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PrintPainting tips and color trends for 2010
Gentry Detter, marketing manager for Spectrum Paint Co., says the “green” movement is not going away.
“There is definitely more awareness and we are seeing more and more people that are looking for a green option in paint,” she says. “It may be because someone in your family is pregnant and/or you have small children in your home.”
Natura is great for people with allergies or strong reaction to the smell of paint.
“Since it is virtually odorless, there are people out there that paint their kitchen in the morning and then have people over for dinner that night,” Detter says.
Detter says the restrictions on chemicals in paint are likely to become more strict in the coming years, although there is no certain timeline.
If you are ready to get on the green bandwagon, however, here are a few painting tips as well as color trends for 2010.
Color Tulsa beautiful
According to Sonu Mathew, an interior designer at Benjamin Moore, “some say 2010 is all about a clean start with whites and soft hues. Others are breaking out their crayons to usher in a decade of saturated colors.”
When it comes to the interior of Tulsans’ homes, Detter says green and/or colors that have green in them have been popular lately. Green is the color that is easiest for the eye to see, and many people see it as a comforting or relaxing color. Green also represents renewal, spring, growth and the environment.
Pantone recently named turquoise as the color (in general, not just paint) of 2010. Oranges and reds have also been popular colors for those looking to use a saturated color in their home. These are warm colors that are great in living areas or as accent walls.
In Tulsa, most people are sticking with soft hues or neutrals such as beige and gray for the exterior of their home.
Painting 101
Detter recommends the following tips and seven easy steps for a professional-looking paint job:
1. Identify the surface that you are painting
• Is it drywall?
• Has it been painted before?
• Is it textured?
• Is there wood paneling?
Note: Preparation before the actual painting is the most important step to making a paint job look professional.
2. Make sure the surface is clean of dirt, dust and grime.
• Trim and cabinets should be cleaned. Try using Krud Kutter’s No-Rinse Prepaint Cleaner.
3. Use painter’s tape and paper to protect trim, cover your floor and
remove switch plates.
• Tape along the edge of your trim to protect it. Leave a very small crack between the paint and the trim (approximately the width of a dime’s edge).
• Go along the crack with a small bead of caulk. Wipe away excess caulk with a wet rag. This will create the cleanest line for your wall, while keeping paint off of the trim. This is called back-caulking.
4. Does the surface need primer?
• Always use primer if it is a surface that has never been coated, especially drywall.
• Also use primer if you are trying to cover a dark color with a lighter color or if stains are present (such as smoke stains and water spots).
5. Cutting in (Now you are ready to paint.)
• Paint a small line (with a paint brush) along all the edges of one wall (probably about 6 inches in width). This is called cutting in a room.
• Use a roller cover and frame and roll on paint in a vertical direction. Be careful not to apply too much pressure. Some people make the mistake of trying to squeeze paint out of the roller cover. This can create roller marks. Always make your final pass in one direction (vertically).
6. Paint on your second coat when the first coat is dry to the touch and uniform in color.
7. Wait until the second coat is completely dry before removing any tape.
