If you've ever tried to apply a very dark paint to your walls, you know that these colors can be very hard to apply evenly. Dark paints can look streaky if they're not applied properly. This can be frustrating, and for many people, this can even seem counter-intuitive. After all, shouldn't a dark paint make a dark, bold mark from the very first application?
Understanding the why
behind this problem can help you apply paint to your walls more effectively. These tips will help.
Why Are Dark Paints Hard to Apply Evenly?
Interior and exterior wall paint consist of a base and a pigment. The pigment is added to the base and the two are mixed together to create the product that is applied to the walls.
For light paints and pastels, the base is white. The white base contains a lot of titanium dioxide, a chemical that helps to coat the walls and cover what is underneath. For the best coverage with the first application of paint, a white base is preferred.
However, for medium and medium-dark paints, a dark base is used. The darker the base, the less titanium dioxide it contains. For very dark paints, a clear base is used. This base contains no titanium dioxide at all.
To understand why a clear base is necessary, imagine that you want to paint a wall in pure, tomato-red color. If the red pigment is added to a white base, the paint will turn pink. The only way to ensure that the paint will stay a pure red is by adding the pigment to the clear base. The dark red paint will streaky because the wall is visible through the clear base.
How Can You Apply Dark Paints to Your Walls Evenly?
Sometimes, a homeowner can request that their dark paint can be created with a dark base. For some paints, this can be done without lightening the color too much.
For example, imagine you want to paint your walls with a dark blue that is normally made with a clear base. You may be able to achieve a similar dark blue color by asking the paint company to switch the clear base for a dark base. The dark base will contain a small amount of titanium dioxide, which will lighten the shade of blue slightly, but the final product will still be a fairly dark shade of blue.
However, if you must work with a paint that has a clear base, then the best way to get even coverage is to prime the surface with a tinted coat.
After the primer dries, apply a few coats of paint. Allow the paint to dry fully before applying additional coats. You'll be able to tell if the paint is fully dry by the way it feels. Wet paint is tacky to the touch - dry paint is not. However, if you're not sure, read the manufacturer's instructions regarding drying time.
Using top quality paint products and paint tools when applying dark colors is important. Good quality paint is easy to apply more evenly than poor quality paint, and good paint tools can help apply the paint as evenly as possible.
Of course, the easiest way to ensure that your dark paint will be applied evenly is to hire a professional painter to get the work done. A reputable, skilled professional painter will have the tools and knowledge needed to apply paint properly.
Have More Questions? Call Us!
At CoverWalls Inc.
, we're happy to answer all of your paint-related questions. Whether you're trying to get an even finish with dark paints or you have questions about another painting problem, we're happy to help.
Old drywall can have a number of problems that must be repaired before the wall can be painted. Failure to make repairs to drywall before painting can lead to a poor paint job with scratches and scars visible under the paint. These tips will help you remove scratches and damage before painting to ensure the best paint job possible.
Take Down or Cover Things
Over the years, many things may accumulate on walls. Paintings, mirrors, smoke detectors, outlet covers, and other items must either be removed or covered to be protected from paint splatters.
Most things should be taken down. Some items, like smoke detectors and outlet covers, may be left on the wall. If you choose to leave an item on the wall before painting, cover it in blue painter's tape or cover it with a piece of plastic.
Repair Holes
Pinholes made by nails and screws can be repaired with small amounts of spackling. To make the repair, remove the nail or screw from the wall, then fill in the hole with spackling. Smooth the spackling with a paint scraper. When the spackling dries, use sandpaper to smooth it.
Small holes - baseball-sized or smaller - are easy to fix with a drywall patch kit. To use the kit, cover the hole with the patch, then use drywall mud to cover the patch. Use a paint scraper to smooth the mud until it is flush with the wall. Once the mud has dried, use drywall sandpaper to feather the edges. Once the edges are properly feathered, the patch should
Cover Stains
Mold and water stains can show through a coating of paint, making the paint look slightly darker in the area just over the stain. You can prevent this from happening by covering the stain with a stain-covering primer. Stain-covering primer is available for sale in home improvement centers and hardware stores.
Remove Water Damage
Water-damaged drywall is usually puffy and uneven. You cannot hide this with a simple coat of paint. Often, the only way to remove water damage is to cut out the damaged drywall and replace it with undamaged drywall.
