Paint is a quick and easy way to update your home.
If you have grown tired of the current color scheme of your rooms, it may be time for a new coat of paint. Repainting is one of the least expensive, yet most dramatic, options for updating your decor. A new coat of paint in a trendy color or using a modern technique, along with new accents and art, your rooms will quickly modernize the look and feel of your home.
Colors
Paint color trends change from year to year, so choosing a new color for your room may just the update you need. According to Manage My Life, some of the most popular paint colors for 2010 are yellow, lavender and teal or aqua, while others, such as Choosing Paint Colors Made Easy, list earth tones like deep browns and warm reds. Consider using these paint colors to update the look of your rooms. Paint your bedroom lavender to create a luxurious, romantic feel. Add white eyelet curtains and bed linens for a fresh look, and use floral pillows and pictures for accents. Consider painting the bathroom aqua and adding gauzy curtains and sparkling accents in sterling silver or cut glass to create an island feel. For a formal dining room, use bright yellow paint with traditional furniture and lighting for a modern look, and use warm reds and oranges with light wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances to update the kitchen.
Techniques
One modern method for decorating with paint is to use special painting techniques to create depth and movement to your walls. Ragging is one simple technique you can try. This process uses a glaze on top of a coat of paint to create a stippled or mottled effect that will add richness to a simple paint job. Another technique you can try is sponging. Similar to ragging, this technique uses two, three or four different paint colors applied with a natural sponge to add interest to your walls.
Depending on the technique and colors you choose, these treatments work well in either traditional or country decors. Choose woods such as mahogany, pine or oak for furnishings and accent the room with floral prints or soft colors. Select landscapes in complementary colors for wall art.
Special Features
Some trendy, bright colors can overwhelm a room, and over-saturate the room with color. The addition of a feature wall is one way include these trendy colors without going overboard. Select one wall of the room to be the feature wall, and paint it a contrasting or complementary color for a bold statement. Another modern idea is to divide the wall into geometric shapes, such as squares or triangles and paint the shapes in different colors.
These paint treatments work best with a modern room. Select metal or dark wood furniture with clean lines and use bright colors for accents such as lampshades and pillows. For walls, choose canvases with bright geometric shapes.
