes fungicide.
· Fire-retardant paints do not resist fires completely but its fire-resistance formulation prevents it from fire in spreading fast.
It is also important that before painting your room, you use a primer. A primer will help paint adhere to the surface by providing a uniform appearance. It is a must to use a primer if you are painting over new wood, bare wood, drywall, or repainting over existing bright or dark colors.
But before doing this, you have to know the condition of the surface you wanted to paint. Regardless of whether the base coat is oil or latex, you must dull glossy paint by sanding or de-glossing it with a chemical de-glossing product. If you don't dull glossy paint, the second coat will streak and not stick to the base coat when drying.

INTERIOR PAINTING
If you want to alter your room's ambience, painting it is a great option. When interior painting, use paints that are quicker to dry and does not have a strong odor that lingers around where your kids can smell it.
Painting the interior of your house requires a thorough estimation, visualization and preparation. When you have chosen your theme for your rooms and have bought the job materials you need (paints, paint brushes and rollers, extension handles, paint tray, paint stirrer, drop clothes, step ladder, painter's tape, etc.), you simply follow these interior house painting tips:

BEFORE AND DURING HOUSE PAINTING
· Always provide adequate ventilation when painting inside your house. If you cannot get enough ventilation in the work area, use a respirator or a mask.
· Keep paint containers or solvent containers closed when not in use.
· Keep paint products out of the reach of children.
· Avoid direct contact with skin.
· Always read packaging (label) instructions.

SURFACE PREPARATION TIPS
· Remove as much as furniture as possible from the room or group the heavier fixtures and the delicate ones together and cover them with a drop cloth.
· Provide adequate lightning to allow a good view of painting imperfections.
· Remove switch plates.
· Patch holes and cracks in the surfaces you wanted to paint with premixed spackling paste. After the paste dries, sand the patched the areas.
· Dust and wash the ceilings, walls, baseboards, windows and door moldings.
· Clean, sound wallpaper can be painted over, but in most cases it is better to strip it. Painting over a wallpaper may begin to peel.

PAINTING YOUR CEILING TIPS
· If you are painting the entire room, it is best to paint the ceiling first!
· If you are using a paint roller, maneuver your arms in series of diagonal swaths (forming a letter M). Fill in the open areas by cross rolling.
· If you are using a paintbrush, apply the paint in short strokes towards the unpainted area, known as "wet to dry." Then brush back into the area you just painted for a smooth surface.
· If you are painting your ceiling, remove light bulbs, chandeliers, fluorescent lights and fixture covers.
· Paint trim first, including edging around the ceiling, molding, and trim.

WALL PAINTING TIPS
· Paint around the trim first, including edging around the ceiling.
· When painting with a gloss finish, make the final brush strokes away from the light source of the room. The tiny ridges that a brush leaves won't be as pronounced. Use the same "wet to dry" method of painting.

WOODWORK
· Check woodwork for damage. if there is one, patch it with a wood filler, dry it overnight and sand it for any rough spots and apply a sealer before painting.
· If you'll be using the same paint on the walls and woodwork, paint the woodwork as you come to it. If it is another color of higher in gloss, wait until the walls are done.
· Paint double-hung windows from the wood between the panes then outward. On casement windows, us the same technique, but keep the windows slightly open until the paint dries.
· For panel doors, paint the decorative molded edges first, then the individual panels. Paint from the center out. When the panels are completed, paint the vertical and horizontal flat panels.
· Use a painter's tape or painter's shield to keep paint off windowpanes. Do not use a masking tape or a duct tape. Using a painter's tape or painter's shield allows you to keep areas covered for up to 3 days.
· Paint the top edge baseboards first, then the bottom along the floor. Paint the middle section last.
· Remove cabinet doors and drawers and paint the flat surfaces first. Paint inside the edges, then move to the outer surfaces.

CLEAN-UP and STORAGE or DISPOSAL TIPS
· If there are paint drops on your floor, don't let it stay there. As the paint sets longer, the harder it will be cleared. Use a cloth with soap and water or a solvent for cleaning.
· Use a razor-blade scraper or a putty knife to chip off bigger paint droplets that have dried.
· Use a scraper to trim around windowpanes.
· Wash and dry paintbrushes and rollers. Store them according to the brand's recommendation not all paintbrushes have the same type of bristles nor the rollers have the same material.
· Clean the paint from the rim of the can. Tap container lids tight with a hammer and block of wood.
· Store solvent-based paint cans upside down to prevent a skin from forming.
· Store your paints in normal or room temperature. Never put the paints in extreme hot or cold rooms.
· Each states in the U.S. or every community/ county differs on paint can disposal methods. Check your local environmental, health, and safety laws.