To do this, use a drywall saw to cut out the damaged drywall. Next, cut a piece of drywall to dimensions that will fit just inside the hole. Screw the new piece of drywall into a stud in the wall. Finally, use drywall tape to cover the seam between the two pieces of drywall. Use mud to secure the tape to the wall, then feather the edges of the mud using the method described above.
Clean the Walls
Walls can get very dirty, especially in rooms like the kitchen. Before painting, remove the grease and dirt from the walls. If you do not properly clean the walls beforehand, the new coat of paint may not stick properly to the walls.
To clean walls that are not greasy but simply dirty, use a damp rag. Use the rag to wipe down any dirt and remove cobwebs. Do this in all corners of the room.
If the walls are covered in grease, use a grease-removing cleaner. Follow all manufacturer's instructions. Once the walls have been repaired and cleaned, then they're ready to be painted.
Damaged drywall can be difficult to repair, especially for people who have little or no DIY experience. If you do not do the job properly, the walls may never look quite right. If you're not sure how to prepare your old drywall for painting, contact a painting contractor in your area.
At Coverwalls, we're happy to answer customer questions about prepping drywall for paint. To find out more information, call us today.
Painting the walls of a home presents a certain allure for homeowners, who assume that it will be an easy task for them to accomplish on their own. Unfortunately, this attitude tends to lead to trouble. The process often ends up taking far longer - and costing far more - than initially anticipated.
While it may be simple on paper, the skill of interior painting comes from the experience that only years of practice can bring. Of course, with the right knowledge, a relative newcomer may still be able to achieve decent results. This article will help to improve your knowledge of good painting practices by outlining four common mistakes to avoid at all costs.
Failing to Do Your Prep Work
Ensuring good results starts long before you ever crack a can of paint or unwrap a brand new paintbrush. No matter how prepared you may be in terms of materials, you simply cannot expect to get the results you desire unless you adequately prepare the surface you are painting.
Soiling and grime are the key problems here. Even if you can't see any dirt on the walls, you must clean them thoroughly before proceeding.
Unwashed walls have too much grime on them for new paint to properly adhere. Those who skip this vital step often end up with paint that begins to bubble, peel, or flake long before it should.
Unwashed walls have too much grime on them for new paint to properly adhere. Those who skip this vital step often end up with paint that begins to bubble, peel, or flake long before it should.
You don't need any fancy or high-priced cleaning products to get your walls prepped. Begin by manually removing any areas of loose or damaged paint. Then mix up a solution of dish detergent and water and scrub down the walls with a sponge. Allow them to dry completely before proceeding.
Forgoing the Primer
The same people who don't bother to clean their walls often omit another crucial step in the painting process: priming. Primer ensures that your paint will fully adhere to the surface of the wall, making your paint job more durable.
A coat of primer also allows your paint's true color to stand out the way it should. This is especially true if the walls you are repainting began as any color but white. Painting directly on a colored wall means that your paint may not come out looking quite the way you had planned, instead taking on hints of the old color. Primer eliminates the risk of this scenario.
Skipping the Painter's Tape
Amateurs are notorious for overestimating their painting skills, especially when it comes to their ability to paint a straight, even line. As a result, many homeowners decide not to use painter's tape to mark off boundaries. However, these people usually end up with sloppy edges and transitions.
A wise painter will always use blue painter's tape to protect the boundaries of the area being painted. Even professionals adhere to this standard, which means amateurs have no excuse for skipping it. Be sure to use a fresh roll of tape, as the adhesive in an older roll of painter's tape may have lost its strength.
Over-Dipping Your Brush
While rollers are useful for applying paint to wide open sections of wall, you need a brush for painting trim and doing more detailed edge work. When the time comes to wield a brush, many amateurs commit the mistake of dunking it too deeply into their paint can. They figure this will allow them to paint more before needing to dip again.
This strategy backfires more often than not. For one thing, it will drastically increase the number of drips on your floor. It will also result in paint drying into the bristles up near the handle- a difficult problem to correct, once it happens. Wise painters know to never dip more than half of the brush into the can.
