You might think that the only thing paint is for is to make your walls look a little fresher every now and then, but if that’s your way of thinking, you’re missing out on all the fabulous benefits that using paint properly in your home can bring. Paint is actually very versatile, and can make a huge difference to and in your home, so why not look at the different things paint can do so you can decide whether a new coat is something you want to get behind?

Choose The Right Color Palette 

If you want to use paint properly in your home, the first thing you’ll need to think about is choosing the right color palette. Why is this so important?

Why not just pick colors you like and splash them wherever you fancy? Because the color you choose for your home sets the tone for it. That’s why you have to think carefully because you’ll need to think about the mood and atmosphere you’ll want to create.

Neutral tones like gray, white, cream, beige, and so on, always look great because they’re able to blend into the background while still making your home look and feel fresh. They won’t catch the eye and draw attention, which means you can then decorate your home in the way you want without worrying about it all clashing with the colors you chose to paint your walls and other areas. 

Choosing the right color palette is like setting the stage or laying a strong foundation. It’s from your decision here that everything else can be designed, and your interior decor can come to life, so take your time and think carefully.

It’s often a good idea to get tester bottles of paint from the store so you can be totally sure of the color you’re going for before committing to painting all the walls – you wouldn’t want to find you’d made a mistake after putting in a lot of hard work and buying the paint as well. 

Accent Walls For Personality 

Another great way to use paint properly in your home is to use it to create an accent wall, which fills any room with personality and even a touch of drama.

You need to pick one wall and then paint that wall with a bold, contrasting color to everything else in your interior design. This technique will draw attention to that area and make the room a lot more interesting, so it’s a good idea to think carefully about which wall you’re going to paint to turn into your accent wall to give visitors (and yourself) the best view. 

An accent wall can be the ideal way to finish off a room and make your interior design a lot more interesting, and whether you choose a bright red, a deep purple, or a fresh green color, it’s sure to stand out in the way you want it to – just plan ahead to ensure you’re getting it right. Ideally, you’ll want to add some items of decor to the room – like throws, cushions, and rugs – that match the color, just to make the whole room come together. 

Open Up Small Spaces 

If you have a small room or your home doesn’t get much natural light, paint can help, and here’s another way to really put paint to work in your home to get the best results.

When you use light-colored paint, like pale blue, soft yellow, light green, and so on, you’ll make the room you’re painting feel much brighter, lighter, and less closed in. This is because the lighter colors reflect the light, even if it’s only a small amount, and that gives the illusion of a larger, more airy space. 

It makes a lot of sense to choose lighter colors when you have small spaces to fill and to leave darker or bolder colors in other rooms (or only on your accent wall, as mentioned above). You’ll be able to create a feeling of being open and less confined, so your home is more inviting, and combined with clever lighting, the right colors can make even the smallest room feel relatively spacious. 

Make Your Home Cozy

Of course, you might not want to open up any space in your home because you’d rather it was a cozy place to be, so that’s where darker colors will come in useful. Deep blues, rich greens, and warm grays, for example, will make a room feel smaller and more snug and comfortable if that’s the feeling you’re going for.

Although you might not want dark colors in every room (especially a bathroom or kitchen, for example), the idea can work wonders if you use it in a bedroom or sitting area. The best places to choose are the ones where you don’t have to do any intricate work, as the darker the color, the less well you’ll be able to see. 

Something that can work really well if you decide darker colors are right for you when you’re choosing paint is to pair those colors with big, plush furniture. Add some soft lighting, and you’ll have created a cozy space to relax in when you need to, and you’re sure to enjoy your home all the more because of it. 

Painted Ceilings 

It’s highly likely you’ll have a painted ceiling already, but it’s also highly likely that you (or the previous owner) will have painted it plain white. White ceilings are the usual thing because, for most people, it’s just to cover the otherwise bare underneath, and it’s not about decoration or adding any interest to the room at all. 

But what if you didn’t stick to plain white? What if you did something different? Would it work? The answer is yes (as long as you think about it properly), and painting the ceilings in your home can be another great way to use paint in the right way to add more interest and make your home unique. 

If you paint your ceilings a different color, and if you make sure your room is lit the right way to enhance that color and not make the room too dark (which is always an issue with a painted ceiling, and something you’ll generally want to avoid), then it can make the space a much more intriguing and comfortable one for anyone who lives there or visits. It’s unexpected, and with a lovely light fitting to finish things off, it’s certainly something to think about. 

Paint Your PVC Trim

PVC trim is a popular choice for the outside of your home and can be used to add some curb appeal to your property, whether you use it for your window surrounds or soffits or you install trim boards to finish your home off in a neat, tidy, and attractive way. Most of the time, people don’t think about painting it because it looks finished and because, in many cases, experts say it’s not needed. 

That might be the case, but what if you want to paint your PVC trim? Is it possible? The answer is yes, but there is some work you’ll need to do first to get the right result. The best thing to do is thoroughly clean the PVC trim before you even think about putting any paint on it, otherwise you’ll get a horrible finish, and the paint might not even stick very well at all, meaning a lot of extra work for you.

You’ll also need to decide whether to use a primer; it’s not always necessary, but it can be wise to ensure a good result. Plus, make sure you pick a dry day, otherwise rain and moisture could wash away the paint before it has time to dry. 

Add Texture 

Color is a great way to draw attention to a focal point or accent wall in your home, but there are other things you can do too, and it might be you want to use these ideas on all your painted surfaces, giving your home a uniform look that’s unique and interesting. One of the best options if you want to do this is to add texture to your paint. 

Texture, which can be done through sponging, ragging, stippling, or even buying paint with added ingredients that leave a bumpy texture on the walls when it’s used, gives a new dimension to the space you’re painting, and they’re also a great way to ensure your home’s interior design style is cohesive throughout your property.

In other words, if you have an ultra-modern home, you might want sleek, smooth walls, but if you prefer something more rustic, textured walls that mimic the look of old plaster, weathered stone, or natural wood might appeal more. 

Paint Your Interior Doors 

Finally, if you want to use paint properly in your home, don’t forget about your interior doors. These definitely don’t have to be the same color as your walls, and actually, painting them in a contrasting or complementary color can really work well and make a new design feature out of something you might not otherwise pay much attention to. 

In fact, you can use your interior doors to be a link between different rooms, meaning you can have different design styles or colors in each one, with the door in between connecting them by using similar tones or matching the color of the next room, for example.