Projects for Interior Creativity: Part 1

Summer was a wonderful (not to mention an extremely busy) season here at Matthew’s Painting. By the sound of it, the same goes for many of our friends and clients tending to their own outdoor projects. It’s incredible to drive around the area and see some of the homes that have made major transformations in a short time. For many, it’s time to keep the momentum going and focus on interior projects, but sometimes it’s difficult to get started. Here are a list of potential room remodeling considerations to help jumpstart creativity.

Play Room

Typically, activity rooms and play rooms for children tend to age in “dog years,” accelerating the lifespan of a remodel or a good paint job. It’s just the way things tend to happen, because kids will be kids. However fall is a time of year to focus on these rooms that will see more activity throughout the colder months. Some choose this as the best time to sort through toys and clothes for donations before the holiday season. Once the initial clutter is reduced and any potential drywall repairs are made, it’s important to choose a “kid-friendly” finish. Many professional painters recommend using an eggshell or satin paint on walls, and semi-gloss for doors/moldings. These finishes hold up to repeated cleanings better than most, getting the longest life possible out of an interior paint job.

Rustic Themes

Achieving an older, worn look is still popular for many homeowners. It tends to be a popular choice for bedrooms or living rooms to compliment vintage or otherwise unique furniture. The best way to achieve this type of look is to use flat (matte) finish paints. This paint finish is usually used on interior walls. It helps to camouflage small wall bumps, cracks, or other imperfections, as the finish does not reflect light. Burgundy and other warm paint colors are also popular for these types of rooms.

Theater Rooms

It’s a great time of year to make popcorn and spend time in a cozy room watching movies and favorite shows. I’ve written extensively about using warmer colors to create a sense of closeness to manipulate space. One thing to consider to create the perfect movie watching atmosphere is choosing a darker color for ceiling paint. Generally, ceilings in most rooms are painted with a flat finish paint. This is because most ceilings have small bumps and imperfections. Some may prefer a glossier finish for flawless ceilings that are newly refinished and have no blemishes, but this may not be the best choice for a theater room due to the reflective qualities of these types of paint.