If you would rather leave your next paint job to the pros, don't hesitate to contact the experts
at CoverWalls Inc.
Wallpaper can be used on ceilings as well as walls. If you're noncommittal about hanging paper on an entire room's walls or want more adornment on your ceiling, have your wallpaper professionals decorate the surfaces above your head instead.
You can use ceiling paper in nearly any room in the home. However, experts caution against using wallpaper on the ceilings of some kitchens, bathrooms, and family rooms. Wallpaper that's constantly exposed to a hot chimney or that is bathed in kitchen steam will peel and buckle over time.
Still, with so many wallpaper patterns and colors from which to choose, you can create one-of-a-kind spaces with overhead style in many areas. Rooms where you can use ceiling wallpaper include those listed below.
1. EXTRA-TALL ROOMS
Vaulted or extra-tall ceilings can make a room seem more open and airy. However, they can also make a room seem cold and soulless. If you love your whitewashed walls but hate the interminable chill of the distant ceiling, cover it in a pattern of stars or a warm color that reflects an accent in your room.
Sitting rooms and dining rooms are two areas where ceiling wallpaper is becoming a big thing. As décor moves to a less cluttered arrangement, wall art and furnishings become simpler. Straight-lined dressers and single paintings on large walls are common. With ceiling wallpaper, you can keep that simple essence while adding texture and interest to the room.
2. DORMERS AND ODD CEILING AREAS
Put some color in second-story bedrooms and offices with wallpapered dormers. Instead of accepting that this space is wasted, use bold contrasting color to pick up hues in the surrounding room's artwork, bedding, or carpet.
Attic rooms, basement spaces, and additions often have odd-shaped ceilings that ceiling wallpaper refines. Cover up imperfections, odd angles, and other strange ceiling features with wallpaper. You'll increase the appeal of the room at the same time.
3. COFFERED SECTIONS
If you have coffered sections of ceiling or trey ceilings, the places inside the molding can be wallpapered with gold, textured, or patterned paper. This look adds a luxurious touch over beds and in dining rooms.
Use a color that matches the carpet or upholstery. Using lighter and darker tones of the same color can make the room seem coordinated and warmer. If you have themed décor elements, use paper patterns that echo the shapes. For example, if you have metal stars on the walls, use a coffered-ceiling wallpaper with tiny stars in a coordinating or contrasting color.
4. BABY NURSERY
One of the most popular areas for ceiling wallpaper is the baby's room. Place wallpaper with interesting shapes and colors on your little one's ceiling to help them learn eye control and pattern recognition.
A soothing wallpaper hung over the crib can help baby fall asleep. The paper may help by providing something interesting to focus on when your infant is nodding off to dreamland. The same concept applies to children's rooms and playrooms. Kids adore glow-in-the-dark wallpaper that sets stars and planets alight overhead after the lights go out.
5. CAREGIVING ROOM
Do you have a household member who's recovering from surgery or other debilitating treatment? Do you have a family member with a disability who is confined to a bed for most or all of the day?
Brighten up their space with an overhead wallpaper makeover. Choose ceiling wallpaper patterns and colors that are soothing or meaningful to the person who is bedridden or confined. An older family member with dementia may appreciate floral patterns if they loved gardening or airplane shapes if they once piloted planes.
When you want to add wallpaper to your ceiling but aren't sure about the best designs for your home, ask the professionals at CoverWalls Inc.
to show you examples of how ceiling wallpaper has been installed in other homes. Then choose from our wide array of wall coverings, including grasscloths, silks, and foils.
It is important to decorate your home to make it a place you can look forward to coming to at the end of a long day. A great way to start decorating your home is to add custom wallcoverings to the walls. This guide walks you through a few tips to use to choose the perfect wallcoverings.
1. Consider How You Want to Use the Wallcoverings
The first thing you need to consider is if you want to use the wallcoverings on all of the walls in a room or if you simply want to create a statement wall within the room. Some smaller rooms feel cramped and overwhelmed if you add wallcoverings to every wall. Creating a statement wall can give the room a lot of character without overwhelming the space.
The wallcoverings can also be used on the ceiling to create a unique look. When you add a custom wallcovering to the ceiling of the room it is best to make sure that the walls have a single, solid color on them so that the ceiling wallcovering can grab someone's eye when they walk into the room. Putting wallcoverings on the ceiling can make a large room seem cozier.
