Spring Forward: Painting Inspiration

With more daylight and blooming trees, Houston is a wonderful place to be during the spring season. At Pro Painters, we've been inspired by the slight weather change and the burgeoning green, yellow, red, and pink tones. If you are in the mood to do some cleaning and home rejuvenation this month, we have just the color palette for you. Below, these earthy and fresh primary color options dazzle us.

Spotlights:

"Chivalry Copper" for the breakfast room or dining room.

"Supreme Green" would go nicely with a spring-themed bathroom.

"Sand Dune" or "Whole Wheat" make a nice background in the living or family rooms.

Inspired by the above palette, we searched high and low for the bathroom that best exemplifies a spring time look. The small and delicate bathroom fixtures and accessories below go nicely with a bright pattern of vertical stripes. Notice the cool blue and green sea tones. The white trim and thin white stripes in between the larger ones lend a clean aura to the room.

Matching Trim & Accessories:

We were amazed by how wonderfully the light slate walls, white trim, and robin's egg blue door harmonize (we made our own interpretations). The golden-yellow flowers on the throw pillow complete the set up. This just goes to show that trim paint makes all the difference if you are intent on freshening up your home surroundings. The lighter tones are also great to use if you have minimal space to work with.

Would you consider any of theses impressive-sounding paint colors for your home? Feel free to leave Pro Painters a comment.

Our third spring tip is our favorite. If you are lucky enough to have wooden floors (old ones!), we recommend trying this fun project in the kitchen. First, separate the floor boards into square sections of equal measurement. Second, pair a white or cream color with a contrasting, earthy color. Finally, go to work painting the square section of floor with the two colors. This "checkerboard" looks is fun and could be a great thing to do with the whole family.

Our final tip takes you outdoors into the beautiful sunshine and crisp air. Houstonians should take advantage of this while they still can! Drag the old patio furniture out of the garage, off the porch, or from their dusty spot in that antique store or second-hand shop and give them a once (or twice) over with spray paint. You would be amazed at the difference. The Aegean blue patio set, white stones, and lush greens make this setting picturesque for spring.

The New Pet Rock

While pet rocks were an impractical fad, here at Pro Painters, we've discovered a fun DIY project that can be fun for the entire family. All you need is leftover paint or paint from a local arts & crafts store, and as many palm-sized, smooth stones as you can carry. Below, we have included a few examples of painted stone collections that we really like.

1. Elements of Nature

The first collection above has intricate details that can easily be made with the tip of a small paint brush. While many of the designs depict birds, trees, and other creatures, there are a few that represent elements of nature, like a rain drop, a cloud, and a nautilus. This could be a great exercise to help your child expand their knowledge and vocabulary pertaining to the natural world.

2. Rock Cuisine

This second example features a small family of stones that would make great additions to any kitchen. Or, they would be great as napkin weights while your family barbecues and enjoys a meal outdoors. Like the first set of beautifully painted stones, this project can help your little ones learn the names, spelling, and look of different fruits and vegetables. We would even suggest sticking to a fun theme, like French cuisine or purely pastries.


3. Soothing Presences

This example is an excellent choice if you have spare white, off-white, or eggshell-colored wall paint. Avoid the hassle of finding a way to dispose of your extra paint and instead, create a fun DIY project. Choose darker colored stones, so the intricate white designs will stand out. These stones can be a calming presence along a garden walkway, in the reading room, or even in the bathroom.


4. As Silent as Stones

At Pro Painters, we were the most impressed by these larger stones, painted to resemble woodland creatures. Every single detail, including eyes, noses, feathers, and spines, are included. For most of the animals, you only need basic brown, black, tan, and white tones. We also love that the stones are already shaped to look like animal bodies. If you could create an animal set, which animals would you choose?


5. A Rockin' Family

We know your kids will love this fifth and final example of "The New Pet Rock." While it may take a little longer to hunt down these smaller stones, it is very important because each person must have a head and a torso! And, the stone searching is a good way to get the kids out of your hair for a while. Once they have assembled their stone family, you can get them started with different paint colors. The possibilities are truly endless. We hope you've enjoyed this DIY yourself blog and as always, we welcome any comments or suggestions below in the Comments section.

Wall Graphics

Here at Pro Painters, we're serious about our residential interior and exterior painting because wall color has a dramatic effect on the energy and aesthetic appeal of a room. We feel the same way about our commercial projects. First impressions are incredibly important if businesses want to retain a loyal customer base. We recommend giving every little detail, from trim paint and light fixtures to comfortable sitting chairs and office plants, careful attention. The subject of this post is the ever-popular wall graphic, an easy thing to incorporate into your home or business environment that will impress guests and visitors.

