Should you Stain Your Deck, or Paint It?

With Spring officially upon us, many homeowners are looking at their decks and wondering what to do. It needs fixed up and protected, but should they do it with stain or paint. Each of these options has various advantages and disadvantages, so today, we decided to look at both to give you a balanced opinion.

Staining

Staining is used exclusively on wooden decks, or decks made with some sort of wood-based materials. It’s usually used to highlight the colour of the wood and give the deck a rustic, traditional feel.

Staining Pros:

1. Stain is an effective barrier against moisture, which can protect your deck from rain and water damage, and deteriorating when soaked for long periods of time.

2. Stain is also very easy to apply, much easier than paint. It usually only takes a couple of coats and doesn’t require primer.

3. As stated, stain gives your deck a very natural look that can highlight the beauty of the wood.

Staining Cons:

1. Stain requires a lot of prep before application, including sanding and even stripping before applying a new coat.

2. Most stains last only a year, two at the very maximum, and so you will get very used to re-staining every year.

3. Stain doesn’t cover up, so any blemishes or unsightly aspects of your deck will still look that way after a good staining, even with the best products available.

Painting

Painting a deck is often more labour intensive, but it can also yield longer lasting results. Plus, paint can be applied to more than just wooden surfaces and comes in multiple colours. So if you have a particular design in mind, paint can help unify your vision.

Painting Pros:

1. Painting typically last longer than staining, usually by a few years. A quality paint and paint job can last anywhere from 3 years and up.

2. Stain comes in a few colours: grey, brown, those sorts of colours. Paint comes in nearly every colour under the sun.

3. Being opaque, paint will cover up blemishes and stains on your deck completely, which can give you extra time on old or unsightly deck wood that’s still structurally sound.

Painting Cons:

1. Deck painting is no easy task. It will require multiple coats, and plenty of preparation. It will last longer, but it’s no small feat painting a deck.

2. And despite lasting longer, painting isn’t as moisture resistant as staining. If you live in a wet climate, paint may actually be a bad idea and cause your deck to deteriorate more quickly.

At an average cost of $2-5 dollars per square foot for each of these products, you can choose to stain or paint your deck on other factors, like look and frequency of maintenance. Just be sure that, no matter the material you choose, that it is applied properly and, most importantly, safely. Follow the safety instructions, and always make sure you leave the new coat of stain or paint time to soak in and dry.

3 Steps To Save Money By Painting Your Home Yourself

woman about to paint room

We can get a lot of people to do our work for us, whether that’s getting Amazon to deliver our shopping to us, delegate snow shoveling to our kids or young neighbourhood entrepreneurs, or getting someone to paint our homes. With painting especially, we can often do the job ourselves with acceptable results. After all, a passable paint job takes more time than skill. Here are three ways you can save some money by doing your next painting project yourself.

Get the Right Tools

Painting is more than just a bucket of paint and a paint brush. You need to be fully equipped with extra paint brushes, rollers, painting tape, and plastic sheets to keep your house clean. There’s no such thing as a quick paint job, just a job done right with minimal clean up. Getting the right tools makes sure that most of your time will be dedicated to painting, not cleaning up mistakes made along the way.

Use Quality Paint

Quality paint is the best way to get the right look sooner. Many stores will try and sell you bargain basement paint, claiming you can save money through cheaper paint. But cheaper paint requires more coats and more work. If you combine the increased amount of paint and the extra time you spend applying it, a quality paint is actually cheaper overall. But high quality paint is just the first step. Always get the right paint for the job as well. Exterior paint jobs, for example, will look awful and fall apart faster if a person is painting using interior paint. By getting the right paint for the job, you’ll save time and money.

Properly Prepare the Area for Painting

Most problems with people’s paint jobs happen before they’ve even started putting paint on the walls. Alligatoring, peeling, and many other problems are mostly caused by one major factor: a lack of proper preparation. Always prep your walls for a new paint job by sanding it down, replacing or removing damaged parts of the wall, and applying a quality primer as the first couple of coats. A properly prepared wall will look better, last longer, and be less likely to fall prey to many of the problems that come from doing a poor job at the very beginning.

There are many instances when painting projects yourself is the best choice; you can save money and enjoy the work itself by dedicating some time to the job. But there are instances when getting a professional painter is almost entirely necessary. More technical jobs or painting in dangerous areas (like at heights) are best handled by a professional painting contractor. But for your average painting job, you can save some time and money by following the suggestions above. With the right tools, paint, and preparation, you’ll be done before you know it and may even have some left over money. If that’s the case, go out there and treat yourself for a job well done.

3 Problems You’ll Encounter Repainting Your Old Home

painter repainting home

Repainting a home is always a challenge. Not only can you discover damage you didn’t know about before, you may also encounter any number of problems as a result of your old home’s construction, the paint used before, and even just the way your home sheds moisture. When repainting your home, here are just a few problems you can encounter. We’ve also included some easy tips to prevent and correct these issues, so your old home looks brand new for longer.

1. Peeling

Peeling happens to the best of us because sometimes what causes it is completely outside of our control. Moisture escaping homes in strange ways, for example, causes peeling in places you didn’t even know were getting more than their fair share of water. Always paint onto dry surfaces to cut down on peeling paint, never onto wet surfaces, especially wooden surfaces. An exhaust fan can help dry out areas you want to paint. Another way to combat peeling is to properly clean your surface, especially if it’s glossy, and get a quality latex primer and paint. Latex lets small amounts of water through, reducing peeling.