2. Consider the Color Palette You Want for the Room
When choosing a wallcovering for your home, you need to consider the color palette that you plan to use in the space. You want to be sure that all of the colors blend together in a pleasing way when they are all in place.
Consider what colors are featured in your furniture. If your furniture features solid colors, you can choose a print for your wallcoverings to add some dimension and interest to the room. For example, if you own a black coach you could pick a zebra patterned wallcovering.
Regardless of if you go with a print or not, make sure the wallcovering you choose has many of the colors that are featured in your furniture so that you can have a cohesive look when you are finished decorating.
3. Consider the Amount of Wallcovering You Need
Take measurements for the areas that you plan to cover with the wallcovering. If you are choosing a wallcovering with a print, it is important to consider if you want the seams of the wallcovering to be matched up, when the seams are matched up it helps create a cohesive look. If you want the seams to match up, you will need to order extra square footage of the wallcoverings.
Wallcoverings are sold in square footage. Measure the length of the wall by the width of the wall to determine how many square feet you need of the wallcovering for each wall. Add the numbers together and you will know how many square feet of wallcovering you will need, remember to add a few extra square footage if you plan to use a printed option.
4. Properly Prepare for the Wallcovering Installation
When you plan to have wallcovering installed on your wall, you want to be sure that the installation team has ample room to do the job. Remove all the furniture from the room so they have plenty of room to work and so that nothing is damaged during the installation process.
If you plan to use wallcoverings on your walls, it is important to have them installed by professionals. Contact CoverWalls Inc.
to help you with every aspect of the wallcovering process. They can help you determine which wallcovering would be the best fit for your home and install it for you so that it can be done perfectly.
After the experts install your new wallcovering, you can put the furniture back in the room and start using your room right away. Wallcoverings give rooms a unique look and can really make a home feel finished.
When you think of wallpaper, you may be thinking of your grandma's house, but wallpaper has come a long way since its prime in the 70s. Wallpaper has been around for centuries, and, after being imported to the Americas, has managed to linger as a mild trend even as other wall decorating techniques have taken over.
Now is the time to let wallpaper textures and patterns embellish your living room area. If you think wallpaper hasn't changed, think again. Here are some modern wallpaper ideas you should consider for your living room to give it a whole new appeal you and your guests will love.
BOLD METALLIC
Your living room can take on a bold, artistic appeal with metallic wallpaper. Metallic trends to watch out for include bronze, gold, silver, and copper, all infused with digital imagery to give the impression of metallic splatters, shadowed or aged backgrounds, and texture.
Pick a main living room wall to outfit with a bold metallic wallpaper theme and paint the rest of the room a stark white, soft gray or even a pearly silver color to really make your wallpaper stand out.
TROPICAL FLORALS
Long palm leaves, cascading vines and soft exotic blooms are lovely patterns on a living room wall. When choosing a tropical floral theme for your wallpaper, stick to muted greens and pastel hues so you can easily decorate around the lively pattern.
Paint your walls a soft sunny yellow, coral, or spring grass green to complement this wallpaper theme. You will enjoy the vintage pattern with a modern, breezy appeal that makes your living room lively and bright.
REALISTIC BRICK
Have you always wanted to have the solid-brick walls commonly found in vintage apartments and New York complexes? Digital imagery has come a long way, and there are wallpaper patterns that are so realistically brick-patterned that you'd have to touch them to believe they are not real.
Decorate your living room or dining room walls with red, soft white or even gray brick wallpaper to make the room classically elegant and textured.
FUN GEOMETRIC
Geometric prints can be found on everything from handbags to t-shirts, and they are becoming popular in wallpaper designs as well. Large triangles in rich hues, bold circles with intricate designs and simple diamonds with metallic outlines are all modern, fun, and pleasing in a wallpaper pattern.
Adorn all your walls with fun geo prints or choose a large wall to use it for accenting while keeping the rest of your walls a subtle white for balance.
DAZZLING TEXTURE
Along with bold prints, metallic hues and lovely patterns, wallpaper comes in many textured designs to add more dimension to an otherwise plain room. Consider a leathery-textured wallpaper in a rich gray or brown or a raised-leaf pattern in a metallic background. Textures are often combined with trending patterns and colors, so you can enjoy some texture and beautiful design all in one wallpaper style.