EXTERIOR PAINTING
In buying paints that you are going to use for your exterior house, you have to pick a brand that has essential characteristics: hiding power, color retention, chalk-resistance, and blister resistance.
Hiding power comes from the paint's pigment and is affected by the manner and thickness of the application. Color retention is the ability to maintain its original color during exposure to sunlight, etc. Chalking resistance prevents the white chalky powder from forming on the surface and lightening the color of the paint. Chalking occur over a period of time. Blister resistance keeps excessive moisture from coming through the substrate and affecting the paint layer. Tip: if paint is applied over a damp or wet surface, blistering is imminent.
Painting the exterior of your house requires a thorough estimation, visualization and preparation. When you have chosen your theme for your rooms and have bought the job materials you need.
You will need any of these tools in painting your exterior: caulk, sandpaper, rags and/or paper towels, painter's tape, garden hose, power washer, or hose brush attachment, sponges & buckets for wash water, spray nozzle, stepladder, extension ladder, paint scraper, wire brush, putty knives, heat gun, rotary paint removing tool and electric drill, caulk gun, sanding block, and work gloves.
When you have all the tools at hand, examine your exterior. You might find exterior painting problems, which could be any of the following: alligatoring, blistering, chalking, chalk run down, crackling, dirt pickup, efflorescence, fading, frosting, lapping, mildew, nail head rusting, paint incompatibility, peeling, poor alkali resistance, poor adhesion, poor gloss retention, surfacent leaching, staining, vinyl siding wrap, wax bleed, or wrinkling.
If you already know what your house exterior's problem is or just for repainting it, simply follow some of these tips. You can also refer to INTERIOR PAINTING for brush or roller strokes, etc.:
· Start by thoroughly cleaning the outside of your home. Start at the top and work your way down the sides of the house. If your siding has areas of mold, mildew or discoloration, wash it with an anti-fungal cleaner.
· Mask off areas that are not to be painted. You may want to place masking tape along the edge of house trim, and around window and door frames and trim, since this is likely to be painted in a different color or with a higher sheen paint. You can also tape newspaper or plastic drop cloth material over windows and doors, including sliding glass doors, to protect them from drips.
· Place plastic drop cloths over plants and shrubs, or where paint may drip on porches, roof sections, sidewalks, driveways or other surfaces.
House painting takes time, house painting costs a big chunk on your budget, but the end-result is always great.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charlie_Angeles 

Choosing the Right Bedroom Furniture

By Jennifer Akre

Bedroom furniture is a huge part of your homes décor. The master bedroom is the heart and soul of the house and should contain the same style and feeling of the rest of the home. Choosing the right furniture for your bedroom can be overwhelming, but with a little helpful advice found on the internet and from some great furniture websites, it can be much easier.

If your home is decorated with fine woods and quality artwork, your bedroom furniture should reflect that as well. It may be your personal space, but the master bedroom really does set the tone for the entire house. You want to choose items that are not only useful, but that make you feel good.

There are many different styles to choose from, contemporary, modern, classic, traditional, retro, and many other new styles. The first step to finding the right bedroom furniture is to choose the style that fits you and your home the best.

You can always mix and match styles within rooms or within the home, having a contemporary living room and a modern kitchen is fine, you can even add the traditional bedroom. You want to ensure that when offering more selection of styles to your room or your home, that the pieces you choose will compliment each other and not clash.

Once you have determined the type or style of furniture you would like I the room, you will need to select which pieces will fit properly and offer the most use. The bed of course, will always be your first selection. You need to determine what size bed would suit you and your bedroom the best. If your room is small, choosing a king size bed may not be the right decision.

In most cases, one night stand will do, some people prefer to have one on each side of the bed. You have to ensure you have room for this much bedroom furniture. You may have a large walk in closet and this could eliminate the need for a dresser and chest or at least one of them. Depending on the space in your bedroom, you may need to purchase less bedroom furniture.

In cases where you have a large master bedroom, you will be able to purchase more bedroom furniture. A side chair with ottoman, maybe a couch can fit in your master bedroom. In larger rooms it is nice to have a separate sitting area for either reading, viewing television, or to sit during getting dressed. If you have decided to have an area for sitting and will utilize the space for reading, a nice bookcase would be a good addition to what you buy.

The main goal is to create an area that is comfortable, useful, and will make you feel good to be in it. You want to be able to use your bedroom for more than just sleeping, the feeling should be inviting and the bedroom furniture should reflect that.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is tables for your bathroom or dining tables for your kitchen there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Click today and indulge your senses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Akre

Bedroom Make Over - From Boring to Exotic

By Linda Aviles

Just like in movies and in ads, exotic bedrooms are portrayed with crisp white sheets and flowing white drapes that hanging from a dream-like canopy bed. For some, this may seem amusing and a bit over done. However, why not make that scene interesting and fun? Exotic does mean unusual and different and that is exactly what a bedroom can be if dressed up right, especially if using leopard duvet cover. Many women who are in serious, long-term relationships, may want to spice things up in the bedroom on a decorative scale. However, they might not know how to get it done. It is easier than some may think.

