How to Paint A Room Perfectly

One of the worst feelings is that of realizing that you have roller marks in your new paint job. Although this is a fairly common occurrence, there are some techniques you can use to keep your painted walls smooth and mark free.

• Get ready – Move all furniture out of the way. Cover furniture and floors with drop cloths to protect from drips and spills. Use painter’s tape to cover trim and other things you don’t want painted. Do not use masking tape since it can cause damage to walls and other surfaces, causing you more work.
  
  
• Do edging – Paint corners and edges with a paintbrush. Load enough paint into your brush to cover without dripping. Paint in 1-2 foot sections, skipping ahead so you are painting from a dry area to wet paint each time. When edging and doing corners, paint an area that is around 3-4 inches wide so you don’t have to scrape and mark walls by getting your roller into tight places.
  
  
• Roller paint large areas – After you have completed your edging, load your paint roller for the large areas. Fill your roller, completely covering the surface. Remove excess paint with the ridges at the top of the pan. If the roller is producing drips, it is overloaded. In order to avoid leaving roller marks, paint in a zigzagging pattern, covering only 3-4 sq. ft. of wall at one time. Starting at the top of the section, paint a capital M shape on the wall. Next, zigzag over that area until it is completely filled in. Work in sections, starting at the top and always painting from a dry area toward a wet area. Once you have painted 4 sections, roll over the completed sections to blend the paint before moving on.
  
  
• Paint trim – Follow the same edging directions as for walls. Then paint areas of 12-18 inches long from dry to wet areas. It is extremely important not to overload brushes, as drips will ruin your freshly painted walls. Paint slowly and methodically to ensure that your trim is as flawless as your walls so your entire room will look professionally done.

Nothing ruins the look of a room as quickly as streaks, roller marks, or drips in your paint’s finish. To avoid these blemishes and to get professional results, make sure you avoid overloading your rollers and brushes. You must also work in zigzagging patterns from dry areas to wet areas that have already been painted. Although this can seem much more awkward than rolling paint up and down on walls, it provides a much nicer finish. In addition, it will eventually become habit as you get used to painting the correct way. If you are planning on painting in your home, make sure you have a sufficient amount of time to complete the job before starting. An average room takes around 4 hours to paint properly, while the trim adds around 3 extra hours to the total time for the job.

Terry G. is a writer for Best-Careers.org. If you are interested in making your home beautiful and even getting your education while you are home to start a new career, this site is a great resource. 

Also Consider: 

Painting A Brick Fireplace

Fireplace Paint Color Themes

Masonry Fireplace Paint

How to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

If you are getting tired of your kitchen and crave a new look, but don't have the budget for a whole refit, you will be happy to learn that there are plenty of things you can do to satisfy your need for a change. A little bit of creativity can make a very small budget go a long way and give you the look of a whole new kitchen without the mess, inconvenience and expense of a new kitchen suite.

Refresh Your Fixtures and Fittings

Simply changing the handles on your doors and drawers can totally overhaul your kitchen. Swap wooden knobs on a rustic country kitchen for metal ones to update the whole look. Dark iron colour metals look great on wooden cupboards, or try brushed aluminium on a white kitchen.

Changing your light fittings is another easy thing to do; swap pendant lights for close fitting down-lighters (get help from an electrician wherever necessary!) or add lighting inside glass-fronted cabinets or underneath wall cupboards to brighten up dark corners. Taps can be expensive to buy, but adding a new set will refresh the look of the kitchen, or you could really splash out and change your whole sink; swapping plastic for stainless steel or ceramic will add a touch of style.

Splash Some Color

There are all sorts of paints available for creating different effects on your cupboard doors, or you could simply replace them. If you go down the painting route, take the doors off the cupboards and lay them out flat to avoid drips and get a better finish; be careful to choose your colours wisely as what might look great on one door in the shop could look totally different when it is across an entire kitchen.

Small kitchen appliances like toasters and kettles come in a wide range of colours that can be a good way to brighten up your kitchen. Pick a colour and add matching tea towels, oven gloves and storage jars to tie the look in across the whole room.

Freshen Up Your Floor

Changing the flooring in your kitchen is an easy way to update the décor and can be done relatively cheaply. Have a look for roll ends of lino if you have a fairly small space to cover; there are many new types of lino about that look great and are warmer to walk on than tiles. Tile paint is an option, but be sure to choose one that has been designed for floors as it will scratch easily otherwise; you can also get paint to go directly onto the scred of a concrete floor if you can remove your existing flooring to that level. Easy fit laminate comes in many effects as well as wood panelling; again, be careful to choose a product suitable for kitchens if you want to try this.