2. Chalking

Chalking is a fairly common problem with exterior paint and is the result of paint turning into a dust, mostly caused by the paint film decomposing into a loose powder on the surface of your paint. Note that a little chalking is entirely normal and almost unavoidable when painting, but excessive chalking not only looks bad, but also ruins your paint job with excessive dustiness. The best way to control chalking is with the paint itself. Low quality paints, ones that use a lot of pigment or are meant for the indoors, will lead to chalking. If you’re already dealing with chalking, scrub the wall with a stiff bristle brush and rinse with a garden hose. If the problem persists, paint over with a quality primer and use a different paint.

3. Alligatoring

Named after the scaly alligator, alligatoring refers to paint that dries into small, isolated chunks rather than a smooth surface. The result is a patchy and scaly paint job that looks like pieces of new paint were almost splattered over the old, which is still clearly visible. Alligatoring is a common issue with outdoor paint especially, where changing weather conditions can make paint dry in strange ways. It’s also common when painting over old paint since the new and old may not bond properly. The easiest way to avoid alligatored paint is start over. Scrape off the paint, sand down the surface, prime it with a quality primer, and paint over it again. For outside conditions, paint on good paint days: cool but not cold and dry.

Painting old homes can lead to any number of problems, often before you’ve even put any paint on the walls. So start at the paint store: invest in quality paint and tools before you start any project, and properly prepare the area for your fresh coats. This alone will reduce your chances of any unwanted surprises and leave your home looking its best.

Laundry Room Getting You Down? Time To Break Out The Paint!

drab laundry room

One of the rooms most often passed over when it comes time to remodel is the laundry room (unless you’ve got a show box sized laundry room). It’s relatively unvisited by strangers, unless you’ve got a really fancy one. And everytime you visit this room it’s just to load dirty laundry, move laundry to the drier, fold laundry, hang laundry, etc. So why bother putting much effort, or thought into the perfect paint colour for your laundry room?

You have to choose some colour for this room, but leaving it good old “contractor white” is usually never a good idea. So, do you use some leftover paints from one of your other rooms? Do you delve into colour psychology in an attempt to brainwash your significant other to handle all the laundry room chores? Or, perhaps you can find a colour that’ll fill you with bliss in an attempt to make the doing the chores more enjoyable? Goodluck! The truth is that you can do more with your laundry room than just leave it the boring, stale, lifeless husk this room tends to be.

It’s common to find many laundry rooms using the standard neutral adorning the rest of the home. So, what are your options? Generally you’ll want to stick to some sort of a neutral colour but simply add some spark to the room. For instance, take a look at your floor and find a paint colour that’ll go with the styling of your floor is a great way to pull the room together. Most laundry room appliances will be black or white based colour schemes and will go with just about anything. So consider choosing a colour that matches your countertop, this is another way to tie the room together. If this is still putting you to sleep, you can try a cool coastal colour. Consider a light blue or soothing green which tend to be very soft and relaxing, the perfect balance to monotonous boring chores.

If you’re looking for a more dramatic experience with your laundry, brown is definitely a great place to start. Most browns will go with your standard cabinetry, counter top, and run of the mill appliance colour schemes. Brown is a great colour since it plays well with others but still has enough presence to make a statement, also it will do a good job to cover up any bumps and scuffs which inevitably happen during your standard laundry room adventure.

Now, if these colour schemes still aren’t tickling your fancy, it’s time to get more serious. You might want to try a bright, bold, or vivid paint colour. Make sure you pick something that does not stand out incredibly from the rest of your home, if you’re keen on maintaining a harmonious look that is. If in doubt it’s not a bad idea to consult a professional.

In the end, spending a bit of time considering how you want your laundry room to look can really help improve the look of your home. You will end up spending a considerable amount of your time in this room, often simply doing chores, so ensuring that it looks it’s best will help to improve the quality of your life substantially.

3 Tips To Prepare Your Home For The Autumn Season

leaves on ground in autumn

Autumn is here and that means winter is just around the corner. For many people, the panic of Christmas is already settling in, but there is something more important and in need of your attention right away: your home. With autumn and winter come the cold weather and, in the case of your home, a strong defence is your best offence. We’ve compiled some of the most important things to consider when it comes to prepping your home for winter. With these tips, you’ll be warmer, safer, and happier in the coming months.

Paint Before it Gets too Cold

Painting outdoors in the winter is a near-impossible task. Paint is simply not designed to dry in the cold, it will crack and peel and fail to bond properly. So any outdoor painting needs to happen in the fall, before winter sets in. For the colder months, it’s best to focus your painting efforts on things you’ll still use in the winter: railings, decks, and similar pieces. Be sure a wire brush to scrub away any loose paint chips before repainting to give you the proper surface for painting. After that, the right kind of paint for the job will keep those handy outdoor pieces you still use in the winter looking and performing their best.

Waterproof Means Warmer Winters

Doors and windows let in the cold, everyone knows that, so making sure they’re all ready for winter is key to keeping your heating costs low and your family comfortable in the coming months. Wherever water can get, cold air can also seep through and, if water gets trapped in small places before winter, it can expand and make matters worse. Before the cold comes, check all of your doors and windows and replace any fixtures or weather stripping that has worn away. This will keep the cold out of your home in the fall and winter and also make your home less susceptible to water damage in the other seasons.

Top to Bottom Care

Everything from your drains and spouts all the way to the top shingle on your roof needs a thorough inspection before the snow comes because you’ll have a harder time getting reasonable prices for winter roofers. But in the fall, they do a great job that won’t impact your heating bill. The same goes for drains and spouts: good luck cleaning these out below the freezing point, the water in there will freeze, expand, and ruin things. So watch out for excess water and keep your drains and spouts clear for the winter.

There are plenty of other things you can do to prepare your home for autumn, but these three tips are a surefire way to keep your family and home safe and warm as the days get shorter and the weather gets colder. Be sure to clear out all water, inspect your home for leaks and cracks, and repaint any surfaces that need work.

