Posts Tagged ‘interior paint colors’

Interior paint colors – tips on choosing the right one

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Interior paint colors are very important when you want to improve the look of your house or office. This is especially true when you are a real estate agent – a fresh coat of paint colors will bring you a long way.

Here are some tips that can help you:

How can the color affect the people?
This is the first thing that you need to know about color and color choice. When choosing the paint colors that you want, you need to consider the effects of the color to the people that comes into your room.

It is easy to forget that there certain colors have subtle psychological effects on people. For example, blue brings a calming effect while red instills passion and desire. You need to be wary of these small details so as to create the perfect look for your home.

What to hide?
The paint color that you choose can help you in two different ways. First, the right paint color can help in emphasizing the parts of the interior that you want to be highlighted. Conversely, the right paint color can also help you in hiding the flaws and imperfections that your interiors may have.

You can use colors in drawing people’s attention away from that certain angle while focusing on your interior’s best characteristics.

Are there tools that can help you?
Finally, you should also be aware of the different tools that can help you in identifying the color that you want. Paint samples and color wheels come in handy here. However, you need to keep in mind that the final color may slightly differ from the actual color that you will be having. Here, experience plays a big factor and you may want to consult paint professionals if you are not sure of what you are going to do.

There are a variety of reasons why people want to redecorate or renovate their interior paint colors. Whatever your reasons maybe, these tips will surely help you out.

House Paint Colors: Oil-based or Latex, which is better?

Monday, October 13th, 2008

Many do-it-yourselfers have asked which particular type of paint is essentially better for their painting project: oil-based or latex? House paint colors available in stores are generally broken down into these two categories, so more often than not, a choice boils down to any of the two. While there may scores of reasons to pick one over the other, here is an intrinsic look at both types of paints, and their particular peculiarities.

Surface adaptability

Oil-based paint can often be used on almost all types of surfaces, with the possible exception of galvanized metal. Also, a sealer or pre-treatment may be required if an oil-based paint is to be applied on surfaces like stucco, new concrete and other masonry. Latex, on the other hand, works quite well with galvanized metal, vinyl and aluminum siding, brick, concrete, stucco and wood.

Cleaning

Paint will always require clean-up, to prevent the settling of stains on the surface, and to generally make it look like the way it look as fresh as when it was first applied. Oil-based paint requires solvents such as paint thinner or turpentine for cleaning, unlike Latex paints, which will require only water for clean-up.

Adhesion

One of the primary considerations in picking out paint is how long can it stick to the wall and remain as good looking as the day it was applied. In this aspect, both oil-based and latex paints have been formulated to stay on where it was applied for a very long time. Oil-based paints have a tendency to adhere better on heavily chalked surfaces, while latex paints adhere better to most substrates, although this type exhibits better elasticity than oil based-paint, making it less prone to cracking.

Application

Depending on your expertise, actually applying the paint may be anywhere from being a pleasurable activity to a downright chore. With this in mind, considering the ease of application of a paint type may be a primary consideration for some. Oil-based paint is formulated to be thicker in consistency, creating a “drag” effect when being applied, although this fact is offset by allowing it to go on heavier, and thus resulting in better one-coat hiding. Latex paint can be applied more evenly and smoothly, producing significantly less brush drag.

Resistance to “habitation”

Mildew is one of the most common problems in most households, since it has a tendency to settle even on painted surfaces, clinging onto the paint itself and sometimes even feeding off on the paint, allowing it to spread even further. Some oil-based paints have components of vegetable oil in it, which has nutrients that allow mildew to grow faster, although some oil-based paints contain chemicals that inhibit mildew growth. Latex paint, not having the oily compounds that promote mildew growth, is less appealing to mildew.

Resistance to Fading

Paints have different formulations, allowing it to retain color longer, despite exposure and weathering. Oil-based paints, having some organic compounds in them, are more prone to fading and chalking when exposed directly to sunlight, while latex paint can stand up better to direct exposure to sunlight and retain colors longer.

These are just some points for comparison, and while one particular paint often has a perk over the other, and vice versa, the end decision should also involve considering the actual area of application, what conditions the area is exposed to, and if the interior paint color or exterior paint color combination you picked is quite suited to this area.