What should I consider?
Question:.before painting different rooms in my apartment. Suggestions on color, paint qualities, should I hire a professional? I really have little money but my apartment needs a severe makeover. My style is Cottage/Chic and simi-retro. I am leaning twards a coastal blue for the bedroom, possibly sage green for the living room and maybe a yellow in the kitchen, and a modest red in the bathroom? Help!
Answers:
Consider a color scheme. Color should flow through the apartment. It should have a coordinated feel. There are several ways of achieving this. Pick an accent color that works with all the colors that you have chosen. For example, yellow would work with blue, green or red. An alternative is to chose two complimentary colors and use different shades of them throughout as wall colors or accent colors. A third option is to use shades of warm neutrals on the walls and pick bright strong accent colors in each room. That way, if you get tired of a color, accessories are cheap! Check a color wheel for even more options.
As for paint quality, consider your budget and how many years you want the paint to last. Do you own or rent? Always test the paint before you buy it. Many companies sell samples or you can always buy a quart. Paint a 10X14 (or larger) foam core board (find in art supply stores or craft shops) in each color. Prop the board up in various parts of the room/apartment (move it around) and check out the color in bright sunlight, incandescent light at night, a cloudy day etc. Keep the boards up for at least a week. You get the idea. Don't buy it until you love it! Can't decide between two shades. Paint a board for each!
Hire a professional? Depends on your budget. Painting's easy and fun, if you want to try it yourself. Have a painting party with friends. Warning! No alcohol until the painting is finished!
Good luck!
Sounds like quite a project for someone with little money. Red in the kitchen though. Put yellow in the bathroom, if someone pees on the wall, no one will know.
dont forget that you are renting so all that painting should be semi financed by the landlord! It will increase its value if you do a good job! ask him to pay half the cost !
yellow is commonly used in kitchens. but. it is known to cause loss of appetite... green, or turquois blue... would be great for the kitchen. bathroom, depends on how big. i would use red as an accent, not a main wall color, it can be too confining. other colors you have sound good. paint it yourself, it isn't that bad... i just did my hallway. get some friends to help you a couple weekends, and do a little bit each day. dont try to do a whole room, except maybe the bathroom, in one day.
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