Pros And Cons Of A DIY Paint Project

Choosing whether or not to do a painting job yourself may seem like a no-brainer, but there are tons of pros and cons to consider before rushing out to the paint store or picking up the phone to call the professionals. Here’s a quick list of pros and cons for your next painting job, and whether doing it yourself is better or worse than simply hiring a professional.

Why Bother Doing A DIY Paint Project?

Cost: Your own labour can be inherently cheaper than hiring a professional painting contractor, and therefore theoretically, is cheaper than a professional painter. You paint for free, a painter paints for profit. So when you are thinking about the cost, always think about whether or not you could do it yourself, whether you have this time to do the job yourself and therefore save yourself some money.

Control: When it comes time to paint a specific colour scheme, it is not uncommon for a professional to make some strong recommendations. With your own hand, your colour schemes are entirely under your own control. Some professionals may question your choices in ways you feel they won’t understand, so sticking to your guns is way easier with only your opinion mattering. Hence, therefore performing your painting project do-it-yourself style can give you the look you want without having to haggle or debate about why you like the colours you’re choosing.

A Few Reasons Why You Might Not Want To

Cost: Many people think they can do the job themselves and, in many instances, they are absolutely correct. But there are certain advantages to getting a professional to paint for you. For example, more difficult and technical paint jobs, like outdoor painting or painting a ceiling, will benefit from a professional, not only because they will do the job better, given their expertise, but also because they can do the job right the first time.

There are many instances when people simply do the work themselves only to have the paint job look amateur and last only a little while. With a professional, the job gets done in less time and will be done correctly the first time. Such a guarantee simply doesn’t exist with doing the work yourself. Mistakes are entirely on you if you screw up, and those mistakes will show instantly. If you think the work is a little too complicated, or you simply don’t have the time, a professional painter will actually save you money in the long run.

Skill: Especially with these more technical jobs, if you want certain colour schemes or are painting places with strange lighting or surfaces, a professional can make a job look better in less time. When looking at a painting job, think about what sort of skill is needed and be honest about your own abilities. Remember, it’s always better and cheaper to hire a professional and get the job done right than paint, realize you’re out of your depth, and hire a professional after the fact. Many people think painting is an easy job, but certain scenarios prove otherwise very quickly. Be honest with your own abilities and you’ll get something that you can be happy about much easier, and for less money overall.

Materials: Painting costs add up quickly: paints, paintbrushes, appropriate attire, and all the other costs easily add up in painting jobs. But professionals will already have all the right equipment and that can save you money in the long run. Additionally, a professional will know when and where to use what product, potentially saving you the hassle of using an inferior solution. When you are thinking about DIY painting, the job may be cheaper by getting someone with all the right tools already over buying them all yourself, only to use them a handful of times.

Why Do Painting Contractors Always Wear White?

Think of the typical painter and I’m sure we all have a similar picture: white clothes and coveralls, brushes in hand, paint splotches all over, usually a white hat as well, their hair carefully kept out of the way while the focus on their work. Most people know the look, it’s essentially a painters uniform at this point, the “Boys in White,” as it were, but did you ever consider why painters wear white?

The short answer is; white is the easiest colour to wear when you paint. Especially with heavier fabrics, you can bleach them without worrying about the materials degrading too much. Unlike everywhere else in the world, where you need to be very careful when wearing white, painters can worry the least when wearing white.

Looking At The History

Historically, the painter’s uniform may have originated back in the 17th century, when painters likely made their clothes from old canvas sails. The fabric was cheap but tough, so painters liked wearing it, but sails are almost exclusively white as well, so their colour choices were a little limited. Later, painters used to mix paint white lead powder with paint paste to make their paint. White clothes helped mask the dust from the lead. Thankfully lead paint isn’t used anymore, but the clothing colours stuck.

Everyone Knows It

Nowadays, white is an almost universally recognized colour for painters and this actually helps with the job at hand. People may not see the brushes in their hands for whatever reason, but if you see a guy in the familiar painting outfit, you instantly start being more careful with everything around you. This helps painters get their work done faster and with less interference, which is good for them and their clients.

Less Mixups & Working Outdoors

And let’s not forget the professional aspect of the painter’s uniform. With other colours, there can be mixups, vastly different shades. If a painting company’s uniform was blue, every painter would show up in a wide range of colours that don’t match at all. With white, well, it’s much easier to match. There’s no such thing as navy white. Well, there is, but the difference between pastel white and navy white isn’t nearly the difference between navy blue and pastel blue.

The last major reason why painters wear white is because they work outside. A lot. Lighter colours are just cooler than darker colours, making the hot days just a little easier when painting outside.

Well .. It’s Always Been That Way

But just like the men making their clothes from white sails, painters these days don’t usually have a lot of colour choices when it comes to their work clothes. Overall companies know painters prefer white, so they make white coveralls for painters, so painters wear white and get used to the colour. It’s a cycle that we don’t actually mind. After all, we all know other painters when we see them and, in a way, its a sign of solidarity, of pride in our work. And it keeps people from sitting on that park bench we literally just painted. That’s a big plus too.

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.

How To Choose The Right Kitchen Paint Colours

kitchen in need of a paint job

Everyone knows the phenomenon: people at parties always end up in the kitchen. This may be because that’s where the food is, it may be because there’s always lots of activity, or it may simply be the best smelling room in the house. Whatever the reason, kitchens offer a great space to gather and hang out, so choosing the right kitchen paint colours are essential for anyone considering a new coat of paint in the room that attracts guests. But every kitchen is a little different and so are the people who use the, but here are some tips we have on how to choose the right kitchen paint colours.

