Tips and Tricks

Choosing the perfect paint color for your home can normally be a stressful process, but what about trying to market it to potential buyers? There is a fine line that you do not want to cross when making paint selections for your home. You may be into a bright pink accent wall, but your buyer may not be into that look. If you are looking to put your home up for sale, you will ideally want to choose a paint color that will appeal to various buyers. You may then ask “what colors will sell my house to a buyer?” We have created a list of four safe colors to paint your house. 

Colors for A House on The Market: 

1. Gray. Gray is probably the safest color of all the choice that will provide. It comes in a variety of values and hues and works in almost any room in your house. Interior design experts say soft hues may help sell your home. Try using gray on your walls, cabinetry or even your baseboard trim. 
2. Warm Browns. Nothing says cozy like a neutral, warm color and browns will do just the trick. When selling to buyers, you want them to be able to picture themselves in your home. A warm brown wall with some lit candles can do just the trick. Try using warm browns in your living room area. 
3. Navy Blue. If you are looking to add a dark, bold color, navy blue will be the perfect addition. Home buyers love navy blue and it can be your statement piece in any room. Whether you are looking for a bold front door or a dark dining room, navy blue may just be your perfect color choice. If you decide to use navy blue in your dining room, make sure you make the surrounding rooms more soft and subtle. You do not want your space to become extremely dark from all of the harsh colors. 
4. Light Blue. From powder rooms to laundry rooms, light blue is the relaxing take on color that you may just need. Try using light, pale blues on your walls for a subtle pop of color. 

We are happy to help with any of your paint-related questions!. Are they ready for your house showing? If not, we provide a wide selection of quality paint colors. Stop in today to view our showroom. 

You’ve spent weeks searching for that perfect color. You’ve tried out dozens of color samples and now you finally have a winner. Or so you thought you did. Now that you’ve painted the space that seemingly perfect maroon color, you find that it looks drastically different!

A common mistake is that the color of any object will always look the same. The way color is reflected largely depends on two factors.

• The color of the object: While white absorbs all colors, black absorbs none, yellow absorbs red and green.  
• Source of light: Natural sunlight changes throughout the day.  This means that a room that has lots of sunlight the color will look different during the day than how it is at night time. On the other hand, artificial lighting alters depending upon the type of light bulb that is used.

Before settling on a color for a room in your home it’s important to consider how lighting will affect the color scheme.

When selecting shades for a room, experts say that you should always consider the role natural light will play. The amount and angle of light that the sun casts on a room will determine how much the color changes. Below are some helpful guidelines for choosing appropriate shades.

• Bold colors are more vibrant in rooms in north-facing rooms while light shades will have a subtle effect. Therefore, you should opt for strong hues in north side locations.
• South-facing rooms receive more light from the sun. You’ll notice that high in the skylight brings the best out of warm colors and lighter hues will have a beautiful sheen.
• East- and west-facing rooms often have a warm yellowy light that causes rooms to look beautiful.  Red, yellow and orange tones look best in east and west facing rooms.

What about artificial lighting? Yes, the type of lighting fixture and bulb you use in a room can determine how colors play off in a room.

• Indacascents lights provide a warm yellow light that makes yellow, orange and red tone colors look warm.
• Fluorescents are flat and enhance cool tones such as blue and green.
• Halogens lighting can simulate natural lighting. This type of lighting makes monotonous colors more vivid.

To achieve the color that you desire consider the following.

• Paint drywall samples of the color you interested in seeing how both natural light and artificial light reflect light.
• Be careful when using glossy finishes because paint sheens can reflect light.

Selling a home can be a long, strenuous process. If you want to add value to your home, we have the perfect list of investments that will help increase your home’s worth. 

Increasing your home’s value: 

• Schedule an Inspection. Before you get slapped with a bad inspection, be aware of the areas that need attention and fix these issues. The last thing you want is for a sale to fall through because of something you could have fixed in advance. 
• Clean Your Home’s Exterior. The outside of your home is the first thing that buyers will see. Make sure that your landscaping is clean, you have swept your front porch, and power washed your siding. Power washing can remove dust, dirt, and grime from the home’s exterior and helps it to look appealing to buyers. Also, incorporate a few potted plants near your front door to draw the eyes towards the entrance. 
• Make it Feel Homey. It is sometimes hard for buyers to envision themselves living in your home when it feels empty or overpacked. Your home should not have too little nor too much stuff overcrowding it. Light warm scented candles to indulge their senses. Warm scents tend to remind people of home and that is the ultimate goal. Take down pictures of your family, because buyers have a hard time picturing themselves in the house if all they see is your family. 
• Apply Touch-Ups. If you notice chipped paint or worn areas, tend to them. It can affect the buyer’s view on the quality of your home. 
• Show off Your Flooring. If you have hardwood underneath your carpet, show it off! Buyers tend to love when homeowners expose the original hardwood flooring and sometimes, will be willing to pay more for the home. If you aren’t that lucky, consider adding this to your list before you show your home.  The look of hardwood floors draws many buyers based on the timelessness of the material.
• Update Wherever You Can. Think about areas of your home that are outdated. Popcorn ceilings and all yellow bathrooms can be overwhelming to buyers. All the buyers will be thinking about is how they will have to update it and the future costs. Add new fixtures and cabinet handles throughout the home. This will help give the house a more modern look that buyers appreciate. 

If you are looking to update the home’s flooring, we are here to help! Please contact us at ICC Floors for more information and pricing.

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!