CHOOSING WALLPAPER
When picking out wallpaper designs for your home, keep in mind your budget, the size of the room or wall you are decorating and your personal style. Don't choose a modern wallpaper simply for the sake of trends. Choose what works best for you and what draws your eye. Your interior designer or painter
can help you pick the patterns that appeal to you the most.
Wallpaper has come a long way since it went out of style and is now a great statement in many homes. We can remove old wallpaper and replace it with new and modern colors you will love. Talk to our staff at CoverWalls Inc. to discuss your home painting or wallpapering ideas today.
Have you finally decided to redo your entire living room to achieve a rustic-chic look? This look is extremely popular today, and it combines so many different styles all into one. The outcome is a room that has a rustic, clean and country-like feel to it. There are so many ways to achieve the rustic-chic look, and here are some great tips you can use as you plan your remodeling project.
ADD TONS OF NATURAL WOOD
One key element found in rustic-chic decorating is a lot of natural wood, and you can choose from dozens of ways to do this. One option is through the furniture you choose for the room, and another option is by adding wood beams to the ceiling.
You might not know that there are also ways to add the look of natural wood without really adding wood at all, and you can do this with paint. Professional painters use a number of techniques that make walls and ceilings look like wood.
One method involves a process called graining. Painters that use graining on walls make walls look like wooden walls, but they accomplish by using paint. This requires at least two shades of brown paint, acrylic glaze and the right types of tools. When the painter finishes the process, your walls will look like they are made of real wood.
No one will ever know the difference unless they examine the walls very closely, and you will save a lot of money achieving wood-looking walls in this manner compared to hanging real wood up.
You might not know that there are also ways to add the look of natural wood without really adding wood at all, and you can do this with paint. Professional painters use a number of techniques that make walls and ceilings look like wood.
One method involves a process called graining. Painters that use graining on walls make walls look like wooden walls, but they accomplish by using paint. This requires at least two shades of brown paint, acrylic glaze and the right types of tools. When the painter finishes the process, your walls will look like they are made of real wood.
No one will ever know the difference unless they examine the walls very closely, and you will save a lot of money achieving wood-looking walls in this manner compared to hanging real wood up.
USE NATURE-COLORED PAINT HUES AND WHITES
The second element you need for a rustic-chic look is paint colors that are natural. You should choose any colors you would find in nature, including browns, tans and greens. Rustic-chic decorating has a very natural look to it, and your paint colors can help achieve this. A lot of people add animal skins, plants or deer heads to get enough nature in the room.
One other element of rustic-chic decorating is white. A room decorated with this theme needs white. You can choose white paint for some of the walls. You could paint your fireplace mantel white, or you could add white trim to certain areas. You could also achieve the needed white by adding white furniture or decorations.
One other element of rustic-chic decorating is white. A room decorated with this theme needs white. You can choose white paint for some of the walls. You could paint your fireplace mantel white, or you could add white trim to certain areas. You could also achieve the needed white by adding white furniture or decorations.
HANG THE RIGHT WALLPAPER
Wallpaper is one other additional element you could use to achieve your desired theme. People have used wallpaper for decades to make rooms like nicer, and there are several good options with wallpaper for rustic-chic themes.
Paintable white wallpaper is one option you can consider. You can choose from numerous patterns of paintable wallpaper, and you could leave it white or paint it. Leaving it white would help you add enough white to the room, and the texture will add depth and beauty to the room.
Placing the wallpaper on the bottom parts of the walls only is a great option, and you could separate it with a piece of chair rail. If you prefer, you could place the wallpaper on an entire wall from the floor to the ceiling. There are also options for ceiling wallpaper, which also has patterns on it.
You could also choose wallpaper that looks like wood, and this is a great choice if you do not want to grain the walls or add real wood. In the past, wallpaper contained a lot of floral prints, but this is no longer the case. There are options today that are modern and trendy, and some are ideal for the rustic-chic theme.
Rustic-chic living rooms are welcoming, relaxing and beautiful. If this is your goal, hire a company that specializes in custom painting and wall coverings. Fill out our contact form for more information.