Kitchens are unlike any other room in our homes not only because of their function, but from a painter’s perspective, they offer less wall space but just as much painting space. Actual walls in kitchens, on average, only take up about half of the kitchen wallspace. The rest is dedicated to cabinets, trim, and other spaces. This makes kitchens especially exciting and also a little daunting.

When thinking about kitchen colours, you have to consider each of the things you are painting. Cupboards, trim, and walls are rarely painted the same colour, so kitchens can be a fun place to experiment with multiple colours. So when you are painting a kitchen, don’t think just one colour, but an entire design.

Colour palettes in 2014 are moving towards natural, seaside-inspired hues, so look for blues and yellows that remind guests of the oceanfront. Brighter colours and softer hues go well together and make for a welcoming space to guests and family members.

Always consider the furniture you have or plan to have as well. Lighter furniture, especially at breakfast bars, benefits from more welcoming and lighter colours. Just be careful not to wash out a space, always look for brighter colours against very light, weathered, or faded furniture.

When picking kitchen colours, it’s also important to think about the connecting rooms as well. A dining room right next to the kitchen, for example, should complement the colours in the kitchen to avoid harsh transitions. While use of what I like to call ‘statement colours,’ colours that people notice when they enter a room (they make a statement), try not to make every colour in your kitchen a statement colour. Instead, just like cuisine these days, stick with a couple of basics and a deciding flavour to bring out the natural beauty of your selections. Simple is always better than complicated, both with cooking in the kitchen and the paint on the walls. Luckily, with the huge selection of colours from Benjamin Moore finding the ideal scheme should be pretty simple.

Finally, don’t forget about your kitchen’s “fifth wall,” the ceiling! Painted ceilings can make a statement or really tie a room together. Whatever your choices, just make sure your kitchen paint colours offer a casual, welcoming, and comforting feel. Your guests will all gather there, so they should feel welcome right down to the walls.

3 Reasons to Shop at Your Local Benjamin Moore Store

Walk into your local Toronto Benjamin Moore paint store and you will instantly notice a few things. First, the bright and clean space will be filled with all sorts of great painting accessories, from brushes to gadgets you’ve probably never heard of! The friendly staff will also be on hand, professionally doling out advice, tips, and smiles in equal measure. Of course, the best part of any Benjamin Moore paint store is, well, the Benjamin Moore paint. Any store employee will tell you about the great benefits of choosing Benjamin Moore paint for your next renovation job, but here are 3 reasons you’ll absolutely love stepping into your local paint store:

Expert Advice

A Benjamin Moore paint store employee knows more about painting than the teenager sitting behind the desk at your regular paint department. These staff are dedicated to helping you make the best painting choices possible. When you walk into a Benjamin Moore paint store, come with your most difficult questions, these staff members will be able to give you quality advice so your next painting project looks better and lasts longer. And if you need a second opinion on colours or tints, a paint store employee can help you weigh the benefits for the best choice for you. From application tips to the right type of paint, painting experts will have answers for any of your questions.

Quality Products

Benjamin Moore paint has proven time and again to be the best paint you can find on the shelves. Its high quality materials, combined with the latest in paint technology, means you are getting paint that is unparalleled in quality. And with so many options, from exterior paints to the latest in eco-friendly options, not to mention the latest and greatest colours and tints, Benjamin Moore paints will bring that extra something to your next project. Don’t be satisfied with cheaper substitutes, Benjamin Moore paint will do a better job for less. Which brings us to our third reason to go to your local paint store:

Savings

Armed with the advice of paint store professionals and the best paint on the market, a single trip to your local Benjamin Moore paint store has already armed you with some savings. You will already have some application tips to save time and access to the best time-saving accessories for those hard-to-reach-places, but the paint itself will also save you money. Because of Benjamin Moore quality paints, you will need less coats to get the right look and colour. That means less paint overall and more money still in your wallet.

Your local paint store is a great place to stop in when you have any new painting project. You’ll find friendly staff and quality products that’ll save you time and money, and make the painting experience better overall. Plus, with Benjamin Moore paint, you can take comfort in the fact your paint will last longer in the colour you want.

For more details feel free to contact us directly.

4 Reasons Benjamin Moore Paint Beats The Other Guys

benjamin moore paint chips

For decades, Benjamin Moore paint has stood head and shoulders above competing brands. The name has become synonymous with high quality and stunning colour and is widely available. Besides being environmentally friendly, chosen frequently by professional painting contractors, and one of the safest paints on the market, Benjamin Moore’s quality paints are the best decision for any paint job, from fences to bathrooms to your child’s bedroom makeover.

Here are four reasons that Benjamin Moore is better than most of the other paints on the shelf.

1. Versatility

Benjamin Moore offers a wide variety of paints to match whatever your next project demands. Depending on your next project, your may need something extremely durable, or easily applicable, or leaves a beautiful and stunning finish. With an entire line of quality paints, from the Aura Exterior Paint to their patented Arborcoat Waterborne Exterior Stain, Benjamin Moore has exterior paints that cover any job. The same versatility is here for your indoor renovations as well. Such as great paints for steamy bathrooms or your kid’s race car-themed makeover.

2. Colour Selection

Benjamin Moore has some of the widest selections in the world, with over 2500 colours and mixes to choose from. No matter what your interior or exterior needs, Benjamin Moore has a colour that will make your neighbours stop and notice. From soft greens to bold reds, Benjamin Moore paint will make any room pop, any exterior surface shine with a unique colour available exclusively from Benjamin Moore. Not to mention

3. High Quality

Benjamin Moore paint uses only the highest quality materials and comply with the strictest environmental standards in the world. This means your paint will be more durable, look great for longer, and be safe for you and your family. Whereas other paint can lose its colour, chip, or can’t even hold up to a thorough scrubbing. The quality of Benjamin Moore paints will keep your house looking great for longer.