Small, budget friendly changes to your kitchen can make a big difference; grow some herbs in pretty pots on the window sill or tomatoes in a hanging basket in a bright corner for a country kitchen feel as well as cooking ingredients, or add a pin board for photos, shopping lists and postcards: a personal touch that is also functional. Any or all of these small changes will help make you feel as if you have updated your kitchen whilst you save up for a full refit, or you may decide you no longer need one.

This guest post was written by writer and blogger Francesca who is based in the UK. She has a passion for home décor and DIY – the cheaper, the better!

Beautiful and Affordable DIY Fireplace Designs

When it comes to home renovation, you can save a considerable amount of money by taking care of upgrades yourself. If you have the handy skills and the patience for this type of project then there is no limit to the possibilities. There is a seemingly endless supply of Do It Yourself resources out there for adventurous homeowners, like you, that supply great ideas and tips on just about any home improvement project. You can find fantastic inspiration in books at the bookstore or online. Online, there are hundreds of interior design and DIY blogs and sites that offer up a wealth of knowledge. Remember that there is no limit to your imagination; so have fun and get creative. Here are a select few ideas for that fireplace that you keep staring at, but just can’t seem to figure out.

Painting

One great and easy way to take your old fireplace and give it a quick and easy update is to paint the existing bricks. You can choose a color that fits the rest of your home décor or matches the mood you are trying to create in your room. Painting is a nice way to make the fireplace more modern and it only takes a few steps, you could be done in an afternoon.

Take a brick cleaning solution and thoroughly clean the area you wish to paint. Once the area is dry, tape it off protecting the surrounding walls. Use a primer made specifically for painting bricks and prime the area. When the primer is dry, go ahead and give the bricks a coat of paint, making sure to get in all the tiny cracks and cover them thoroughly. After the first coat dries, apply a second coat. When your second coat is dry, you’re done. It’s that simple. Make sure that when you are considering your paint options, you pick a paint that is oil based and will tolerate the heat well.

You can, of course, just as easily paint the mantel as well, changing the whole look of the fireplace completely.

Overlay

Another fantastic way to spruce up your current fireplace and make it a bit more modern is to give it a good old do it yourself facelift. Depending on what style you are going for and what aesthetic you currently have in your home, you can choose wood panels, for a decorative fireplace, tile, marble slabs or any other material that you think might look good. Once you have chosen your material, you can cover the brick with it, giving your fireplace an instant update with your own personal flare. Know that painting bricks is a permanent change and you should be sure of your decision before you begin.

If you choose to use tile, you can use larger tiles and create a nice pattern, or you could use smaller tiles creating a mosaic. Take the finished space and fill the fireplace with candles, creating a warm modern piece of art. This will be an interesting and eclectic conversation piece that you can be proud to show off.


Don’t forget to consider the codes in your area for construction when taking on projects such as these. Especially concerning fireplaces, there may be rules regarding gas lines, or concerns about gas vs wood burning.

Kelli McDonald has loved crafts and interior design ever since she was a little girl. She now works with luxury goods and online furniture deals for LuxeYard.

Five Changes Landlords and Leasing Offices Can Make to Improve an Apartment or Condo

Once your tenant moves out of your home, apartment, or condo, even if they were a clean and respectful tenant, the property is going to need repairs. Depending on the type of property, you could have as little as a week to make any changes necessary to spruce up the home or apartment. If you are short on time and budget but want to do a quick remodel that will impress potential tenants, here are some ways to add some life back into a tired space.

Painting and repairing damaged walls

Not only can you use this time as an opportunity to spruce up a tired room with a warm and fresh coat of paint, but you can also repair any holes tenants might have left in the walls from hanging photos, shelves, or other wall décor. Unless you have drab white walls, when you plaster over holes, you’ll have to repaint the walls to cover the dried white plaster. Use this opportunity as a way to really change the appearance of any room. You can also use low-VOC paint as an eco-friendly paint alternative that emits fewer pollutants have a lower odor than traditional paints. This can also be an advantage when trying to rent the unit.

