Kitchen Paint Colour Schemes for 2015

Kitchen paints, like every other room, go through phases and trends. Some may will fade away, and some will last forever. Knowing which colour will stay in fashion is about knowing what’s out there, what’s popular for vain reasons, and what’s actually working with today’s latest innovations in home decorating and paint technology. Luckily, many of the world’s top paint manufacturers have their ears to the ground, or rather their eyes to the walls, about what’s the hottest new colours out there. Today, we wanted to share what’s on the horizon for kitchen paint schemes for 2015. That way, your kitchen renovation can be contemporary now and remain classic until it’s time for another facelift.

pantone color of the year marsala

Probably the most talked about colour this year is marsala, named after the deep red Sicilian wine that’s enjoyed around the world. It falls into the deep wine colours that have been springing up recently, which offer a bold take that’s also homely and comforting. It’s full-bodied, not unlike it’s vino counterpart, and complements other schemes as an accent colour or commands an entire room on its own. Really, it’s up to you as it’s earthy, rich colouring can add a modern or rustic flavour to your kitchen.

If your home has a classic or vintage feel, say with Grecian-style pillars, oversize casings, or detailed pocket doors, then you may want something that’s a bit more neutral. Neutrals have always been a popular choice since they go with almost everything, but there’s a difference between painting so you don’t have to for awhile and painting to stay classy. Choosing a natural neutral, like a soft yet sophisticated green, will definitely put you in the latter category, and it will stand the test of time longer than other, more bold choices.

pink kitchen

Open concept spaces like kitchens can often benefit from splashes of colour, but people often think too small. Rather than change just your backsplashes or cupboards, which is a relatively safe way to get a quick, but cheap looking facelift, why not go for a vivacious accent wall. Coral colours, especially pinks, can draw people’s eyes the second they enter your kitchen, and can command a room with confidence and style. After all, you’re confident and stylish, so why not have a wall that matches?

Kitchen colours can be difficult to pick, but adding a simple fresh coat of paint, even to a single wall, can completely change your cooking area and make your home much more fashionable. While new appliances and cookware can be expensive, a few cans of the hottest and latest colours of paint can completely recreate your kitchen and have people floored. Kitchens are, after all, where people gather, so it should look its absolute best. Just consider the space and your own priorities before settling on a specific colour, and make sure to commit to your scheme.

Redecorate On A Budget With A Fresh Coat Of Paint

paint brushes and painting chips used in home redecoration

We often see renovating as a huge undertaking, that we have to coordinate new furniture with new accent pieces, floors, and wall decorating, be it wallpaper or painting. But our homes often don’t need entire makeovers. In fact, most of the work we need to do if we want a little facelift for any room in our homes is actually little more than that, a little facelift. But you can change the entire look and feel of a room for relatively cheap and completely change the feel of your entire home with a relatively simple change: paint.

Painting walls has never been easier or cheaper than it is right now. Paint is widely available in a number of colours, tints, textures, and styles to fit any number of decor ideas. So whether it’s some special waterproof vinyl paint for a bathroom that’s looking a little old fashioned or a dining room that needs some sprucing up for guests, you can start your renovation with a bucket of paint and a few paint supplies.

Gather Your Painting Supplies

But let’s start with materials. If you’re lucky, you often have everything we need to paint already lying around the house. If you kept good care of old brushes and rollers, cleaning them after your last painting project, then you really only need some painter’s tape (which you probably have in spades as well) and the paint itself. If you happen to be short, painting supplies are available in abundance.

And unlike other renovation projects, like installing new plumbing or rearranging walls, you can sometimes do the painting yourself. It can be time consuming and technical, but if you want to renovate on a budget, there’s no one cheaper than yourself. The quality of work will undoubtedly not be the same, but your own work is highly-affordable compared to the cheapest professional painter.

Scheming A Scheme

There are a few handy tricks you can use to paint something that will look great with the furniture and pieces you already have. Most pieces may seem like they fit a particular style, but many trends are emphasizing the decorating equivalent of a mash-up: taking two things that don’t seem to go together and boldly striking out a new design. This can be classic colours with modern and sleek furniture or a striking colour scheme with older-style furniture.

Just because you have a rustic-looking wooden dining table doesn’t mean everything has to have a similar rustic look. Wood in particular can look great with many different colours, each emphasizing a particular colour in the grain. So strike out and see what works with some swatches from your local paint store and see where it takes you. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Affordable, Simple Solution

Painting is easily one of the cheapest and most effective ways to get a new look for any room in your home. It can spruce up a space while still matching your old furniture, saving you money on a complete overhaul without breaking the bank. And you can save even more money by doing the work yourself (however, for ideal results we do recommend you hire a professional). You’ll be surprised what a simple paint job can do for your home, and add years to your favourite furniture and accent pieces.