 The topic of conversation

A well placed wall graphic can become the topic of conversation. We love the effect of the bold color combination in the example below. Entertain guests as the Canadian geese elegantly fly across the horizon of your living room wall. Unlike a conventional painting or art piece, the entire wall serves as the canvas. Our second example below is a little more light-hearted.

At Pro Painters, we think it's great to have fun and let loose every once and a while. Why should it be any different when it comes to your interior wall color and design? While a little less sophisticated, we're crazy about these silly monkey decals. It may make a nice contribution to a summer home or beach house with light flooring, wall paint, and bright furnishings. Plus, your little monkeys will love it!

For the artist in all of us

This third example is a great option for all of you out there who are artistically inclined. While many may not have the patience for each intricate piece of this wall graphic, we think the final effect is definitely worth it. It's placement near the window is also quite wonderful. The red feather stands boldly out against the clean, white wall.

Remembering favorite characters

Here's a great idea for a birthday present or anniversary. If you think back to your youth and the pop icons, artists, singers, cartoons, and films that influenced you the most, we're sure you can find a few that you wouldn't mind seeing every day. Well, at least for a little while. The Snoopy and  Woodstock wall graphic below would be great for an artistic space or entertainment center. If you get tired of seeing it, simply peel it right off.

An inspired work space

At Pro Painters, we think all work and no play makes for a very dull day. A simple and colorful wall graphic can do wonders for your work space. When we're working out a problem, we often find ourselves staring into space or at a blank wall. If you aren't lucky enough to have a desk by the window, you may consider a clever wall graphic like the one below. After all, it's better to have Tetris on your wall than open on your computer.

Show your tub some love

In our final and favorite wall graphic example, we found something to transform your bathing experience. This may be too scary for really little children, but it's definitely 8+ friendly. While this particular wall graphic is playful, it still has a vintage feel. The dark blue tentacles pair nicely with the light blue wall paint and bright white tub. Can you think of way wall graphics can be incorporated in or around a shower? As always, we would love to hear your suggestions below in the Comments section.

Much Ado About Old Paint

At Pro Painters, we hate wasting paint. When you start a home improvement project, it's sometimes difficult to know how much you will actually need. You may end up with five too many gallons. Or, you may end up with a few extra pints. In either case, you don't have to let any of it go to waste. after putting our heads together, we came up with a few ways to put that extra paint to good use. 

Have a vase? You have art. 

Not everyone has the luxury of fresh flowers everyday, so if you have an extra vase or two, add some vibrancy and elegance to them by dipping their tops in extra paint. The glossier and brighter, the better. Once they've dried, go out an find a fresh or fake flower to complement the new hue. 

All eyes on the frame!

Old paint and old picture frames go hand in hand. You might say they were meant for each other. If you're at your wit's end for what to do about that extra gallon of paint, find some old frames (or buy some at a thrift store) and spruce up their coats. Then, hang your new collection of empty frames on a prominent spot on the wall and voilà, you have art! 

Give an old piece some panasch.

When you have little kids, your paint palette for their bedrooms might be a little brighter and more cheerful than usual. Extra, eccentrically-colored paint can be particularly hard to handle. Here's what Pro Painters suggests: apply that brightness to an old furniture piece to give it a complete face lift. It may be the very thing your bedroom or living room was lacking. Be brave. Take it a step further and pair it with a boldly colored lamp!  

Minimalist, but slightly immobile...

For our last extra paint tip, we suggest sprucing up a bare bedroom (perfect for college kids or starving artists) by creating the illusion of a head board. Simply  put: paint it on! While this will render your bed unmovable, you have the freedom to create any headboard you so desire. Make it kingly and elaborate! 

Last words.

If none of these tips have inspired you to grab your old jeans, a stiff paint brush, and that can of paint, we have a few final routes you can always take:

- Give the paint away to a neighbor or family member for smaller projects

- Donate the paint to a school, church, or local arts center

- Properly dispose of your paint by dropping it off at a home chemical collection center

Happy painting and as always, feel free to share your own painting projects with Pro Painters. Just leave a comment! 

How To Go Bold With Your Wall Color

Looking for a bold wall color for your living room, dining room, or bedroom, but not sure where to start?  Wondering which wall color you really want?  Afraid of making a huge mistake?  Don’t worry.  It’s easy to make the look you want, as long as you remember some of the basics.

