It’s hard to achieve a sense of serenity when there’s paint chipping from your windowsills and scuffs on your living room walls. Kevin Skelly, marketing manager at Cloverdale Paint, offers a primer for rehabbing your house painting inside and out.
WHY PAINT?
Indoors: It’s an easy way to update the look and feel of a space with just a weekend’s work. New paint also helps protect walls and surfaces from everyday wear and tear.
Outdoors: It protects and rejuvenates exterior surfaces that take a beating from snow, ice, rain and sun.
HOW OFTEN?
Indoors: Every four to five years for high-traffic areas (kitchens, bathrooms and hallways).
Outdoors: About every 10 years—or less if existing paint has been noticeably damaged by the elements.
WHAT KIND?
Indoors: For high-traffic areas, go with 100-percent acrylic paint. “It’s like plastic in a can.”
Outdoors: Ask a pro, who’ll help select the right product for the surface, be it a fence, wall or deck.
INSPIRATION
Indoors: “Bringing the outside in—that is, using colours from the landscape—is huge right now.” Think colours from natural materials like glass, stone and metals.
Outdoors: Natural materials: glass, metals and aggregates.
COLOUR PSYCHOLOGY
Indoors: Let the room’s intended use dictate your palette. Do you want a space that’s warm and cozy or light and airy?
Outdoors: “Exterior paint is usually about curb appeal and assimilating into your neighbourhood.”
TREND ALERT
Indoors: Complex greys (with undertones of blue, red or yellow) are still big.
MORE TO READ
The best ways to beautify your garden and create enviable outdoor entertaining spaces
Outdoors: For a splash of uniqueness, paint your front door “a beautiful bright red, purple or green.”
TRICKS & TOOLS
Indoors: Good-quality brushes make quick work of cutting in and painting trim. “Even the best brush (about $20) isn’t that expensive, but the cheapest will give you a horrific paint finish.”
Outdoors: Paint your front door as a DIY project. Hire a professional painter for everything else—and spend your time enjoying the summer.
HOW TO SAVE
Do it yourself: Save 25% on paint products and save 10% on accessories at Cloverdale Paint.