So, it’s time to think about selling your home.  You have done a lot of living in your house; many pleasant memories exist there.  But, perhaps the interior walls of your home have seen better days?  You love the way you used a few of your favorite hues to brighten up your home.  Maybe your kids have personalized their bedrooms a little too much.  Or maybe your home just needs a fresh coat of paint to attract some desirable attention.
When putting your home on the real estate market, especially when the market is sluggish, it is important to make the most of your home’s potential.  Your home must be clean, inside and out.  The interior of the home must show light and bright.  The use of color needs to be subtle, yet appealing.  Since one’s color preference is based mainly on personal taste, using a neutral color palette is the best way to go when preparing your home for a sale.
The appropriate use of paint in your decorating scheme can perk up a dull and lackluster home interior.  It can hide defects in the walls and ceiling.  Paint can correct a lot of imperfections in the overall appearance of the home.  The correct color of paint has the ability to enlarge even the smallest of spaces.  The perfect wall color can make larger spaces more appealing, giving the space a feeling of warmth.
The use of white paint throughout your home is a good way to de-personalize the interior of your home and make it appealing to potential buyers.  This way they can better visualize their own color palette, fabrics and furniture they have in your space, helping them visualize themselves actually living in your home.  In a buyer’s market, one must give the seller’s choices in color, decorate schemes and tastes in a home preference over their own choices if they intend on selling their home as quickly as possible.
The condition of the exterior paint of your house also leaves a lasting impression on a buyer, especially since the outside is the very first thing they see when viewing a home.  Peeling exterior paint, damaged wood, and dirty shingles do not make a very good impression on potential buyers.  If the trim on the exterior of your home is worn and the paint has started to peel, a thorough touch-up with paint is needed.  To match your current color, simply remove a chip of paint and take it to a hardware or paint store.  Try using the leftover paint from your last exterior paint job, mix it up and try it in an inconspicuous area.   Or, if it is simply too old, go ahead and get a fresh can of paint made up for a good match.  Maybe the best thing to do, depending on the condition of your exterior, is to try a completely new and fresh look.
Does it seem like a lot of work to sell your home?  Well, it is a lot of work.  But, this type of work can teach you a lot about yourself, your own preference for certain colors and challenge your home improvement skills.  And what better way to practice decorating your next home then on your current home.  The rewards will only benefit your pocketbook and lessen the time and stress in selling your home in the long run.

Interior house painting is a fantastic way to dramatically alter the look and feel of your rooms. Executing the paint job yourself is instead labor charge but when done by rights will appear like it was done by a professional. If you’re not a professional painter, you could make a few faults doing the job that will leave in problem areas. This is very dispiriting when you have put your time and endeavor into your project and then end up with problems. To deliver some disappointments it’s best to address any expected problems before you even start painting.

Mildew is a big trouble in many areas and needs to be handled before employing any paint. If there’s already mildew present or to prevent this from bumping it’s just a matter of applying a bleach and water solution to wash the surface. The solvent should be a 3 to 1 ratio of three parts water to one part bleach. Later on applying the solution to the surface to be painted, let it rest for a good fifteen minutes and then rinse it exhaustively. Apply a paint that’s mildew-proof and apply fans to keep the air circulating. The fresh lower VOC paint products are particularly good for the environment and for preventing mildew. Ascertain the labels earlier you buy your paint.

Occasionally old paint will start to blister or form little bubbles and these will ask to be altercated and sanded to flowing the edges before applying new paint. If the blistering has gone all the way to the dry wall or bare wood it means there is a problem with moisture and this needs to be addressed before repainting. To avoid this problem in the future just use a higher grade of paint and primer. Paint that is too thin or if applied too sparingly or if no primer was used on wood, the paint will tend to flake and crack.

