What’s the one improvement that can make the biggest impact on your home’s look and value? You might think it’s new kitchen countertops or an upgraded shower, but it’s actually a fresh coat of paint strategically placed on your home’s interior or exterior.
That’s right; painting is the best way to add value to your home without spending a lot of money in the process. Affordable painting is easier than you think, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional painter.
Our team at Paint Perfect has decades of painting experience in NJ. Here are a few things we’ve learned along the way that can help you on your journey toward increasing your home’s value without breaking the bank.
Vinyl Siding
Did you know that you can paint vinyl siding? Many homeowners do not. Before you spend $10,000 or more replacing your siding, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint.
Once the paint is applied to your siding, it will not peel, pretty much making it a lifetime warranty. However, you may experience some color gaps as the siding contracts during the colder months.
If your siding is weathered, you may want to add a coat of primer first so the paint adheres smoothly and evenly. Depending on the size of your home, you may want to use a paint sprayer for the first coats, then touch up with rollers and brushes as needed.
Changing the color of your home’s exterior is not a decision that should be made lightly. Make sure you are confident in the new color before starting anything. This is a color you will need to live with every day and will impact your home’s curb appeal the next time it goes on the market.
In the Kitchen
The kitchen is often at the center of any home improvement project, with good reason. It’s one of the first things prospective buyers see, and one of the most expensive rooms to update.
If you are getting ready to put your home on the market or have just purchased a home that’s in need of a little TLC, paint can help in ways that you might not expect.
Are sick of looking at ugly wood kitchen cabinets? Or do you want to hide years of wear and tear from prospective buyers? Give kitchen cabinets a whole new life with a fresh coat of paint.
For a classic and timeless look, choose colors like white and gray. Or add a subtle pop of color by choosing pale yellow, pink, or other soft tones. Once you’re finished, update the hardware on the cabinets to match the new paint.
For an even more dramatic change, paint the kitchen walls to go with the new color on the cabinets, or consider creating an accent wall that will make the cabinets pop.
You’ll be surprised by how much it feels like a new kitchen by making just a few small changes that do not cost a lot of time or money.
Bricks and Stones
Whether they’re on your home’s interior or exterior, bricks, and other stones can also be painted to give them new life without the cost or the hassle of replacement.
Much like painting siding, the surface will need to be cleaned and primed before you can begin painting. Use caulking to fill in any holes or gaps in the stones so that the paint goes on evenly. Make sure to cover the mantle and the fireplace to keep them protected during painting.
Much like in the kitchen, white and gray are timeless and a good idea for people looking to create a blank slate for prospective home buyers. You can also use a brighter color to make a painted fireplace the focal point of your living room or den.
The same rules apply if you are painting exterior bricks or stones. Make sure to remove as much dust and debris as you can before you start painting, and use a primer made specifically for masonry.
Hardwood Floors
This tip is perhaps a little more controversial than the others. Hardwood purists would never consider painting a floor, but in some cases, it is the right decision. Rather than using traditional paint, opt for stains that will give your floors a deeper, richer color.
Sanding and refinishing floors can take weeks and cost thousands of dollars, while stain can be applied in a few days for a fraction of the cost. Plus, some floors have already been sanded and refinished so many times that doing so again would damage them.
Staining hardwood floors requires a little more planning than most painting projects. The floors will need at least a few days to dry and set before resuming normal foot traffic and replacing the furniture that was moved out for painting.
Sand the floor before you start staining to remove any finish and create a surface for the paint to adhere to. If you have time, it’s a good idea to sand between each coat of paint to remove imperfections.
Once you’ve applied two to three coats of stain, add a coat of sealer to protect the stain you’ve just applied and give the floors a sleek look. Go a step further and repaint your trim a bright white to provide a nice contrast to the new, darker floors.
Learn More
These are just a few ideas for how you can use affordable painting to spruce up your home’s interior and exterior. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. If you try something and it doesn’t work out, remember that paint can always be removed or changed.
Let Paint Perfect help you create an affordable painting plan to meet your budget and design goals. Contact us to get started!