How to Choose an Interior Paint Finish for Your Raleigh Home

With the right selection of interior paint, your home can undergo a dramatic upgrade. The perfect combination of warm or striking colors can brighten up your room, prompt an energetic, happy mood, make your room appear bigger, and so much more. That’s why it’s important to consider all of your options and determine the best solution before selecting a new paint color. Here’s how to choose an interior paint finish and some things you should consider before making your decision.

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What colors make a room look bigger?

When dealing with a smaller room, the key is to use colors that fool the eye into thinking the room is bigger than it appears. Do this with the use of light colors. Light colors make any room look both bigger and brighter, as they are more reflective. They make spaces feel more open and airy, and enhance the effects of natural light. On the other hand, dark colors have the ability to emphasize shadows and absorb natural light, making a room appear to be smaller. In some cases, dark colors can create shadows that create a depth effect, subsequently making a room look larger, but this is difficult to achieve. Eco-friendly paint is also something you should consider if you’re painting an infant’s bedroom, for example. So, stick to soft, light, and bright hues to make your room look bigger, such as the following:

• White
• Off-white
• Eggshell
• Aqua or other soft blue tone
• Sage or other soft green tone
• Warm grey
• Soft pink

What interior paint colors are most easily matched?

Generally, neutral colors, such as white and grey, are the most easily matched colors. Bold pops of color can easily mix with these neutral tones without creating a color catastrophe. However, don’t be afraid to branch out into other colors. Use the color theory and easy-to-use, online color wheel tools to visualize how different colors relate to each other. Or, browse through Pinterest for millions of different color schemes. Ultimately, if you want to play it safe, stick to neutral paint colors with a soft accent color. However, all colors have some sort of match, so do some research and you’ll be sure to find a color scheme you love. Often times, we aim to match our customers’ interior walls to their home’s wood trim and cabinets, which is definitely something to consider! 

Which interior paint colors should I avoid for my Raleigh home?

Overall, the interior paint colors you should avoid depends on the type of mood you desire to create within your home. If you want to make your rooms look airy and open, avoid darker colors. However, if you want to create a more subdued mood, obviously don’t select the brighter colors. Different colors are known to psychologically evoke different responses and emotions from individuals, so it’s completely up to you to determine what mood you desire to create within what room in your home.

It is suggested, however, to avoid certain colors in certain rooms. For example, it is recommended to avoid colors like red, yellow, and orange in your bedroom, as they could stimulate and energize your mind and emotions in the evenings and cause lack of sleep. On the other hand, it is also recommended not to use gloomy, dark colors within your bedroom, such as a dark brown, as it can make individuals feel less motivated to get up and begin their day. Ultimately, it’s best to avoid colors that can interfere with your daily functioning in certain rooms or reverse your desired mood. What those exact colors are, however, are completely up to you.

What is the best mildew-resistant paint for my bathroom?

There are numerous different paint brands on the market today with even more products that claim to be mildew-resistant. However, not all of them actually are. Fortunately, with the paint technologies today, worrying about mildew forming on your walls is less of a concern than it once was. Simply ensure that you are using a premium mildew-resistant paint brand. Some of the best, according to many different users, are:

• Benjamin Moore Aura
• Behr Marquee (Home Depot)
• Valspar Reserve (Lowe’s)
• Clark + Kensington Enamel (Ace)
• Rust-Oleum (Zinsser)

Some mildew-resistant paint brands that are not recommended are:

• HGTV Home Ovation (Sherwin-Williams)
• Color Place Interior (Walmart)
• Glidden Premium (Home Depot)

Do I need to paint the interior of my bathroom with different paint than the rest of my Raleigh home? 

Unless the entirety of your home is painted with mildew-resistant paint, it is recommended that you do paint your bathroom with different paint than the rest of your home. This is because your bathroom contains a lot of moisture from the abundance of water used, which subsequently soaks into the paint. When this happens, mildew can grow. That is why mildew-resistant paint was created to contain chemicals that prevent this from occurring. So, it is best to avoid the formation of this harmful bacteria with mildew-resistant paint.

How do I determine how much paint is needed to paint the interior of my home?

To determine how much paint you’ll need, you must first calculate the square footage of the room(s) you wish to paint. Do this by adding together the length of all the walls that compose the room and then multiplying that number by the height of the room, from the floor to the ceiling. The number you get is that room’s square footage. However, since you don’t paint the windows and doors, subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each average-sized window.

Generally, one gallon of paint will cover about 350 square feet, unless the walls are unpainted drywall or you are using a darker color. In those cases, you will need slightly more paint. Lastly, take the square footage (not including the windows and doors) and divide that number by 350. Doing so will give you a rough estimate of how many gallons you will need for a room.

Contact Your Raleigh Interior Painting Experts Today! 

If you are in need of comprehensive, exceptional interior painting services in Raleigh, look no further than our painting contractors at Osborne Painting. Interior painting offers numerous benefits, such as protecting your walls and improving your home’s aesthetic, and we can complete this job as effectively and quickly as possible.