4. Your Time

People buying paint often think they cannot afford Benjamin Moore paint and that a “bargain” paint is a better option simply for being cheaper. However, when you factor how much more paint you will need for the same job, plus all the extra time applying coat after coat, the price of bargain paint becomes less of a bargain and more of a hassle. When you combine the hours lost and extra paint with the quicker time bargain paints take to fade, they are actually significantly more expensive. Benjamin Moore paints are second to none for quality and require less work and certainly less headaches to apply. In addition, your newly painted walls will look better for much, much longer.

No matter what your next project, the various products and colours offered by Benjamin Moore paints will be the best decision you can make. Combining environmentally friendly materials with only the highest of quality, Benjamin Moore paint has the colour you want in the style you need. Your next paint project will surely turn the most heads when you choose Benjamin Moore.

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.

Exterior Painting In Winter, A Disaster Waiting To Happen

home about to be painted in the middle of winter

Exterior painting is a difficult task even during the best of summer days, but it’s even more difficult during our frigid Toronto months. Most professional painters simply refuse exterior painting jobs in the winter and for good reason. Turns out it isn’t the working conditions that make professionals shy away, it’s the poor results. The cold and varying moisture levels can wreak havoc on your work, cracking and even changing colour, so it’s important to either wait for summer or be prepared with more than just a winter jacket.

Today we look at the two biggest challenges for winter painting and offer some painting tips to get the job done. Just be aware, if you can leave the job until summer, spending the winter home decorating is a better choice, and has more stable results.

The Problem with Painting in Winter

Moisture and temperature are the two biggest problems facing the aspiring winter painter, but both can be controlled. Temperature is the most obvious concern, not simply because it makes the paint thicker. Curing is a delicate process and cold temperatures makes the paint cure slowly and unevenly. Latex paint has an especially difficult time in the cold because the latex particles will harden, leaving you with wasted efforts. You’ll find the application process is also more difficult with thicker paint, another result of cold products. Even spray paint is known to crack in the cold.

Even worse than the cold is dramatic changes in temperature. While you may be tucked away in your warm bed, your paint is left out in the cold and paint hates cooling down. As the sun goes down, the paint will become increasingly viscous, but not evenly. Changing temperatures lead to uneven curing, so the paint will start to blister and peel because it can’t bond to the house properly. Painting vinyl siding can be especially difficult because vinyl shrinks dramatically in cool temperatures and expands in the heat.

Moisture is the second major problem for winter painting. Rain and dew are constant problems, so painters have to be extra careful to minimize moisture to let the paint cure on its own year round. Moisture in the winter, however, is even harder to control.

Winter drizzle and drifting snow will react with your paint in ways that can and will look pretty terrible. Dampness and condensation can lead to discolouring and blushing, ruining all of your outdoor work. With the weather being that much more unpredictable in winter, moisture becomes more difficult to control as well. As temperatures hover around zero, the water can expand, contract, and bond with your paint as well, leading to discolouring and improper drying.

All of these problems can lead to a poorly performing paint job that needs to be redone come summertime.

The Solutions

Cold temperature paints can help with the chilly weather, being specially designed to cure at lower temperatures, usually at around 1.5 degrees Celsius instead of above 10c. A high quality product recommended by your local paint store is a good place to start.

You’ll also have to take your time. Colder paint takes much longer to cure, so make sure you give it longer than usual between coats. Alkyd paints in particular will need time, so give the paint ample time between coats.

We can’t control the weather, but we’re pretty good at predicting it, so check the forecast for both temperature and moisture before starting. There’s no point in painting if rain is on the way, and stretches of relatively stable temperatures are highly recommended.

Make sure to paint between 10 AM and 2 PM to help with the application. Paint thickens in the cold, so it’ll be more malleable during midday. As for mixing, your project will take over some of your more heated areas. Paint is harder to mix when cold, so mix it at room temperature.

If exterior painting has to happen in the colder months, minimize the elements you can control. Scaffolding and controlling the environment can help as well. Tarps and heaters can give you that extra bit of control as well. So, if you just have to get the job done, make sure you’re prepared. And an extra pair of socks will go a long way.

For more advice on getting your winter painting projects completed, give us a call.

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!

 

 

 

Why Use an 18″ Paint Roller?

18 paint roller with roller and pan

One of the most useful painting tools, many will agree, is the paint roller. Before its invention people had to paint the walls entirely using a paintbrush. This not only took a very long time, it also left an unsightly finish. Once the paint roller was invented, it did not take long before people started to improve on the design. Today we have a wide variety of rollers to choose from, amongst those is the 18” roller.

Most people, exposed to the 9” roller for years, laugh at the absurdity of the 18” roller when they first see it and dismiss it as a tool for use only by professionals and in very specific circumstances. The truth is that it is just a larger roller, enabling anyone who wields it the power to paint large spaces very quickly. That said, it is certainly not a small painting tool and along with the obvious advantages, there are disadvantages inherit to its design.

Read on to discover a few pros and cons of using an 18” paint roller.

The Pros of an 18-inch Paint Roller

There are a number of advantages to using an 18” roller; the obvious one is that an 18” roller applies paint a lot faster than a 9” roller. Large projects that have a lot of square footage to be coated benefit the most from this tool, an 18” roller provide and incredible improvement in production rates when employed on these projects. It holds more paint, has a larger surface area and thus covers a greater distance and spreads paint faster than a traditional 9” roller.

Applying paint straight out of a paint tray (a very large paint tray in the case of an 18” roller) is only one of the benefits and common uses for this roller. Another common use is for back rolling after a surface has been coated with an airless sprayer. It is an efficient way to back roll large areas and many professionals put the 18” roller to use daily for this purpose.