Living Room Colours For Those Who Don’t Know

living room with blue paint colour

Living rooms are tricky places when it comes to painting because, unlike sitting rooms or bedrooms, they are communal spaces used for a variety of functions everyday. A living room in the course of a single day could be used for watching television, playing with toys on the floor, and hosting a party in the evening, so picking the right colours that look great while offering some flexibility can be very difficult, especially if you have furniture that you need to match. But have no fear, today we’ll go through some living room colours that will look great, giving some advice for those who don’t know what works and what doesn’t.

living room with blue paint colour
Colour: Blue
When to use it: Calming, welcoming spaces
Blue is a generally calming colour, it gives a relaxing feel to any room, but especially living rooms, where guests and inhabitants will frequently go to chill out and relax. it works especially well in small spaces. As far as colours go, as in not-neutrals like greys and whites, blue is a popular choice for very good reasons.

grey paint colour in living room
Colour: Grey
When to use it: Rooms with great art
Grey is often thought of as a cold choice, distant and detached, but there are great greys out there that have warm undertones. Greys are especially great in rooms where you have a lot of art on the walls because it blends into the background so easily. If you have a room where the stuff on the walls, not the walls themselves, are what you want to showcase, then a grey may just be your best choice.

living room with brown paint colours
Colour: Browns
When to use it: Rooms with lots of wood furniture or textiles
Browns are the most overlooked colour choice for living rooms because people simply don’t think about it. What’s great about this colour, though, is it becomes a great choice while not being too flashy. Deep browns are great for rooms with lots of texture, like wood furniture or textiles, because it highlights the feel of these rooms. But browns are fundamentally unobtrusive because they are a support colour rather than a colour that draws attention to itself.

den area painted with red paint colours
Colour: Red
When to use it: With traditional furniture, to highlight a “masculine” feel
Reds are a great choice for dens because they are a bold choice while staying familiar. They are especially great for rooms with old style furniture because it highlights these choices and gives a room a classic feel over trying to be dynamic in itself. Deep reds are also great for more “masculines” rooms. Not bars or where you watch the game, but where you would smoke a cigar. Living rooms in particular can benefit from reds if they are used less for TV and more for entertaining.

Choosing living room colours can be a scary choice for anyone who doesn’t keep up with the interior decorating world, but it isn’t nearly as hard as most think. When choosing colours for your living room, think about the furniture that you have and what you do in the room. With that information, picking the right paint colour can actually be really easy.

Looking someone to help make your living room look it’s best? Feel free to contact us.

4 Decorating Ideas You Didn’t Think of

rolls of wallpaper

Converting an old space into something new and dynamic doesn’t mean you have to renovate. Sometimes, all you need to do is decorate. The internet is filled with very elaborate and truly unique decorating tips, from aquarium headboards to clear bathtubs, but not all of us have the time, money, or resources to make such extreme makeovers. So instead, if you’re in need of something fresh and new, here are some great decorating tips we’ve discovered that could help. Each of these are relatively quick and simple, but the results will surely turn some heads.

1. Painting Your Ceiling

When people paint, they rarely think to look up, but that is exactly where a great paint job can turn into a dynamic decorating decision. Ceilings can be painted just like any other surface and can tie a room together much better than excessive accessories. Next time you want to make a room really pop, to make your friends really take notice, consider painting your ceiling a colour you thought only for your walls. It’s just like a gallery wall, a wall painted a different colour from all the others, except a bit bolder.

2. Grasscloth Wallpaper

Wallpaper comes in many different forms, but grasscloth is the latest and most eco-friendly wallpaper available. Using it in rooms that need softening, whether in bedrooms or homey living rooms, and take comfort in knowing the wallpaper is better for the environment. Grasscloth wallpaper comes in different colours but also different textures, so they can make a room look very unique very subtlety.

3. Convertible Furniture

A recent article in Toronto Life magazine talked about the “Condo Generation,” how young families are raising their children in smaller and smaller spaces. This is where multifunctional furniture comes in, making spaces usually dedicated to one activity into a multipurpose space saver. A serving cart with locking wheels, for example, makes a great addition to a smaller table for extra seating and can store things everyday. If space is an issue, get creative with how one piece of furniture can change the overall look of a room while making it more usable.

