You are thinking of painting the new dream home, after your home inspection has been completed – and you are ready to move into it.
There are a few things that you would need to do before moving in, one of them is getting your home painted. To get answers to all the questions you have about your home interior painting you are at the correct place.
It is advisable to get your home interior painted first then to get your wood flooring done, because while painting drops of paint on your wood floor will permanently damage it.
Let’s prepare you well to help you decide on your paint type, the finish and the colour.
You are advised to hire a professional painter or a home painting contractor, but if you have the time and wouldn’t mind the smells and stains that come with paint, you can as well do the job yourself.
4 Things You Must Know Before Painting Your Home Interior
1. It is important to prime the walls
Some paints come already mixed with a primer, others do not. Be sure to check with your paint shop for the paint specifications about whether it’s pre-mixed or not before buying it. If the paint isn’t pre-mixed with a primer, it is important that you start by priming the walls in order to cover up existing stains, chips, holes, cracks and colours. That will ensure that the top coat of paint will stick for flawless results.
2. You can use latex paints
These are water-based paints. You can use these paints on the exterior walls, but they are most ideal for indoor walls. Their unbeatable colour-retention, fast-drying, and environment-friendliness properties also make them great for indoor painting. They are also able to withstand moisture, for example in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Latex paints do not produce bad odours to the extent that oil-based paints do.
3. It helps when you prep the room first
If you have not moved into your home or have commenced with your interior design works then it is ideal. If by chance you have then it is better to get everything out of the way before embarking on the home painting process. This means getting all the furniture away from the walls and covering them up using plastic sheets or old newspapers and masking tape. You will also need to fill any cracks on the wall with putty (which can also be done when priming the walls)
4. Larger quantity is ideal for uniformity
Sometimes you painter paints the walls with the same colour but you end up with inconsistent colour intensity. In most cases, this is because of unevenly mixed paint tins (in case you are deciding on a paint that needs to be mixed for your specific colour). Instead of painting a tin or can at a time, it is best that the painter gets all the paint into a larger bucket and stir everything up for a smooth, uniform, and more consistent colour. Ensure that the bucket is seal-able to preserve paint for the following days of painting.
It’s more than just colours!
There’s a lot more to consider than just colour when it comes to picking paints for your home. Moreover, different types of house paint can be used to offer a wide range of effects while protecting your walls. This starter kit is the perfect way to dip your toe into all the various options.
Different Types of House Paint for Home Interiors:
Distemper Paint
Perfect for a textured feel. It’s a cost-effective house paint commonly used for whitewashing walls in Indian homes. It’s safe and easy to use, but can be marked or discoloured easily. Not preferred for homes with children.
Emulsion Paint
It renders a rich effect and provides excellent durability. Stains can be easily wiped down with a cloth dampened with soap solution. Preferred choice for homes with kids and pets.
Enamel Paint
Offering excellent durability and varied glossy effects. Enamel is one of the most expensive types of house paints for Indian homes. It is stain and water resistant and can be applied on metal and wooden surfaces also.
Types Of House Paint Finishes
Lastly, different types of house paint offer varying finishes when they dry. Knowing about them helps you make an informed choice:
Matte Finish
Perfect for hiding imperfections on walls and ceilings, this non-reflective finish offers the lowest level of gloss. The texture can be difficult to clean and needs regular retouching.
Satin and Eggshell Finish
The silky, soft sheen effect of this finish is between matte and gloss. It’s durable and is often used to beautify bathrooms and kitchens. The downside is, it cannot hide imperfections. Eggshell is easier to apply than satin but doesn’t offer the same smoothness.
Glossy Finish
This finish is the most reflective of the three and is long-lasting. It can be cleaned multiple times as well. To get an even look it needs more than one coat of paint as it highlights flaws.
You can mix up different types of house paint to create the effect you desire.
How to Make a Room Look Bigger
Paint and Colour
People often ask what colours make a room look bigger when they are getting ready to paint the inside of their home. Light and dark colours, creating contrast, can give a room depth. When you look at how to make a small room look bigger with paint, keep in mind that medium shades will make your space appear smaller than it is. Using dark and bright white colours that open up a room, in contrast, creates the illusion of a much larger area.
Small rooms are not always square. Some may be narrow and long.