There are many different ways to create an exotic-looking bedroom. One of the trends that has stood the test of time is using animal print. When redecorating bedrooms, it should be obvious that starting with the bed is essential. The most popular animal print design used today is leopard. A beautiful leopard duvet cover on a bed would do the trick. Although this type of duvet cover may come in many different colors, the one that is most popular is pale, creme-yellow, featuring a dark rosettes leopard print. Adding dark, solid, small pillows like dark brown, black, or gold will make the bed look more inviting.

The walls in the bedroom should be light. A light brown or golden brown paint would be best. When it comes to window treatments, it is not necessary to go with leopard. Using solid colors like black or brown will work as well. If the bedroom is dark, use light drapes to brighten things up a bit. In addition, plants go great with this type of bedding. Just remember less is more. Do not go overboard with plants as it is important to make it seem like your bedroom is a jungle. Use the plants to accent the patterns in the room. Finally, place a mirror over the head board with some gold accessories and the bedroom is now converted to one that unique and different.

Bring back the fun and excitement to your bedroom with a beautiful leopard duvet cover from http://shop.multishopstop.com/ Multi Shop Stop.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Aviles

Five Standards of Good Decoration

By Caitlin Wells

1. Good quality comes from strict project management

Decoration is operated by labor, so the quality relies on the workers' own skill levels. However, compared to the level of professional technology, the comprehensive quality of workers is a key factor which can determine the quality of the project. There is no successful individual but a successful team. Therefore, choosing a reliable decoration company and a rigorous and efficient team is the key to ensure the quality of home-improvement.

2. The real environmental protection mainly relies on the materials

There is no doubt to discuss the importance of environmental protection. Environmental protection is not a hot air. Environmentally-friendly living environment includes design, materials, construction and daily maintenance, among which the essential one is environmentally-friendly materials with high-quality. You can feel the environmental materials by touching them or try them personally.

3. Good design can add value to decoration

Many consumers still have a lot of mistakes in home design. Even if there is little money, the renovation must have design- cannily design. The elegant decoration is not built on valuables. It must have a complete design idea as a guarantee. For example, the bathroom with good design can make you have a good day from the early morning.

4. After-sales service guarantee can not be ignored

With the fierce competition of home-improvement industry, many companies are out in this war. Thus, the companies' post-operational system and post-service support can not be overlooked. We can figure out the companies' after-sales service level by judging their quality assurance systems, emergency response capacity, the companies' reputation and credibility.

5. High-quality products and services can embody the quality of home

A complete house not only needs to have humane and personalized design but also should have a series of high-quality products. The kitchen cabinet, bathroom wares, wall tiles, floor tiles, wire connectors all can affect the quality of future life directly or indirectly. Some decoration companies which blindly emphasize on high-margin and low risk without considering the practical life and the actual feelings of their consumers come in for their customers' rejection.

Hey, I'm a girl who is very interested in home decoration and design. I hope this article will be useful for you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caitlin_Wells

House Decorating Ideas - How to Start Decorating Your Home

By Lea Dobbins

If you are planning to redecorate your current home or you will be decorating a new home, you will want to find some good resources for house decorating ideas. The Internet is full of websites that offer you ideas and tips. There are magazines about home décor that you can purchase that will give you ideas and tips on how to get started and how to stay within a budget.

The first thing to do is get a notebook that you can write down all of your ideas in about each room you will be decorating. Make note of any items that you already own that will be included in your room's designs.

Start by choosing a style that you want whether it is modern, traditional, eclectic, or contemporary. Is there a theme you are looking to make like a Spanish villa, a bedroom tropical escape, or a themed child's room? Keep this in mind as well.

One of the important house decorating ideas is to start with paint colors and flooring. Tile in the kitchen and bathrooms should be complemented by the paint on the walls. Carpeting should look good with the furniture you plan to use. You can keep it neutral or bright whichever you like best. Your design should reflect your personality and sense of style.

In open areas flooring and wall colors should be complementary and flow well into each other. You do not want a large contrast as this will make the space seem smaller. Bring one element of color that is distinct in each room into your smaller décor pieces to further tie the rooms together.

When purchasing furniture shop at second hand stores, flea markets, and auctions first to see what you might be able to find that is discounted. Many pieces that you find can be refurbished and made into a new looking piece of furniture. There are also great finds on knickknacks as well. Not all furniture in these places need to be refurbished, they just need cleaned.

