Hello DIYer,
We are currently updating our 1960’s original house, room by room. We moved here in February 2019 and have slowly completed most of the upstairs rooms and are working our way through the rest of the rooms downstairs. Our family room was the first room we tackled, as it was the one where we would spend most of our time with friends and family and we just finished a whole kitchen (from ground up) remodel earlier this year. (The post about this is coming soon).
Today we are deciding on colors for our back family room, which currently has no official purpose or function. We haven’t decided if we want it to be a bar and lounge room, an exercise room, or continue to serve as our indoor furniture painting and everything project area (since we are having massive amounts of rain here). It is located at the back of the house but is a straight shot through the front living area and dining room with a pass-through window to the kitchen. It has lots of natural light from a large center back window and a sliding door that exits to the backyard.
The function and flow of this room have been a challenge for us, as it has just been a multipurpose use area for storing things while other parts of the house are under DIY construction. The room is currently painted a beige-yellow color with a half wall of dark green wallpaper flanked with a floral border, (all of which will be removed). We are wanting to go for a light airy vibe, yet still match the rest of the house which is currently painted in grey tones with pops of color on select accent walls.
The Power of Color
Choosing the perfect color seems daunting when there are so many options, but consideration also comes down to the size of the room and what vibe the area is giving off. Color can affect mood and change the perspective and scale of the room. For a multipurpose function room like ours, it should be color neutral enough to fit the purpose it will be used for, yet inspiring enough to make you want to spend time there and match cohesively with other house furniture pieces and accents.
Color can…
- -make small spaces appear larger
- soft, cool hues (white, pale gray, ivory, or light blue) will reflect light and make the room seem more airy and cozy
- painting the ceiling and moldings white can draw the eye upward
- dark warm colors (chocolate brown, moody red, navy, or deep greens) will make a small space seem more intimate
- bright colors (apple red or bright orange) invoke a more energetic and playful feeling
- -make a large space seem smaller
- deep, rich colors will make the walls seem closer, creating a more cavernous feeling
When painting a space that opens into another room, it is recommended to use the same color or a slightly lighter or dark shade of the same color to make the rooms look connected and flow with each other. Accent pieces in different colors can change with the seasons and create a distinction between connecting rooms.
Types of Paint and Supplies
Most paints come in several finishes. Flat or Matte finishes are better for interior walls with imperfections and are easy to touch up, but more difficult to wipe down. For rooms that get a lot of traffic, an eggshell or satin finish is better, as it can be scrubbed down and touched up easier.
Invest in quality materials – paint, rollers, brushes, and floor cloths. They make a huge difference in how quickly and easily the job is done and impact the final finish. As my husband often reminds me, it is necessary to get the right AND quality tools for each job.
I get so excited on projects I often want to jump right in and start painting the color. Taking the time to prep and prime the surface is important for paint adhesion and an overall great look.
- Washing the walls removes all dust, dirt, and grime build-up. We use TSP according to the directions on the package, a large absorbent sponge, and follow up with plain water.
- You might have to empty the plain water wash bucket a few times, depending on how much dirt the TSP removed and how large the room is.
- Fill holes or chips with spackle or wood filler and sand smooth.
- Wipe walls with clean water and a damp cloth one final time to remove any dust created from sanding.
- Tape around the trim or edges — take it from me, don’t think you can freehand the edges, it will be a pain to touch up later.
- Remove switch plates, pull away anything against walls, and remove or tape off light fixtures
- Prime walls with the primer recommended for the type of paint being used – there are different ones when using acrylic vs. oil-based vs. water-based paints.
- Once the primer is dry, paint the first coat of paint, starting from the ceiling and working down
- Paint the seams (ceiling to wall, wall to wall corners) with a paintbrush first to “outline” the walls and make it easier to roll paint on later
- Use a roller to apply paint to the rest of the wall up to the “outline” so you do not risk painting on the ceiling or walls adjacent
- Follow instructions and allow the paint to dry between coats – expect to paint at least 2 coats on walls, especially with a darker color
Remember
No color decision has to be forever. The best thing about painting is repainting. If you decide to paint something in one color and it doesn’t flow with the other rooms next to it or doesn’t invoke the vibes and feelings the room is telling you, then go ahead and paint it again, in a different color. It is the most inexpensive and immediately gratifying decorating option available. Start with a refresh on the trim in bright white paint or bring in different accent colors to achieve the room makeover of your dreams.