When considering how to make a narrow room look wider with paint, keep in mind that light and cool colours recede – they seem farther away. Warm, dark colours advance towards us.
For long narrow spaces, paint the opposing shorter walls a slightly darker (one or two shades) colour than the two longer walls. That will make them feel closer, giving the image of a square shape. Conversely, you can also paint the longer walls a darker shade, emphasizing the room’s length – depending on which way you want to present the space.
Some painting techniques to make a room look bigger include:
Stay with one colour – when different colours are used, the eye automatically stops at the line where one colour ends and another begins, creating boundaries in the room. When you use only one colour, the space appears continuous.
Use stripes – horizontal stripes will make a wall appear longer, and vertical stripes will make it seem taller.
When considering colours that make a room look bigger, white, in its many shades, is always an optimum choice. Its reflective qualities help to open a space and make it appear light and airy.
For more painting room ideas, check out the image above, showing how different painting options can change the appearance of your space.
“How do I pick the best paint combination for walls in my living room?”
“Also, what kind of a finish should I opt for?”
PICKING THE RIGHT WALL PAINT COLOURS
That’s the first thing you would think of. Narrowing down to your choice of colour is not an easy decision. Even if you do have, for instance, bedroom paint ideas in mind, you will always have those doubts clouding your mind.
1. Decorate first.
In case your house is new, find a piece of decoration that catches your attention and guides you. Or you may want a wall paint colour that blends well with your curtains or your brand new sofa. Finding a colour to match your decor is far easier (and cheaper!) than finding fabrics, furniture and furnishings to match your wall colours.
2. Look for more inspiration.
Browse through pictures of homes online or in magazines, and you’ll more ideas for house colours. Almost all paint companies — whether Asian Paints, Dulux or Berger — have their own colour visualisation tools and apps? These help you experiment with colours online before you buy the paint.
3. Understand the colour wheel.
It isn’t crucial but understanding the basic principles of the colour wheel will only be of additional help, especially in deciding secondary colours.
Similar/Analogous: Ideally, the colours adjacent to each other on the wheel blend in well and look the most harmonious. For example, red-orange, orange-yellow, yellow-green etc.
Complementary: The colours opposite each other on the colour wheel are most complementary to create a vibrant look. For example, orange and blue, yellow and purple etc. Just be careful to use one as a dominant colour and the other subtle, so that you don’t end up with a jarring result.
Monochromatic: This scheme uses hues of one basic colour for a calming effect. For instance, you may opt for a pale red wall and darker red window trims.
4. Decide the mood.
How do you want the room to make you feel? Energetic? Motivated? Restful? The answer to this question is key in deciding the room paint colours you choose, because colours have the ability to affect our moods and personalities.
5. Test the colours.
Finally, once you have a colour in mind. Go to your paint store, ask for samples in your chosen and related colours, and paint a few, small sections on the wall in your home. See how the shades seem to you during different times of the day, and under different sources of light. Also, see if the undertones blend with the decor of the room. Even if this takes you a couple of days, so be it — you’ll be happier you took the time!
KNOWING THE COSTS OF WALL PAINTING
Here’s a look at what the cost of interior or exterior wall painting involves:
1. Costs of the paints.
Usually, all paints come in 1 litre, 4 litre, 10 litre and 20 litre buckets. The costs of mixing paints to get a desired shade is extra.
Note: Buying 1 litre of paint is more expensive than buying a 20 litre bucket. For example, a 1 litre of premium paint may cost ₹280, while 20 litres may cost ₹4,550.
2. Surface area to be covered.
This area is measured in square feet, which you can compute by multiplying the width and height of a wall.
3. Labour charges.
Your painter will tell you that any regular fresh painting process in India involves sanding and cleaning of the walls, a coat of primer, 1-2 coats of putty work, another coat of primer, and finally 2-3 coats of paint. Thus, labour for fresh painting involves all of these, and the costs are inclusive of the same.
4. City or location.
Costs vary considerably from city to city in India
Sources
https://www.bergerpaints.com/blog/featured-experts/everything-you-need-to-know-about-house-painting
https://www.livspace.com/in/magazine/indian-materials-101-types-of-house-paint-explained
https://www.livspace.com/in/magazine/house-painting-designs-and-colors
https://www.urbancompany.com/blog/interiors/wall-paint-colours-guide/