IS WHITE PAINT BEST

By CLARICE SMYTH

WHAT IS THE BEST PAINT FOR INTERIORS

Is White Paint Best for Interiors? In my professional and personal opinion…YES.

It’s just paint….an easy change…

Whenever I hear someone say “if you don’t like it…It’s only paint and an easy fix ” I cringe. This is the most often touted cliché I have ever heard.

IT'S ONLY PAINT - IT'S EASY TO CHANGE - IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT

This is simply not true !

True that it is only paint. It is not true that paint is always a simple fix or an inexpensive one. Painting can be very expensive. If you hire professional painters can cost even more. It can cost thousands of dollars to have a professional repaint the interior of the home and a small fortune to purchase quality paint.

If your skillset doesn’t include painting knowledge and experience, DO NOT undertake this project. It can cost considerable to correct a bad paint job. Consider the issues of using the wrong preparation and paint on a surface. Also, paint drips, splatters over trim and floors. Bad paint lines at ceilings and moldings…… are not insignificant problems.

Not to mention the inconvenience of your home in disarray while it’s being repainted.

PAINTING SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

If you have the skills to paint or are paying a professional to do it for you white is a great color.

In the design world, designers are separated by the great design divide. A large percentage believe that color should be on the walls. Another large percentage believe that color should be in the furnishings and accessories. The remaining percentage believe that color should be everywhere or nowhere at all.

It’s my practice to maximize the use of a neutral pure white on the walls and ceilings. Pure white will allow colors within the space, such as the hardware, furnishings, accessories, and artwork, to be vibrant. White takes full advantage of natural light. It minimizes the need to repaint to stay current or on-trend. Also, it facilitates the change of hardware, furnishings, accessories, and artwork without worrying about the walls.

WHITE IS A COLOR

White is best for interiors except all whites are not equal. Choose your color, yes even white, very carefully.

All colors have undertones that will either work or clash with your chosen hardware, furnishings, accessories, and artwork.

If you are on board with this design philosophy and would like to give it a try, I recommend a true neutral white.

In rooms that have a flat ceiling plane use eggshell on the walls and ceiling flat on the ceiling.

Rooms that the ceiling starts low and peeks on the other end, use flat on the ceiling and flat, matte, or eggshell on the walls.

If the walls are average with minor imperfect eggshell is best because you can easily wipe off smudges.

When the walls are of your home are highly textured or imperfect use a matte as it will downplay these issues.

Now choose your color scheme and properly scaled furnishings and accessories.

BUT ……regardless of which side of the painted divide you stand on, here are a few tips to help you achieve your painting goals.

TEST SWATCH TEST SWATCH TEST SWATCH

Do a test color swatch. Inconsistent blotches of paint on your wall will not tell you what you need to know. It is best go to your home improvement store, or check your garage, for 2′ x 2′ piece of sheetrock or whatever material that you’re planning to paint.

This method allows you to move the test swatches around the space and look at them at different times of the day and near existing furnishings and finishes. It gives you something to take with you as a sample once you have made your color choice.

Also, by keeping the swatch on a separate board, it avoids paint build-up of paint and color on your wall. Wall swatches will show through as a slightly different texture than the rest of the painted wall due to the additional layers of product.

PREPARATION
Preparation of your space is key. Use the proper techniques and tools. This may include painter’s tape, drop cloths, surface preparation, and repairs.

PAINT
Decide if you will paint your space yourself or if you will hire a professional.

If you are going to paint it yourself, make sure you have done your research and possess the skills to do a professional job.

If you need design assistance in picking or creating a color scheme please Call or Schedule and Schedule Your Complimentary Call-Back.