4. Screens

Screens are being used much more often these days to separate spaces and create new spaces in existing rooms. They can be very functional, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be fashionable. People are using screens to give boring rooms more interesting angles, for example, and the available patterns and colours mean they can be a defining feature of the rooms they create.

Sometimes great decorating comes from less rather than more. Simple solutions, like adding wallpaper or painting one surface, can completely change the look and feel for a room without breaking the bank. The next time you need some change in your home, don’t worry about price or complexity. Think about how less, sometimes, is much, much more. With these decorating tips, you can get a fresh look with relatively little time and money.

Can Whiteboard Paint Really Improve Your Productivity?

whiteboard in action in office space

Whiteboard paint is one of the best inventions out there. The paint is easy to apply, easy to use, and comes with none of the mess of a blackboard. Whiteboards can make any space, from home to office, a much more better space, both for productivity and looking great.

For those who don’t know, it is entirely possible to paint your own white boards, you no longer have to buy them and try to fit them into your space. Instead, you can use whiteboard paint to turn any existing surface into a whiteboard, integrating a productive surface into an already existing space. Alternatively, you can paint a very large space, meaning your brainstorming area can hold some very big ideas.

White board paint is especially handy on things like kitchen cupboards. A cupboard is always moving, making a whiteboard on top clunky and pointless, but with whiteboard paint, you can turn the cupboard itself into a whiteboard. Before your next big dinner party or neighbourhood potluck, label your cupboards with what’s inside. Then whenever asks you where something is, just tell them to read the cupboards. That way, your guests can help and you can actually enjoy hosting over trying to describe where everything you keep plastic cups.

One reason that whiteboards are great for productivity outside of dinner parties is their chance to generate creativity. For many freelancers working from home, unproductive distractions like television or surfing the internet can really cut down on a productive day. But whiteboards can give you a space to be distracted and productive. Doodles, lists, easily erasable idea generators, these are all distractions that can help you forget your work at hand while still keeping your mind engaged. You may have heard that taking a shower is a great way to get through a tough work problem; well, whiteboard doodling can also help in a similar way. Plus, being easily erasable, you can turn that doodle space into a work space instantly.

At the office, whiteboards are regularly used in meetings to communicate ideas, spread memos, and announce changes, but because whiteboard paint is great anywhere, they can become a better part of any office. If there are team members working different schedules, for example, they can leave notes on their progress, etcetera on whiteboards. Suggestions for where to go next, whether in a project or that next office party, can also go on the whiteboards. All these reasons keep an office communicating,

Too often, we have great ideas that we quickly forget, but with an easily accessible whiteboard, those ideas can get lost. With a whiteboard made with whiteboard paint, you can combine the easy communication of whiteboards with the convenience of wherever works best. for your office. Instead of relying on paper, which isn’t as erasable, blackboards that get dust everywhere, or store-bought whiteboards that can’t be hung just anywhere, get some whiteboard paint. Start turning blank, unused surfaces into whiteboards to keep you on track. And if you happen to draw some pretty cool pictures along the way, that’s okay too.

For more information on whiteboard paint, or any other speciality paint, be sure to contact us for details.

3 Reasons To Choose Benjamin Moore For Your Next Paint Project

benjamin moore natura

Benjamin Moore is a popular paint manufacturer that many people have relied on since 1833. Although pricier than some brands, paying the extra dollar for a good quality paint is often well worth it. Here are three reasons to better inform you as to why you should buy Benjamin Moore paint.

Save You Time & Money

The trouble with a lot of the lower priced paints is it often takes more coats of paint to do the job. This is results in it being less economical in three major ways, what are some of the consequences of painting with inferior paint?

  • The first is that it will cost you more in labour. If you are hiring external help to paint your home, it is going to take the painters longer to do the job, thus costing you more.
  • Secondly, you will need more product. The more paint it takes to colour one opaque coat, the more product you will use. You may need to buy an extra gallon or two to get the desired colour intensity payoff with a cheaper paint. Many Benjamin Moore paints cover well enough to require only two coats (even traditionally difficult colours), so you will save you time and money as well.
  • Lastly, the vibrancy of the paint won’t last as long. Cheaper paint will chip, however Benjamin Moore paints utilized special, high-tech pigmentation technology producing long-lasting colour that doesn’t fade in addition to being very durable.

Eco Friendly Paint

Most paints contain harmful fumes that have been linked to causing respiratory and other health issues. These are called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Some people who are sensitive to VOCs get headaches, dizziness and nausea, as well as eye and throat irritations after using paints high in VOCs. Benjamin Moore’s Natura has no VOCs and comes in more than 3,000 colours.

