Giving your home a fresh coat of paint can help make the place feel brand new or completely different. Though painting seems easy enough, there are quite a few things to consider before starting the painting process. Here are 5 things we recommend you know before you paint.
Tip #1: Know your paint’s undertone
Every paint has a dominant color that your eye can quickly gauge. However, almost every color also has an undertone, a color you don’t obviously see. Undertone is the subtle hint of one color underneath the dominant color. This secret color presence can really make or break a room.
Warm colors typically have undertones that are orange, yellow, or red, while cool colors typically have undertones that are green, blue, or purple. If you choose a beige paint color that is a warm color with a red undertone, with cabinets that have a cool blue undertone, you may not be happy with the results.
Good news is that you can figure out your paint’s undertone. Place the paint chip on a sheet of white computer paper. The undertone will reveal itself when compared to the pure white of the paper. Another way is to look at the color at the end of the paint chip strip. Follow the color strip to the bottom and if you see that the darkest color on the strip is blue, then your color has a blue undertone.
Tip #2: Know your paint’s LRV
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) tells you how light or dark a color will look once it’s on the wall. All paint colors have a value from 0-100. Black has LRV of 0% and absorbs 100% of the light; and pure white paint will have an LRV of 100% and reflect all the light and heat it is subjected to.
Knowing your paint color’s LRV gives you a feel for how light or dark a color will feel in your space. Don’t forget to factor in how much light comes into play. Even if you have a light color with a high LRV, it won’t reflect light if there isn’t much natural or artificial light in the room. The LRV can be found on the back of most color swatches and in the index of all major brands’ fandecks.
Tip #3: Know what sheen you need
Different levels of sheen can affect how colors appear and add dimension to rooms. When choosing paint sheens, the basic rule of thumb is the higher the sheen, the higher the shine. And the higher the shine, the more durable (and scrubbable) it will be. At one end of the spectrum is flat paint, which has no shine. At the other end is high-gloss which is all shine. You should choose your sheen based on how much traffic an area receives. A popular choice for moderate traffic areas, like living rooms, is eggshell/satin. Semi-gloss is often used on cabinets and trim.
Tip #4: Know how to sample
Before committing to a paint color it is important to see it on your walls, not just on a paint swatch. Grab samples in a similar finish you intend to use on the wall, and move them around the space so that you can compare them to your fixed elements and furniture. Also look at them on different walls, at different times of day, since colors can look drastically different depending upon the light in the room.
I personally like to paint the sample on a tester board like white foam core or poster board since the current paint color will most definitely influence the perception of the new paint color. Also, painted sample boards, like this, can be moved around the room to capture the color effect in different lighting conditions. A popular option is Samplize which offers peel and stick samples that are painted with two coats of the color you order and can be used multiple times. Also try holding up samples near trim work, behind main furniture pieces, and against backsplash tiles and fireplace stone.
Tip #5: Know what questions to ask a painter
If you are a DIYer, good for you! But if you are hiring a professional, make sure you have the right people for the job. Some questions to ask include:
What is the quality of paint they use?
How many coats of paint is the quote based on?
What type of surface prep work do they do? Does it include sanding, cleaning, filling holes?
What steps do they take before painting a room?
Are they properly insured?
Do they have references?
Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to improve the look of your home without much effort. Hopefully, the tips above will help your painting project be as successful as possible.