5 PAINTING TIPS YOU MUST KNOW

#avoidthelaundrycave

 

You’re familiar with the “Man Cave”? Well, after this week of painting I have the “Laundry Cave”.

 

Choosing paint colors without an Interior Designer can be a stressful experience and it can be difficult to avoid painting mistakes that you may have to live with. We all want the latest trends in color and design, so my first choice is to call one of the talented team members at Interiors by Agostino’s in Naples. But sometimes real life goes more like this…

 

Paint brush with paint on it - Agostino's Painting Tips

Dinner time, the night before: My husband tells me that he has a paint contractor coming over to give us a QUOTE on some maintenance around the house and also on painting our newly renovated laundry room.  I am thrilled because the laundry room was completed last October. The next day, 8:15 am, said contractor announces, ”Go pick out the paint and I will start today.” No, this really happened! 

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I run right over to Sherwin Williams to pick out my colors for my laundry room. Now, I already have an idea of what I want it to look like. I have four kids and my laundry room doubles as our mud room. I want one wall covered in chalkboard paint. Ok. Done. 2 paint stores later I have chalkboard paint checked off my list. Now, for the rest of the walls I want that popular gray color with an undertone of lavender,….which brings me to my first paint tip:

TIP #1 WHEN CHOOSING PAINT DO NOT RELY ON PAINT STORE LIGHTING.

Dinner time, the night before: My husband tells me that he has a paint contractor coming over to give us a QUOTE on some maintenance around the house and also on painting our newly renovated laundry room.  I am thrilled because the laundry room was completed last October. The next day, 8:15 am, said contractor announces, ”Go pick out the paint and I will start today.” No, this really happened! 

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I run right over to Sherwin Williams to pick out my colors for my laundry room. Now, I already have an idea of what I want it to look like. I have four kids and my laundry room doubles as our mud room. I want one wall covered in chalkboard paint. Ok. Done. 2 paint stores later I have chalkboard paint checked off my list. Now, for the rest of the walls I want that popular gray color with an undertone of lavender,….which brings me to my first paint tip:

TIP #2 ALWAYS BUY A SMALL CAN FROM THE PAINT STORE AND APPLY AT LEAST A 12×12 INCH SPOT ON THE WALL. (ALL PAINT STORES DO THIS, JUST ASK)

then…

TIP #3 BE PATIENT. LET IT DRY.

So, the painter and I slap a little on one wall… meh, but I have no time to hem and haw over it. The painter is here, the room is prepped and ready to go. I give him the go ahead. I hope for the best.

Interiors by Agostino's - Design Tips, Naples, Fl

TIP #4 PAINT DRIES DIFFERENTLY (USUALLY DARKER) THAN IT GOES ON.

Painting is confusing. Let Agostino's paint specialists help

So in the end, while I have beautiful colors, they are all very dark. #LaundryCave The chalkboard paint was black, not traditional school house green like I assumed in my haste. And my gray is dark in the day, and the color of a grape (really, it is)  when the sun goes down. Which brings me to my final tip…

TIP #5 YOU CAN CORRECT A TOO DARK SPACE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE ROOM.

So in the end, while I have beautiful colors, they are all very dark. #LaundryCave The chalkboard paint was black, not traditional school house green like I assumed in my haste. And my gray is dark in the day, and the color of a grape (really, it is)  when the sun goes down. Which brings me to my final tip…

Interiors by Agostino's - Design Tips, Naples, Fl