Basic #1:  Let Your “Statement” Piece of Furniture Be Your Guide

Your “statement” piece might be a family heirloom, something you found at an antique store, the newest release from your favorite furniture store, or a creation of your own!  Whatever it is, think about why you like that piece of furniture most.  Ask yourself what really makes it stand out. 

If it’s the shape, than you can pretty much pick any wall color you like.  But if it’s a bright color (like the red color on this dresser), don’t paint your wall the same color!  Paint it something complementary, like brown or a light gold.  You can also (as shown here) pick out the accent color of your piece.  The accent color on this piece is gold, and blue is its complement!  See how this wall color makes this dresser look rich and inviting?

Basic #2:  Bold Doesn’t Have to Mean Bright

If you pick a softer color, like this aquamarine blue, your wall color can still stand out beautifully.  Even the simplest wall color can look amazing if you choose the right accessories and furniture to go with it. 

For this look, choose lustrous, bright accessories and peaceful, neutral colors for your furniture and bedding.  Metallic and neutral colors bring out the brightness of the softer aquamarine without overshadowing it.  Talk about a great supporting cast!

Basic #3:  Less is Always More

Keep your color palette nice and clean!  Pick just one or two accent colors and keep to them!  As you can see here, a bright wall color is best paired with neutral accent colors that help show off its beauty.  The accessories are spare, but well chosen, and there’s no clutter on the floor. 

This look works best for someone who wants to transform their living room or dining room into a tranquil space where they can escape from the stresses of daily life and re-energize themselves.

And, of course, always remember to pick colors that you really like!  You’ll be looking at them all day, so pick colors that make you feel like you.  

A Little Trim Paint can make a Huge Difference

Houston boasts countless older, beautiful homes, town homes, and apartments that may present buyers with unique problems when it comes to trim painting. While many people shy away from attempting this arduous task, it can actually be quite fun and rewarding. Well applied trim paint can completely transform the atmosphere and energy of any room.

Many older apartment have large baseboards, wainscoting that has been neglected for years, and crown molding that has definitely seen better days. Carefully applied trim paint can brighten a room, especially if paired with a soft and subtle wall paint like the blue in the photo below. Notice how this home owner has taken advantage of the gorgeous dark wooden floors by painting all the trim a clean white. The retro chandelier truly makes the colors glow. Who wouldn't want to soak in that tub?

Many dining room areas are quite small in Houston homes, if they are even present at all. Below, a single door has been entirely painted black and paired with white trim paint and wainscoting, and modern curtains with bold black and white stripes. The room presents a visual feast for both diner and guest. Choosing to paint an entire door black can be risky, but this home owner has pulled it off by accessorizing the little dining room with a chandelier, a unique circular floor rug, and curtains that all complement the door.

A less common approach to trim painting, as demonstrated by the photo below, is to solely paint the window trim in a single room a dark, uniform color. This strategy works particularly well in home with very high ceilings. The elongated window, now trimmed in black, makes the walls and ceiling appear even larger than they are. If you are trimming a very small window in black, you run the risk of creating a "porthole" effect. You also run the risk of spoiling your cat's window time with paint that absorbs too much heat.

In our final trim paint example, we've found a home owner that goes above and beyond when it comes to capitalizing on the special characteristics of a particular room. The curvy and wide entrance way below has had its underbelly painted white to remain aesthetically consistent when the ceiling gazer decides to take a closer look. The teal toned walls pop and look fresh jutting up next to the thick, white-trimmed door frame, baseboards, and patterned ceiling. If you have any stories to share with us regarding your own trim painting project, feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear back from you.

Grey:  The Elegant Neutral

If you’re looking for wall color that’s new, but easy to incorporate with any season’s décor, try grey.  Unlike beige or cream, grey is a rich neutral that provides balance and elegance to any room.  Use it as your interior color palette for a dining room or guest bathroom and you’ll find that it looks good in any season.

Let’s go from light grey to dark grey.  Light grey can brighten up with a room and goes well with modern furniture. 

If you hire a HoustonCommercial Painting company, it will be easier to vary your interior color palette.  You can have the Houston Painting Company use two or three shades of grey to provide depth for your living space.  Going with a slightly darker shade of grey can make spaces that are small seem larger and more inviting. 

For added elegance, go for a grey that’s almost black, but paint only one wall.  Choose the shade closely—tell your HoustonPainting Contractor if you think it might be too dark.  Use light, airy colors and metal accents for the rest of the room so that your interior color palette will be calm and well-balanced.