Paintable white wallpaper is one option you can consider. You can choose from numerous patterns of paintable wallpaper, and you could leave it white or paint it. Leaving it white would help you add enough white to the room, and the texture will add depth and beauty to the room.
Placing the wallpaper on the bottom parts of the walls only is a great option, and you could separate it with a piece of chair rail. If you prefer, you could place the wallpaper on an entire wall from the floor to the ceiling. There are also options for ceiling wallpaper, which also has patterns on it.
You could also choose wallpaper that looks like wood, and this is a great choice if you do not want to grain the walls or add real wood. In the past, wallpaper contained a lot of floral prints, but this is no longer the case. There are options today that are modern and trendy, and some are ideal for the rustic-chic theme.
Rustic-chic living rooms are welcoming, relaxing and beautiful. If this is your goal, hire a company that specializes in custom painting and wall coverings. Fill out our contact form for more information.
That dusty red siding looks amazing on the homes featured in the pages of your favorite design magazine, but will it look good on your home as well? That depends. There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a residential exterior palette.
Region and Architectural Style
You don’t want your home to stand out for the wrong reasons. Warm, earthy tones complement homes found in the southwest, but the same shades look out of place in a northern town by the sea.
Work With Existing Materials
Do you have colored concrete leading to your front door, or a partial stone façade? It’s easier and less expensive to change your paint color than it is to remodel permanent features such as these. Make sure that the color you choose pairs well with other architectural and hardscape elements.
Look at the Paint in Different Lights
Natural lighting changes dramatically throughout the day. Before committing to a color, paint a swatch on each side of your home—north, east, south and west—and view it at different times of day. You may love the subtleness of slate blue as the sun rises, but it may look too washed out in the bright afternoon light.
For more advice on choosing an exterior home color , turn to the professionals and call CoverWalls Inc.
For more advice on choosing an exterior home color , turn to the professionals and call CoverWalls Inc.
With the new year ahead, people are looking to make improvements to their home. One of the most noticeable, yet affordable treatments is painting the interior of your home. If you're stumped on what colors you should consider, here are few of the top trends on the horizon for 2017.
Neutrals
Beige, camel and gray are all hot colors right now. These neutral colors can pair with almost anything, making them a timeless color choice for any room of the home. They look especially nice with an accent wall with a pop of color like jewel or gem tone colors.
Bold Accents
Accent walls have been a big trend in interior painting for years and this year it's being kicked up a notch with bold accent walls. Bright shades of red are complementing black and white rooms and vibrant colors are gracing the doors and trim of others. It’s safe to say accent colors aren't going away anytime soon.
Patterned Walls
Patterned walls are still a popular design choice when it comes to interior painting in 2017. Stripes, Chevron and other patterns are still widely being used in people's homes. Another trend that's catching on is varying the techniques used to apply paint. From textured rollers to sponges, these paint application tools are adding personality to rooms.
These paint trends should carry through 2017 and beyond. For more on the latest in interior paint
tends, call CoverWalls Inc.
With so many colors and patterns of wallpaper, it can be really hard to select one that fits your space the best. However, assessing elements such as color, light, depth of space, texture and furniture in your home interiors prove to be helpful in making your decision. Take a look at these important factors, and picking the right wallpaper is much easier than you think.
Color Is Key
Consider the room’s function, and the mood you wish to create. Warmer colors such as red, yellows and oranges brighten and animate, while cooler greens, blues and violets calm and soften. Patterns using cooler colors fashion a space that appears larger, and with a higher ceiling.
Select an Appropriate Pattern
Large patterns with dramatic colors result in a more formal look, while smaller patterns that are more widely spaced apart craft a fun motif in your room. Mixing and matching is great, but make sure you stick to patterns in the same color family.
Consider the Light in Your Space
Smooth wallpapers, and styles that are metallic, reflective, or paler in color will maximize light. To play down or deemphasize a particular feature, choose a dark color or textured paper.
These, and so many more ideas, will help you pick the perfect papers to accomplish your home décor goals. Don’t be afraid to go bold for big effects, or choose subtle versions to soften your room. To find out more about wallpapers for your home, call Coverwalls Inc. in Mountain Brook.