Sure, the 18-inch roller is in use by the pros, but is an 18” roller the ideal tool for your painting project? If you have to roll out a 5-gallon bucket of paint, have ample working space (this is a big roller), and have some muscle the answer is a definite yes.

Cons of Using an 18-Inch Paint Roller

Once again, let us start with the most obvious point of discussion. This is a big, heavy roller. If you don’t have the muscle necessary to use this tool for extended periods of time, it might not be for you. Using an 18” roller for a single day might boost production, but if you have a 7-day paint project and you’re out of commission for the remaining 6 days you might as well have used the 9” roller. This is especially the case when painting ceilings as weight of the paint and the tool add up quite a bit, leading to an inevitable painkiller at the end of the day to deal with the cramped shoulders and neck.

Another disadvantage of using the 18” roller is cleanup. Typically, these tools are not priced in the buy-it-toss-it range so it is a good idea to clean them, that said most common cleanup tools and practices are not made with the 18” roller in mind. For instance, spinning this roller out can be a bit of a headache if you don’t have a large garbage can nearby. You can make do with a garbage bag (better make sure it has no holes in it) and someone helping you to keep it open but it is not something that can be described as an easy task. In addition, maneuvering an 18” roller under a faucet in a pristine high-end luxurious kitchen is not for the faint of heart.

Wrapping Up

When it comes to deciding on the ideal time to pick up the 18” (or its slightly smaller cousin, the 14” roller) you can always check in with us. Most people overlook this roller as a professional’s tool only, but the ability to roll out large areas quickly makes this roller a great addition to any DIY painter’s arsenal.

The Advantages of Using an Airless Paint Sprayer

airless paint sprayer ready for use

There are an endless number of advantages to using airless sprayers over more traditional painting methods such as rollers or brushes. Not every situation calls for an airless sprayer, but if you find yourself needing to lay down gallons of paint over large surfaces, the airless sprayer is your best bet. They operate on a simple principle, using a hose and a pump to apply a lot of paint quickly. We are going to lay out some of the major reasons that you would choose to use an airless sprayer, as well as some tips on usage.

Time efficiency and large coverage area

Speed is one major advantage of an airless sprayer. These things can spray out a lot of paint in a short period of time, allowing you to cover large surfaces in a minimal amount of time. Painting big walls is one ideal application for an airless paint sprayer. Be aware that large volumes of paint will be pumped through the gun. This can have two side-effects; one being that approximately 15% of the paint volume will be lost in the atmosphere, another being overspray. More on these concerns below.

Even application of coating

Airless sprayers are also great for achieving a perfect, uniform coating. With brushes and rollers you can end up with lines and other marks in the finished paint job. Airless sprayers blast out the paint into tiny droplets that evenly cover the entire surface. This is particularly useful if the surface is uneven or textured, as each square inch will be covered evenly with proper application technique.

These machines are highly portable, powered by either gas or electric engines. This allows you to easily transport it and move it around a job without having to handle large engines and a lot of equipment. Various models are available, some come on small carts that are similar to dollies, making it even easier to move them around. The sprayer you need will largely depend on your intended use.

Tips and concerns

One thing to watch out for when using one of these tools is overspray. Airless sprayers are adjustable, so you can control the spray area much easier than other machines, but there can still be a bit of overspray. Since the sprayer covers a large area in each stroke, just about everything that isn’t covered is going to get painted. Make sure to properly mask all areas that you do not want painted, and cover up any furniture in the area.

Make sure to take extra time to mask off everything that you do not want painted. Be aware if you are painting outside that the wind can easily carry the tiny drops of paint great distances, so you could end up with paint in unexpected places.

There is a great deal of different sized tips available for these guns. These should be chosen based off the area that you are spraying and the type of paint in use. Tips with smaller sized openings should be used for thinner substances such as lacquer, while latex paints will require bigger openings. Here is a quick break-down of opening size vs. paint:

  • Stains, water sealers, lacquers – 0.0009 – 0.013
  • Enamel paint – 0.013 – 0.15
  • Oil based or latex paints – 0.15 and up.

When painting, start your movement before you start spraying. If you are holding the sprayer still when you begin, you risk having the paint build-up more on the spot that you started on. Keep the strokes even and smooth, and keep a consistent distance from the object that you are spraying.

Make sure to thoroughly clean the unit as soon as you are finished spraying the area. As with any painting tool, dried paint is not your friend.

Want to find out more about airless paint sprayers? Give us a call, we’re incredibly versed in this area and can assist you with any questions you may have.

How to Choose the Right Paint Roller

paint roller on wall

As with brushes, there are a lot of different paint rollers out there. Picking the right roller for your job will not only make the work a lot easier, but will provide a better and more professional looking finish. Rollers come in many different sizes. Small “weenie rollers” or “slim jims” are good for those tight spaces where another roller won’t fit but you shouldn’t try to paint a whole wall with them. Larger 14 and 18-inch rollers work well when you have a lot of area to cover. Mostly though, a 9-inch roller is what will be used for the brunt of the painting work.

Choosing the Proper Cover & Nap

Roller covers can be natural or synthetic, like brush bristles. As with brush bristles, you want to use synthetic covers for latex paints, while natural covers work well for oil-based paints. The reason is that natural naps will soak up acrylic, and won’t spread it as well onto the surface.

Another feature of the cover is the “nap” or the thickness of the covering. The nap length that you should use is dependent on the surface that you are painting. Longer naps let you paint over rough surfaces more evenly and smoothly, allowing you to get into the all the “craters and valleys” of the surface.