Lapping of the painted surface is when a denser and darker color emerges any place two strokes overlap each other. A surface that is really porous must be primed before painting. Problems will arise if the primer coat is not given a chance to dry completely before the topcoat of paint is applied. Try working in one section at a time so that you are not painting over dried paint. Keeping a wet edge while you are painting will eliminate the problem of lapping.

Dull and shiny spots that form on the surface of the painted area can be prevented by using a quality primer before applying the topcoat of paint. These spots happen because there are places on the surface that are more porous than other places or denser affecting the appearance of the painted surface. The primer coat of paint will make the surface to be painted uniform and eliminate this problem.

Finally, one of the most common problems that can happen with the painted surface is the appearance of marks from the paint roller. The paint roller you use for your project should be of a higher quality to avoid this problem and the roller should be dampened slightly before you dip it into the roller pan for the first time. Try painting in the shape of a W and only working on square sections that are about 3′ by 3′ at a time. Paint your W and then fill in the area using light strokes that are parallel. This should eliminate the problem with roller strokes appearing on your finished surface.

Textured paint and faux finishes have become more popular in recent years than at any other point in history. One reason for this is because so many home improvement stores are offering classes for those who are willing to pay the price for the paint so that the average Joe or Jane can recreate these fabulous finishes on their own walls as well. The fact is it is truly amazing what works of art can be created with the clever and creative use of textured paint.

Faux finishes can be used to create the illusion of anything from plaster or brick to leather and a few amazing things in between. Those who are skilled at applying faux finishes are in great demand for their artistic talents though most home owners can do a passable job if they are willing to take the time required to properly learn the technique. Even wood grains can be imitated through the use of a talented faux finisher and paint.

Using textured paints and faux finishes can be done in almost any room in the house though they seem to be most common in living rooms and kitchens as a major design feature. There are some ambitious homeowners who have decided to take this style of painting into every room of the home. While it may seem a good idea in theory there are some drawbacks to this as well.

First of all, textured paints and faux finishes are very time consuming. If you are hiring a professional to do the work their time is a lot of your money and this is something that really needs to be considered. Is the amount of time really worth the reward of the finished project as far as you, as the homeowner, are concerned? Most people find that it isn’t worth all that much money and time but others really appreciate the look and feel that it is vital to their enjoyment of their homes. Whichever category you fall into it is important that you realize that this could become a costly proposition.

Another thing to consider is that many who manage to bring a texture or faux finish of some sort into every room of their homes often decide after a little while to remove some of their hard work. The reason for this is that in small doses faux finishes and textured paints are novel and spectacular. In large doses they can be more than slightly overwhelming and, more importantly, unimpressive. There is something to be said about the fact that sometimes less is more.

This doesn’t mean that some homes do not wear faux finishes beautifully in almost every nook and cranny. Some homes are simply meant to be decorated from one end of home to the other end. These homes are simply lovely no matter how many new finishes are added to the walls, furniture, fireplace mantles, and bathroom cabinets. There never seems to be too much in these homes. There are some homes however that beg for moderation when it comes to designs such as this. Listen to your home when decorating and you should have a much better decorating experience overall without overwhelming either your home or your guests.

If faux finishes and/or textured painting is something you would like to incorporate into your home decorating plans you should be delighted to discover that there are many, many resources both online and offline that can assist you with your goals. The first and best choice is to check with local hardware and home improvement stores in order to see if they are offering any free workshops on faux finishes or textured painting in your area. If they are then you are set. However, if they are not your local library may prove to be a valuable source for videos, magazines, and books that offer step-by-step instructions. The Internet is also an excellent source. Do not forget the value of spaces such as YouTube and Google Video as they may have some actual demonstrations or how to videos to help as well.

Kitchen cabinets are one of the most expensive items in home remodelling. Cabinetry costs more than replacing the kitchen furniture in many cases. If you can afford the expense, there are a wide variety of designs and styles available to update your cabinets. You can add extras like a kitchen island, lazy susan, or built-in appliance centers.

