Indoor House Painting Ideas

Assess Your Pallette

• Look around your home. Even if your walls are stark white, you've probably chosen furnishings and decor in colors and patterns you're drawn to. These may be warm reds, golds and earth tones, or coolly sophisticated, modern colors and patterns. Perhaps your look is an eclectic mix of colors and patterns.

  Go to a paint store and pick up as many paint color swatches as you like (they're free). Sit in your favorite room, fan the colors out on the floor and envision these colors on your walls. If you have a friend whose decorating style you admire, bring him along to help with ideas.

Color Effects

• Don't automatically reject dark or vivid colors. Contrary to what you may have been told, they can make a room look larger, not smaller. The color contrast between walls and ceiling draws the eye up and around, defining the space and adding dimension.

  Ceilings do not have to be white. Paint formulated for ceilings has black colorant added to it to make it easier to cover in one coat. This makes it a very cool white. Warmer whites and honey beige often look better with warm or rich colors on the wall.

  The same applies to painted trim: There is no rule that trim should be white. Off-white and even black can look stunning in the right context.

Function

• As well as coloring your home, paint should be functional. For high-traffic or humid areas, such as bathrooms and hallways, choose washable paint. If the area is prone to being bumped and scraped by pets or children, avoid using deep colors that will show every little scratch and dent.

  Because higher gloss paints accentuate surface irregularities, bear in mind that some paint companies have formulated scrubbable flat paint. Often sold as matte or ceramic paint, it can be used in bathrooms and kitchens.

Faux Painting

• With the rising popularity of faux painting, it's now quite easy to try these techniques. Most home and paint stores have a wide selection of specialty applicators, faux finishes and glazes. Sponging, ragging, frottage and glazing no longer require months of apprenticeship to master. Tutorials are available online and many stores have DVDs for sale or rent. Giving a focal wall a rich leather look, or transforming a guest bathroom with faux marble walls is an easy weekend project with the right tools.

Specialty Paints

• To get a faux appearance without faux techniques, consider specialty paints. Ralph Lauren has a wide selection (see Resources) to give your walls the look of sleek metallics, soft suede or a rustic sand finish. These specialty finishes are no more difficult to apply than regular wall paint.