Better covers are moisture-resistant and solvent-resistant. This means that they will have better coverage and last a lot longer. Cheaper covers can fall apart or leave lint on the surface that you are painting resulting in a rough and unsightly finish, this is why it’s best to simply avoid these throw away rollers.

Shorter naps are better for smooth walls. Try a 1/4-inch nap if you are painting fine, smooth surfaces, like a new wall or a door. 3/8-1/2-inch naps are good for walls with a bit of texture, like plaster or concrete. For the really rough surfaces, a 3/4-inch nap is recommended.

In addition to nap length, the nap density, or “pile” can also have an effect on your work. High-density naps can hold more paint, and reduce splatter. The best type of covering when talking in terms of high density, long length is usually lamb wool or sheepskin. For smooth walls, go with micro fiber naps.

Another choice you will have to make is the internal material of the roller cover. You’ll find rollers with cardboard and some with plastic. The cardboard rollers are not recommended, as they cannot be cleaned. Plastic is the preferred material; they are reusable and can be easily cleaned.

Try to avoid foam covers unless you know what you are getting into. They don’t work well with most surfaces, causing lots of air bubbles to foam under the paint. These will leave your finish looking bad and reduce the life of your paint job. There are however some new foam rollers specifically made for gloss type finishes which, in the right hands, produce flawless finishes.

Caring For Your Tools

If you get a good cover or cage, make sure to save it. Wash it out as soon as you are done painting with it. In fact, you should rinse it out a few times during painting to make sure that no paint is drying onto the roller. Spend the extra amount to get good equipment, and you won’t have to make constant trips back to the store when your cheap roller falls apart or stops absorbing.

You should also purchase an extension for the roller, to get those high up spots. This will reduce time in moving ladders around, as well as climbing up and down ladders to get more paint. There are a variety of extension poles available from telescoping poles to simple wooden poles.

For more information on paint rollers and other painting tools & equipment, and to find the best roller for your project, feel free to contact us.

 

How to Choose a Paint Brush

selecting a paint brush

Paint brushes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Most novice painters don’t know which brushes to choose when starting a job, and will end up using more paint, time, and effort than is actually required. Usually, a job will require a variety of brushes, depending on the types of paint and the areas being painted. In this week’s blog we are going to cover the basics of choosing a paint brush, and go over some common situations you will encounter when painting.

Choosing Bristle Materials

The bristle material you will choose is dependent on the type of paint being used. Bristles can be synthetic polyesters, synthetic nylon, a combination of both, or animal hair (called natural bristles). Synthetic bristles brushes are best to use for latex paint, while natural-bristle brushes are best used with oil-based alkyds. Using a natural-bristle brush with latex paints will result in poor coverage, as the bristles will absorb the latex and become droopy. You can always check the label to see what kind of paints the brush is best used with.

Brush Shape

There are two basic bristle shapes for surface painting: square cut, and sash. Square cut (also called straight brushes) are pretty much how they sound, providing a flat, squared off end that is useful for painting large areas. Sash brushes are cut at an angle, and are mostly used for corners and edges, and getting those hard to reach spaces. Sash brushes may also be called angle-cut or trim brushes. It’s best to have at least one of each type for any job. Paint the majority of the surface with the square brushes and switch to the sash to cut in on those edges and corners.

Tips

The tips of the bristles can also have an impact on the quality of your paint job. High quality brushes will typically have split ends (also known as flagged ends) which are able to hold more paint and get the job done in fewer strokes. Most precision brushes, like sash brushes have “tipped” ends which means that they are pointed. This is not to be confused with regular brush tips, which are flat. Tipped ends are favored for their precision while flagged ends are favored for their coverage.

Brush size and width

The size is obviously dependent on the area that you are painting. If you are painting a small area, make sure to choose a brush that is slightly smaller in width than the area you are painting. If the brush is the same size, or larger, it will overlap the edges and cause dripping that looks pretty bad. For your small angle sash brushes, you will want to choose one that has a shorter handle, giving you more flexibility to cut in around edges.

Rollers

Rollers consist of two main components: the roller fram, and the roller cover. When choosing a cover, go by the guidelines we laid down earlier regarding bristle types, meaning you will want to use synthetic materials for latex paints. The frame mostly determines the size of the roller cover that will go on it. There are two main frame types: regular and weenie rollers. Weenie rollers are smaller, and used for touch-up work and tighter surfaces.

This post should get you started with choosing brushes for your first paint job. We have not discussed every type of paint brush, but only the most commonly used tools of the trade. You may also want to research foam paint brushes if you are painting intricate moldings or flashings. Stay tuned for more great posts from Primetime Paint and Paper next month!

Three Reasons To Buy High-Quality Paint

why buy high quality paint

When selecting a paint product for your project the choices can sometimes seem overwhelming, there are quite a number of products to choose from whether you are looking to paint your interior, or exterior. Making a final decision can sometimes come down to price, but there are many reasons why you may want to avoid price shopping for your paint, and opt instead to purchase a high-quality paint product.

Paint Difficult Colours Faster, With Less Coats

One aspect to consider when shopping for paint is paint colour. Deciding on a paint colour, can be for some, an arduous process involving many hours spent pouring over paint chips under various lighting conditions. At others times, some people may simply choose a colour on a whim. Regardless of how you decide your paint colour, it is always a good idea to think about paint quality if you are selecting a challenging colour.

Fact is that some paint colours are easier than others to accurately reproduce in your home. If you select a difficult colour, such as a deep red or bold yellow, and decide to buy a low-cost paint you may end up needing four or even five coats of paint before you end up with a colour that you’re satisfied with. Even then, it may not look exactly how you pictured it. If you are not sure whether your colour will be difficult, consult with the staff at your local paint store, they will have excellent insight into the difficulty of painting many colours.