If replacing the cabinetry is too expensive for your budget, refacing is a less expensive alternative. Refacing involves replacing only the cabinet doors and exposed wood areas of the cabinets. The insides are left as they are to save money on the job. Painting is the least expensive option and can give the room new life. The job can be easily done over a long weekend with the right preparation.

You will need to decide if you will paint the entire cabinet, inside and out, or just the outside and the doors. To save time, consider leaving the inside of the cabinet alone, you won’t be able to tell the difference.

Preparing the Cabinets

Start by removing all hardware from the cabinets and remove the doors. Mark the doors, so you will remember which door goes on which cabinet. This will save you time and prevent aggravation later. Protect the countertops and floor with drop cloths, old bed sheets or plastic sheeting. These can be taped in place, especially on the floors. If you will be replacing the flooring, paint the cabinets first.

Clean the cabinets thoroughly before painting. This is important. Grease and oils from cooking will prevent the paint from adhering properly. You could end up with an uneven color. A wood cleaner with orange oil works well for breaking down grease residue. Be sure to let the surface dry thoroughly before you begin to apply the primer.

Primer is an important step in the process. It provides a smooth, even surface for the paint to adhere properly. Use a roller for larger areas and a brush for small areas. Be sure to coat all areas, including the underside of the cabinets. Consider using sawhorses for priming and painting the doors, for an easier time and a more even coverage.

Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before you begin to paint. Overnight is generally sufficient for the primer to dry. Apply the paint in thin coats. It’s better to apply a few thin coats than to use one thick coat. Allow twentyfour hours between coats for the paint to dry completely. Sand with a fine grit sandpaper between coats.

When the paint has dried completely, you are ready to put the doors back on and replace the hardware. Consider updating the hardware to match your new look. Door handles and hinges are inexpensive and can make a big difference in the look of the room.

Choosing Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

Don’t skimp on the paint. Use high quality paint that is right for the surface being covered. This will be different for wood or metal cabinets. If you’re not sure, ask for help at the paint store.

In general, you will want to use enamel paint. You have a few choices in the finish. Gloss, semi gloss or satin finishes are most commonly used. The higher the gloss, the stronger the finish and the easier it will be to clean. If you want less shine, consider the semi gloss finish.

Safety When Painting

Be sure to paint in a well ventilated room. Do the job when the weather is warm enough and leave the windows open.

Wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt to protect your skin from the paint. Plastic gloves can be worn to protect the skin on your hands.

Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from paint and fumes.

Painting, decorating and other ways to make sure your house is in a good condition to sell.

House selling has become a very competitive market, and though people are desperate in some areas to buy a house, its important you take care to ensure that the you’ve done all you can to make your house as attractive, safe and saleable as possible.

It is said that the average house buyer has no vision – which means you need to make their ‘envisioning’ themselves within the house as easy as possible.
Dark paintwork is a definite turn off – as are stained, worn or smelly carpets – both of which need to be taken care of.

On the latter, you could offer an ‘allowance’ or remove a fraction of the house costs for carpets – or, if you can, invest yourself and replace them, to allow a possibly higher sale price.  Walls should be painted off white, or antique white – or possibly very pale and pastel shades if you’re planning on redecorating – you may have no option if your walls are stained, marked or damaged.

Its also a good time to ensure that everything that you’ve been meaning to repair is taken care of is actually done – a faulty stair tread, banister or fence in the garden may only be a minor annoyance to you, but can be a danger to anyone looking at the house.

Its hard to sell your house without help, but one of the biggest tips you can take to ensure your house sells is to make sure you’ve removed your ‘imprint’.   Looking at the house impartially, remove anything that screams ‘my personality’ and ‘my personal space’.

Things like photos, pieces of unique artwork, and ornaments and more can be removed before people come to view the house.   Remember – they want to buy the house, not feel how you lived there, so if you haven’t finished boxing up your non essentials by the time you start showing them the house, its time to consider whether you really need the clutter still unpacked – or whether its time to put it in the bin.