The Hue's Hue For Paint Product Selection

There are few things more overwhelming or totally mindnumbing than standing in front of shelf upon shelf of paint cans in your local hardware store trying to decide which brand, which finish, which base, what color and how much to buy for you room painting project.

So, I am going to try to simplify it all for you and take some of the mystery out of paint so that you can make good choices for your walls and keep your wits about you in the home improvement aisles. Here are the basic tips you should use when picking out that next pint.

# 1. Don't get distracted. I'm going to assume that since you've treked out to the nearest hardware store that you have some semblance of a plan in mind for what you wanted to slather on your walls. Assuming that, you don't want to find yourself swirling in a totally different direction with the whole plan just because you spot a 'deal' on mis-mixed 'blue' paint in the next aisle. A deal is only a deal when it is something you need or at least want. Mis-mixes are just that, limited quantities of a color that just happened. After all your efforts to redesign your space, do you really want your paint to 'just happen' on your walls? I didn't think so.

# 2.Too little IS too little. Don't skimp on the paint. There is nothing worse then ending up a foot from the edge of a wall on you final coat and realizing you're out of paint. Just be sure and always buy extra. You also don't know how many coats you will need until you start so it is a good idea to plan for at least three coats of whichever paint you choose.

# 3.Where the paint is going is important. A room that is pouring with sunlight all day long can certainly take and sometimes needs the little bit of depth that a richer, darker color will certainly add to the space. On the other hand you need to remember that the paint in the can is always going to be a slightly darker shade on the wall once it's completely dry.

# 4. Eggshell, Satin or Gloss? This is much more then a matter of reflection. Yes, glossy paint will reflect more light around a small room making it appear bigger, but it will also show off every mark, scratch and brush line too. Take heed. You are much more likely to be satisfied with your results if you allow yourself a little bit of room for error. I recommend you go for the eggshell option for lighter colors and try a satin finish to add a little dimension for darker color picks.

# 5. Manufacturer matters. There are basically two different camps when it comes to paint manufacturers in North America. You have your premier paint producers and you have your discount brands. As with anything else, generally, you get what you pay for. Unless you are in love with an exclusive designer paint color that's only available from a high end manufacturer, I suggest you go for a decent quality paint and be generous with the application.

# 6. Beware. It's not enough to just hand a hardware store employee a color chip. You MUST check the paint once it's mixed and do your own comparison to the sample. Remember that the paint will dry slightly darker then the wet paint appears. Ask the person mixing it for you to dip a wooden paint stir stick into the can and wait until it is somewhat dry to judge the final color more accurately. You don't want to find out when you get home that your burnt umber paint selection appears more like orange sorbet when it's on your walls.

# 7. Once you have your paint, your brushes and rollers, your sponges, trays and paint thinner ready to go, you're set to get started. Just make sure you get to the painting within a few days. If you leave it too long, the paint may start to settle in the cans and then you may need to go back to the hardware store and have them mixed up again in the store's high-speed paint can shaker. This can be an inconvenience but it sure is fun to watch those cans shake!

To summarize, picking paint can be a fun task, and the results can be very satisfying. Remember, stay focused, don't be stingy, pick the right tone or shade for the room, don't get all glossy-eyed when picking the finish, choose your brand wisely, double check the final color, and always keep it shaken not stirred.

If you follow these tips and face your painting project fearlessly, you will find that paint selection can be simple and very satisfying.....now you just have to put it on the walls....but that's a whole other article!

About the Author: K.C. Wooding The Original Decor Warrior & Owner of Room For Improvement http://www.rfivirtualdecorating.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Wooding

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