Not only is Natura low in VOC but there is little to no compromise in quality with this line of paint. Even when compared to Benjamin Moore’s highest quality line of paints, Benjamin Moore Aura and Benjamin Moore Regal, many painters have found no discrepancy in colour payoff or vibrancy, and noted that you will get the same reliable product as you would with all of the other Benjamin Moore products, minus the harmful VOCs and bothersome smell.

Wide Selection Of Products

There are a variety of Benjamin Moore paints which vary in price, finish and texture to suit your budget. This makes it easy to stay economical without sacrificing quality and reliability. Benjamin Moore’s warrantee will ensure that you are happy with whichever line of paint you choose, regardless of it’s price. As mentioned above, saving a buck or two on the paint itself will allow you to spend the extra money on other things like labour, or room accessories to match your newly painted space!

As your downtown Toronto Benjamin Moore paint store, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Three Bedroom Colour Schemes To Make Your Home Sparkle

bedroom paint colour schemes

Do you ever feel overwhelmed when trying to decorate your home? Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when there are so many interior design options to explore. What most people don’t realize is that one of the easiest ways to find your voice as a decorator is to start with a colour scheme. Here are three bedroom colour schemes to make your home sparkle!

When thinking about bedroom colour ideas, it is best to start off with a larger theme to guide you. Think about how you want your bedroom to look and feel. What kind of story do you want it to tell? Do you want it to remind you of a certain time or place? The next step is to pick out three colours that you associate with this idea. Here are some decorating ideas and corresponding colour schemes to help get you started.

1. Nautical

The serenity of the sea can be brought right to your bedroom by using three simple colours! Red, white and blue. We highly recommend Benjamin Moore paint for fabulous deep colour appearances. But, it doesn’t have to be as simple as painting the walls these colours. You can add texture and depth by painting stripes on one wall or painting your entire bedroom white and incorporating the other colours into the room with accessories and textiles. Consider nautical themed drapes and bedding to capture the spirit of the sea.

2. Contemporary Warmth

This is a popular interior design theme meant to make you feel warm and at home. It is a classic yet understated theme that usually uses neutral and earth tones. These colours tend to be warmer in nature and this gives off a familiar feeling of comfort. Bedroom paint colours such as warm taupes, chocolate browns, forest greens and beiges evoke the feel of a cozy space that you will love. Avoid overusing beige by mixing different shades of one colour. Some decorating ideas include painting three walls one shade and the wall which frames the bed a darker or lighter shade of the same colour. This will add depth and contrast. Why not add small pops of bright or deep colours here and there to break up the monotony. This can be done with furniture, pillows, rugs or small accessories. Mixing textures and tones will surely bring out that contemporary warm feel that is so comforting to have in a bedroom.

3. Expressive Exotic

Beautiful jewel tones such as emerald green, ruby red and gold work great as bedroom paint colours. They will surely add a vibrant and regal feel to your bedroom. Though some people are intimidated, this is a surprisingly versatile colour palette to work with. Deep sapphire blues and academic purples an evoke a classic antique charm. Mixing some gold touches in with your decorating ideas can modernize it and give it a playful feel. Warm ambers tones will subdue deeper and darker colours by bringing in some warm earth tones.

Hopefully these decorating ideas have inspired you to choose interesting bedroom colour schemes to make your home come alive!

 

3 Great Ideas On How To Use Magnetic Paint

You may have seen a bucket of magnetic paint and wondered, “What can I do with this?” Well, we are going to cover some really cool uses for magnetic paints in today’s article. Before painting with this great material, you should make sure that everything is properly masked. You should also make sure that the area is properly ventilated, as the paint can be quite smelly while it is drying.

Make a Magnetic Chalkboard

By combining chalkboard paint and magnetic paint, you can make a magnetic chalkboard! Stick stuff to it and write on it. These are fun and useful for both kids and adults. Here’s how you can make one of your own.

We recommend using a surface such as Masonite hardboard or something similar to turn into your chalkboard. This way, you can hang it on your wall and move it around later. However, you can paint the chalkboard directly onto the wall.

First, you will need some materials, grab yourself a bucket of magnetic primer, and a bucket of chalkboard paint. You will also want some chalk to season the chalkboard with.

Properly mask off the area you want to paint: these paints can be quite messy! Make sure to clean the surface well so that the primer will adhere.

