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The colors you choose for your wall can captivate your style and bring the entire room together. With so many color choices available, painting becomes a creative adventure. If you decide to paint your home by yourself, there are some tips and tricks you should know. 

How to paint like a pro: 

Prepare

• Select a paint color from your local paint store. If you are looking for inspiration, choose an item from your room that captivates the color you want or look through paint catalogs. Make sure that you buy a high-quality paint for a great pigmentation and long-lasting affects. 
• Remove all the furniture and decorations from the room. For larger items, you can move them into the center of the room (they will be covered). 
• Take a feather duster and remove all cobwebs from the corners of the walls. 
• Grab a baby wipe and wipe down the wall trim. This will help assure we have clean, sharp paint lines. 

Protect

• Drop cloths have proven to be more effective than plastic during painting projects. A drop cloth will absorb any paint that may have spilled.  It also protects your furniture and floor from paint stains. Use one every time.

Prime 

• Not every wall needs to be primed before it is painted, but there are certain times that you should prime your walls beforehand:
• Change the sheen of your paint. 
• Painting new walls or wood.
• Painting walls that have damage or have been patched.
• Painting a lighter color overtop of a darker paint color.
• If you are painting your walls a dark or bold color, try using tinted paint primer. 

Pre-test

• In a small section of the room, try out the paint color. Make sure that it is the color you want it to be with the lighting in the room. 

Paint Extras

• Experts recommend that painters purchase a half-pint paint pitcher to store extra paint. If you ever need to touch up an area of the room, grab your half-pint paint pitcher. It is easier than storing a bulky, normal-size paint pitcher and always assures you that you have extra paint.

(A)ppreciate

• Your room has never looked better and the new look was easily accomplished with these simple tricks. Make sure to let all the paint dry before moving furniture back into the room. 

Now that your room is painted, you can look at new flooring! For flooring recommendations or advice, please call us at ICC Floors. We are a Benjamin Moore preferred company and have 3 stores for your convenience. Visit us at ICC Floors — we have experts awaiting your call and we look forward to helping you. 

Designers and decorators have certain methods and tricks to make an interior look complete. Read on to find out what how to make your interior look like a designer came in and styled your space.

Start at the bottom.  The floor of a room is the foundation for any design.  Updating the floor in a room can be the first step in a magical transformation.  The type of floor in your space will flavor any subsequent décor, so choose wisely.  Hardwood floors lend a classic or formal structure to your room, while carpet creates a soft, comforting atmosphere.

Lighting is important. Multiple light sources in a room are a must. It is important to have a ceiling fixture. Lighting that is wired in should be on a dimmer if possible. This allows for appropriate lighting control during day or night. Accent lighting is also important. Table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces and under cabinet lighting are all considered accent lighting.

Authentic artwork adds character to a room. Not all art needs to be original, but adding an original can help make the space unique. Sculptural pieces are also a way to add character to any space.

Accent with some black. All rooms need a little black. This color is a way to outline or highlight furnishings. Black can create a contrast between any other color. An easy way to add black is by selecting black frames for art. You can also incorporate a black by adding floating black shelves, or a black bookshelf.

Draperies really polish off an interior. They add the finishing touches all rooms with windows need. Window treatments are important. An undressed window looks naked and unfinished. Floor to ceiling draperies adds a designer look. Make sure that the main living space in your home has window treatments.

Every room should have something unique in it. That can be an antique or a flea market find. This could also be a unique planter, housing a dominant plant in the room. One of a kind or unexpected items gives a space a sense of identity.

A coat of paint can do wonders for a room. There is something special about painting a room. Builder’s white is so generic. Painting a room gives the space a sense of identity and can really help tie in the color scheme. The wall color can be subtle or bold; it will make a world of difference if it has a coat of paint selected just for your space.

Do as many things in this read as you can. If possible try and accomplish them all. Your room will thank you for it!