My husband and I chose to paint our living room oatmeal.  We had looked at so many paint swatches and we knew we wanted the living room to be sort of a taupe color.  We were so glad to be rid of the cold white walls and to bring some warmth into our home with the inexpensive new look of paint.

We gave one side of the room a first and second coat and then went on to other walls.  We were on our last wall when we had to open another container of paint.  That was the “whoops” moment.  Although we had both containers mixed at the same time, the second container was just a touch off from the first one.  Thankfully, it wasn’t so badly off that we would repaint the whole room, but it was noticeable to me. 

Lesson learned.  From that moment on, we decided that when we buy more than one gallon of paint, we will mix the gallons together before using them.  We now have an extra bucket and lid in the shed that we use before we paint a room.  No more mismatched paint.

Has this sort of paint mix-up happened to you?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Summer is the best time for thinking of sprucing up the outside of your home. The least expensive way to do this is to take up some brushes and paint. But before you do that, these painting tips will help you get started in the right direction:

1. Consider the style of your home. Will the color scheme you’re planning fit the architecture and general feel of your house? For example, Victorian styles go well with elaborate multi-color schemes, while Georgian or Colonial houses are better suited to two or three colors. 

2. Identify the areas that will not be painted roofs, wood, masonry, or stone. The color scheme should go with the existing colors of these areas. 

3. Look around at the colors of your neighbors’ homes. How do you want your home to stand out? 

4. Keep maintenance in mind when choosing colors. Intense colors are more likely to fade, absorb more heat and react to moisture more than lighter hues.  They are also more difficult to match if ever you need to repaint an area later. 

5. Find out if there are any rules or restrictions on exterior color schemes in your community. 

6. Buy the best paint and painting tools you can afford. A paint job done well can save you money in the long run.

image and information used with permission from CertaPro Painters

Post from: Keeping the Castle