Repainting the fireplace/replacing the doors

Even in the mildest of climates, if your rental property features a fireplace, tenants will use it. As much warmth and enjoyment as a fireplace offers, having one in your rental property also means you’re left with the task of cleaning the ash and soot left behind after a fire. To remove the black marks a working fireplace leaves behind, repaint your fireplace each year to make it appear new. This fireplacepaint system from Brick-Anew can restore your fireplace in a matter of five or six hours and for only $200. You can also replace the fireplace doors to give the entire fireplace a brand new appearance.

Removing spots and stains from carpets

Even the tidiest of tenants will take a toll on your carpets, especially if kids or pets are living there. After your tenants have moved out, do a deep clean on your floors to make sure the space is move-in ready for your next tenants. Move tables, couches, and other large pieces of furniture to see what stains might be hiding on floors. For superficial stains, you might be able to use a simple stain lifting spray. For set-in stains, you can either rent a carpet steam cleaner or use carpet cleaning services for serious carpet repair.

Changing out drapes and upholstery

If you are furnishing your rental property for your tenants, reupholstering furniture and adding new fabrics is not only a way to freshen up a space, but it also a way to appeal to prospective renters. Consider recovering couches, loveseats, and chairs with new fabrics in neutral tones. Not only is this a great way to potentially cover some older pieces of furniture without having to replace them completely, but it’s also an easy way to breathe some new life into your rooms.

You can also include more eco-friendly fabrics in the space to appeal to more environmentally friendly prospective tenants. Purchase curtains that block out sunlight to prevent excess heat from staying in the room. This will not only keep rooms dark when needed, but will also help keep your energy bills down as your thermostat won’t have to battle against natural sunlight to keep your space cool.

Deep cleaning the kitchen to remove grease stains

The kitchen is the heart of your home, so make sure that you give it some TLC after your tenants move out. Clean burners and any vents above the stove to get rid of any caked on grease or food that might be left behind. Deep clean the oven to remove any baked on grease, and make sure to remove any grease that might have accumulated on your kitchen’s backsplash. If possible, move the stove and clean the area between the stove, countertops, and walls to really give your kitchen a deep clean.

With all these changes, you can have your rental property move-in ready in a matter of days. Your tenants will appreciate moving into a space that has been well maintained and repaired, and it will give you peace of mind to know you’re providing a quality space for rent.  

Project Overwhelming Finished!

My recent project to help my sponsor with a new customer was a bit of a challenge. She wanted things a little different then I had expected. Even though her fireplace is small in comparison to some that I have done, it took a little longer then it should have.  Not only was her fireplace a dark brick and very porous, but here her room was overpowered by it. It truly dominated her small, windowless den. She had already chosen the Twilight Taupe kit. The mortar was really recessed so the base coat took awhile to apply and the brick was rough.  

After applying color 1, the glaze, and color 2 (all of which went quickly) I had enough confidence to "customize" the process by adding a bit of  wall paint (the darker tan on the right wall in the after picture) to what remained of color 2 and we reapplied it with the sponge. We also tinted color 3 the same way and used it very lightly as the final highlight. (Hint: Dab paint on a plain piece of cardboard a few times while you mix until you are pleased with the shade. Squeeze as much paint out of the sponge as possible before applying. You can always go over it again.) Even though the clear coat is optional I highly recommend it to protect and enhance your "new" fireplace. She had a navy leather sofa and chair and she wanted her den color scheme to be a navy, cream, and dark tan.  Her old red-orange brick just "fought" her decorating efforts.

She LOVED the results and her den appears much larger, lighter, and the fireplace now harmonizes with her decor. The final result was amazing! Why didn't I do this years ago!!?? I don’t recommend if you haven't used the product that "customizing" the final color is the best idea, But she wanted deeper and had found the final effect of the Twilight Taupe to be a little lighter than she had expected, and what she wanted was a little "warmer" color.

I did advise her to make sure as we did this that we "step back" and evaluate during each step!   Susan and my sponsor were elated with the results so much that she has been spreading the word all over the internet and to her friends.

May I also recommend:
Brick/Prefab Fireplace Cleaner
A New Masonry Fireplace Glass Door 
All Things Fireplaces

I LINKED THIS PROJECT AT THE FOLLOWING BLOG & LINK PARTIES
Mop it up Mondays - I Should Be Mopping the Floor - Every Monday
Beautify it Monday - Bringing Beauty - Every Monday
Busy Monday - A Pinch of Joy - Every Monday
Think Pink Sundays - Flamingo Toes - Every Sunday