The best way to avoid these sorts of problems is to select a paint product that can tackle these challenging colours in only a few coats. Benjamin Moore’s Aura is one such product, able to paint beautifully bold red colours in often as little as two coats.

Paint Once and Forget About Repainting

When purchasing lower-cost paint many people will inevitably run into the need to repaint their home. This is because economy grade paint simply does not contain the same ingredients, and is not made to last or stand up to abuse like high-quality premium paints are. As times passes the true nature of these economy grade paints begin to show, some common problems include:

  • Fading colours
  • Cracking, peeling paint
  • Inability to clean without damaging paint surface
  • Low resistance to scuff marks
  • Poor touch-up characteristics

Generally, one of the biggest problems with many paint jobs is that people have opted for highly affordable paint that does not stand up to the test of time. However, while trying to save a few dollars their choice usually results in an overall increased cost of their paint job when considering how often they may need to repaint. They’ll either have to spend the time themselves repainting, or hire professionals to complete the job for them.

A premium paint product will avoid many of these issues and will hold up well to being cleaned and provide fantastic touch-up characteristics. Purchasing quality paint products is a much better investment when considering the total cost of home painting over the lifespan of typical home ownership.

Brands Aren’t Everything

While this tip may not deal specifically with why you should buy high-quality paint, it’s worth noting that when deciding on a paint product you should be buying based upon an ideal solution for your specific situation, not based on the latest marketing gimmick.

While a paint brand may have a compelling advertisement, it’s always a good idea to ensure that you’re buying a product based on more than simply an ad you saw on television. Take a minute to speak with the staff at your local paint store. You’ll often find that you can gain some very useful insight by simply explaining what you’d like to paint to someone who has a wealth of knowledge. This is the best way to always find the ideal paint solution for your decorating project.

How to Transform your Kitchen from Drab to Fab

beautiful kitchen

Let’s face it – kitchens are usually the very last rooms that get our attention when it comes to redecorating; and it’s not hard to understand why. Kitchen redecorating can be expensive, complicated, and more confusing than it is to redecorate a bathroom or living room. But it doesn’t have to be this way! There are tons of quick, easy, and inexpensive redesign projects you can do to turn your 1980s throwback kitchen into a fabulous new space your whole family can enjoy.

Update those Tired Cabinets

Cabinets are wildly expensive, complicated to install, and difficult to replace. If your cabinets were installed in your kitchen when President Lincoln was still in office, there’s a good chance you’re due for an upgrade; but this doesn’t have to result in you replacing your cabinets with entirely new ones. Most homeowners are shocked to learn just how easy it can be to update your existing kitchen cabinetry with a stylish new look.

If your cabinets are painted, sand them down and decide how you can refinish them to create a new look. A stylish but modern trend that is on the rise is to use glitter paint as a secondary or accent color. If your cabinets have an inlay where you think a secondary color would add some spark to your kitchen, this is a very simple way to add some spark to your space.

You’ll also want to evaluate your drawer pulls and handles – the accessories of your cabinets – and decide whether you like them or not, and if they’ll fit with the painting or staining you choose to do. While these components go out of style relatively quickly, they’re not too expensive, and are simple to replace. With a screwdriver and five minutes of your time, you’ll be able to exchange all of your cabinet accessories and then have time for the next step!

Pep Up your Paint

Unlike other rooms of your home, there’s typically little visible wall space visible in most kitchens. Think about it, between the refrigerator and freezer, appliances and all of your cabinets, do you have even one wall that is completely exposed in the kitchen?

With this in mind, it’s quick and easy to paint your kitchen walls a new color – with a little bit of research, you can pull off a professional job yourself – and you can usually cover your kitchen walls with just a few quarts of paint. If you have a particularly small amount of wall space to work with, don’t be afraid to use bright, fun colors that could potentially overwhelm in a larger space. Rich yellows, rusty reds, and vibrant greens are wonderful choices that will make your kitchen “pop” despite the little amount of paint the job will require.

Spruce Up the Floor

Quality flooring can be expensive, and let’s face it, we’re not going to redo our hardwood floors unless it’s an absolute must. You can sometimes find vinyl tiles quite inexpensively, but unless you land the deal of a lifetime, you’re most likely going to be installing a sub-par product that you’ll only have to redo again in a year or two. So, does that mean you can’t upgrade your kitchen floor without a significant investment? Fortunately, this is not the case.

Kitchen rugs are an increasingly popular item, and are perfect for masking your tired or outdated flooring with something new that catches your eye. Choose a style that goes with your existing décor, or go bold and grab a rug that fits with your new cabinetry. But it isn’t necessary that you look for rugs that are advertised as kitchen rugs. In the right space, an elegant Persian or Oriental rug can breathe new life into your kitchen.

Count on Your Counters

It’s no secret that marble counter tops are expensive; but this kitchen status symbol is as expensive is it is impractical. Marble is a relatively soft stone, cracks easily, and absorbs stains and odors if improperly sealed. For these reasons, it’s also a deeply frustrating counter top material. But this doesn’t mean you should discount a new counter top in exchange for your 1980s Formica counter tops.

When it comes to counters, there are plenty of natural and alternative material options available that will give your kitchen the new look you’re striving for without breaking the bank. Butcher block is stylish and makes for easy food prep. Stainless steel is another great option, as these materials are inexpensive and practical. But if your heart is set on a stone counter top, consider stone tiles instead of large sheets. This will provide you right look for just a fraction of the price of large stone sheets.

There are hundreds of ways you could transform your kitchen into the focal point of your home, and these few ways are a great start. Take some time to sit down and discuss your vision with your family, and brainstorm ways you can redesign your kitchen into the fabulous room it’s meant to be. The end result will be well worth the time, money and effort you put into your kitchen.