Design 411 – May tip of the month for a home revamp: Paint in the most inexpensive way to add color and give a space a new look

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This week’s tip: Paint your trim a different color than white

How long has it been since you’ve updated the décor of your home?  We all want to be proud of our homes when our family and friends come to visit.  We want to be excited about coming home to a warm and inviting space after a long day of work.  If you haven’t made any changes to your décor in a while, you may feel like your home looks unfashionable or out-of-date.  There are some simple things you can do to liven up a few rooms.  This month I am focusing on ways to use paint to give your rooms that much needed makeover.  Paint is inexpensive and if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself, you can make a huge change in just a weekend.  Order pizza and invite some friends over to help.  If you aren’t DIY inclined, choose the new color and hire a handyman or professional painter to do the work for you.  It will still be a fairly inexpensive décor fix compared to most options and can have a major impact.

There are so many ways to use paint to spruce up your décor.  This week’s tip is to paint your trim a color other than white.

You can paint the trim a slightly darker color than the walls, like in this room designed by Dresser Homes

You can paint the trim the same color as the walls for a clean and modern look.

Or you can go more dramatic with black.  This looks especially good on slightly more ornate trim.

Or you can look for colors that complement each other.  This lavender trim with the yellow ochre walls is elegant and fresh.

Whatever color you choose, before painting your trim work, patch any holes with surfacing compound first. Paint the trim before you paint the walls if you are planning on changing the wall color as well, or use painter’s tape to mask off the wall. Use a primer-sealer combination. Use a 4-inch foam roller to apply paint to the trim, and then go over it with a brush to cover the edges and grooves. Start at the bottom and work your way up on each piece of trim.

If you decide to give your home a refresh and paint your trim some time this month, send us a before and after picture at Décor Revolution so we can see how it comes out.

Yian Q