Once you have found pieces in those places then attend sales at furniture warehouses or other furniture stores. You can find a piece of furniture with a small defect like a scratch that can be easily repaired for a fraction of the original cost. Floor models can often be purchased at a much smaller price. So keep your eyes open for these things.

For interesting house decorating ideas that add charm to your home, try using other things that most people would not think of, like using an old wooden trunk that is in good shape as a coffee table. Stacked hat boxes can be a decorative element. Antique books stacked on a table can also be decorative. Use you imagination and let your personality and style show through.

Do you want to decorate your home like a pro without spending a ton of money? Then visit http://www.perfecthomedecor.com where you can learn how to get great decorating style in every room of your home without breaking the bank.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lea_Dobbins

Using Your Bathroom Space Wisely

By Adam Peters

I have often wondered how I could make the interiors of my house look elegant without having to actually spend a lot of money on the designer's fees and other consulting expenses. I do have a few ideas of my own and have a creative mind so that helps me put together a project as per my taste. However, there are a few shortcomings also. For example I do not know how to go about putting the projects together. This was my problem before I actually went through my first project and finished it to perfection. The steps I took are mentioned here in the following paragraphs.

When it comes to decoration of any kind, including bathroom decor, one comes across so many books, TV shows or videos, that it has become easy for a lay person to decorate their bathroom. It is a major concern for home builders today. You have to decide if what you want is a traditional look or something more contemporary, using the latest technology. It is no more just the wall paper that matters, but the right fixtures, hardware, correct plumbing, and use of space in the right manner.

One thing that's becoming popular is the idea of bringing the outdoors into the bathroom. Firstly, the open shower concept is used and it is placed in the center of the room. The windows would be from the ceiling to the floor with a view of the garden outside. The garden has a surrounding wall for privacy, with appropriate lights .Usually a large Jacuzzi is built right next to the window to give a feeling of being in a spa. If the bathroom is on an upper floor, this window would be overlooking a fountain or a pool. Along the sit-in bath tub, one could have a sink with a heated towel rack along side. You could place a skylight just above the shower for natural light to come in during the day. At night, one could enjoy the moonlight. The toilet and a sink area could be placed in a separate enclosure which would also have a skylight. Opposite the bath tub you could fix mirrors on the entire wall. Also, don't forget to place some lush green plants or flowering plants along with natural stones for a truly natural look. Use bamboo accessories and products as well to give a style statement as well as practicality and ease.

There are numerous ideas for a bathroom decor. If you are planning to hire an interior designer, they would be more experienced and suggest variations. Show them pictures of what kind of look you want, or you could always find plenty of ideas yourself with so many resources around.

The above narrated experience will help you get an idea on how to go about executing your project. This is just one of the ways to get you started with the project. You can take this as an initial step to gather the confidence and then be on your own to actually execute your project. The first project will always have hurdles, but that's the charm of any assignment. The subsequent ones will bring out the real interior decorator in you.

Adam Peters is the author of online related topics. Read at [http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com/index.html] more articles about interior decorating.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Peters

How You Can Decorate a Room Using Japanese Techniques

By Adam Peters

The Japanese style of interior design has always been an inspiration to designers because of its sense of simplicity and serenity. After a difficult day at work, coming home to peaceful and tranquil surroundings is just what we need in the modern world. Especially in the bedroom, where we want to slow down the pace and totally relax, this calmness is very welcome.

If you want to design a bedroom with a Japanese theme, you have to understand the basics of this kind of decorating. A spare, simple look is the key, with accents kept to a minimum. Much thought and planning is involved in this design, even if it is very simple. When you are working with only a few pieces, each piece has to be carefully examined for its total effect on the look. Each piece must be aesthetically pleasing but also serve a functional purpose. In addition, a Zen mood has to be created by placing the furniture and accents in just the right spot.

Natural materials and ample use of light are important elements of this style. Stone, wood, bamboo, paper and other natural materials are what are used extensively. These are easy on the visual senses, and also keep the mood simple and clean. Artificial lighting is not used much, but rather sunlight filtered through screens is used. Any lighting there is will be recessed or concealed. The colors used are also indicative of this restful quality, and therefore pale muted colors are usually used.

The furniture in a Japanese style room is close to the ground for two reasons: this creates a further illusion of space and openness, and it also projects the concept of stability. Horizontal lines are used more extensively than vertical ones, bringing the viewer closer to the earth. There is very little ornamentation but rather the furniture is designed Wit clean, simple lines. There is little clutter to detract from these elegant simple lines, and also to allow the dweller to find a place of peace within himself.

Adam Peters is a syndicated editor of http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on decorating a room Japanese and Japanese interior design.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Peters