Apply the magnetic primer to the surface first. Make sure you stir A LOT. Magnetic paint takes a lot of stirring to mix properly. You will likely want to use about 6 coats, as the recommended 3 coats doesn’t usually provide enough iron for low-quality magnets. Be careful of dripping and splatter. Allow 30 minutes in between applying coats.

After letting the coats dry, test out the magnetism with a magnet of your choosing. If it doesn’t stick well enough for your liking, add a couple more coats.

Once you are satisfied with the magnetic qualities, allow two hours for the paint to completely dry before applying the chalkboard paint. Roll on the chalkboard paint and give it 24 hours to dry. Next, rub the entire thing over with the side of a piece of chalk, to season the board. Wipe it off with a damp sponge.

Voila! You now have an awesome magnetic chalkboard.

Hang Recipes and Spices in the Kitchen

You can paint the cabinets or walls in your kitchen with magnetic paint, and stick recipes to the walls to read while cooking. You may also have seen magnetic seasoning jars. Yes, these will also stick to magnetic paint. You could also attach magnets to your cooking utensils and hang them from the magnetic walls as well. The possibilities are endless.

Make a Memo Board for Your Home or Office

Replace that old cork board with a sleek new magnetic wall. This is especially useful for your kids’ rooms. Instead of using thumb-tacks to stick things to the wall, just use magnets. Magnets are after all much cleaner with no chance of pricking your fingers.

You can paint the wall in your office with these and use magnets to hold on memos and announcements.

Use your imagination and you can come up with hundreds of great ideas for using magnetic paint in your home or office. We hope this post has gotten you thinking about the great uses of these paints, and don’t forget if you’re looking for a Toronto magnetic paint dealer, we can help! Share it with your friends on your favorite social media outlet and if you’re especially interested in cool magnetic substances (think magnetic fluids) check out ferrofluid it’s sure to blow your mind!

 

 

 

What’s The Difference Between Interior and Exterior Paints?

Different paints have different properties, and are formulated for different purposes. Interior paint is made to be scrubbed, resist staining, and allow cleaning. Exterior paints are made to combat against fading and mildew. When starting a painting project, it’s important to know the differences between the two and choose the right paint.

In order to understand the difference between exterior and interior paints, you will need to learn a bit about the chemistry behind paint. Read on for an introduction to the main components of all paints.

First, some basics about paint

The components of all paints contain pigments, solvents, additives and resins. In latex paint, the solvent is water, while in oil-based paint the solvent of choice is mineral spirits. The solvent is what causes the paint to be ‘wet’. As paint dries, the solvent will evaporate. You are left with the resins, pigments, and additives, which are the lasting ingredients.  The pigment is the color, which is bound to the surface by the resin.  Resins can be made of epoxy, acrylic or even silicone.

Additives give paint different properties, such as resisting the growth of mildew, making the paint easier to apply, or even making it easier to clean.

In both types (interior and exterior) the solvents and pigments share similarities. You can use either oil-based or water-based paints outdoors, but for interior work oil-based paints are not usually used. The reason is their odor and difficulty to clean-up.

So, what’s the difference?

While there can be many subtle differences, the primary difference between interior and exterior paints is in their choice of resin. You will remember that the resin is what binds the pigment to the surface. In an exterior paint, it is important that the paint can survive temperature changes and being exposed to moisture. Exterior paint also must be tougher and resist peeling, chipping, and fading from sunlight. For these reasons, the resins used in binding exterior paints must be softer.

For interior paint where temperature is not a problem, the binding resins are more rigid, which cuts down on scuffing and smearing.

Where should you use one over the other?

The added resins in exterior paint can cause outgassing, that may last up to 48 hours, but usually continues in small amounts for years. This is one reason you wouldn’t want to use exterior paint indoors. Choose a flat sheen exterior paint for masonry and stucco, as this will allow the surfaces to breathe, and allow moisture to breathe through the paint to escape. Brick walls especially should be allowed to breathe, as moisture transfer is to be expected with brick.

Interior paints are delicate in comparison with exterior paints, but don’t outgas in the same way, making them safer to use indoors. You should still make sure there is adequate ventilation when painting indoors. For an indoor surface, you may need to clean and scrub, choose a glossy finish interior paint, as they resist scrubbing better than flat surfaces, which can smear.

As a final note, we should mention that there are paints that are both interior and exterior, and can serve either purpose. These paints can be quite useful and versatile, but do have some tradeoffs. When in doubt about what type of paint to use, talk to a professional painter, or come into our store and ask our highly knowledgeable staff.