Harmful Chemicals in Paint

Many years ago, people realized the dangers of lead paint. Lead paint was a staple in homes that were constructed before 1978. The lead in that paint, chips of paint and dust produced by lead-based paints was discovered to be dangerous to a person’s health. We stopped using it and started testing for it so it could be removed from places that had used it.

Today we are seeing that even without lead, paint still contains harmful chemicals. These chemicals, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air after you paint. Formaldehyde and other carcinogens are among the VOCs identified in paint.

The good thing is that there are new paints available that are being with low levels of or completely without VOCs. These paints contain resins, minerals, plant oils and pigments made from vegetables.

Several mainstream manufacturers make these paints, so they are not hard to find. YOu can check the label on a can at paint to see just what level of VOC it has.
The bonus of taking the time to find paints with little or no VOCs is that many of them do not have the "new paint" smell.

Paint Away Problems

One way to deal with rooms of an unusual shape is to paint them. Before you start to knock down a wall or make an oddly-shaped room into a storage space, you may find that paint will cover a multitude of problems.

-If the ceilings are low, you can use the same paint for the baseboards and the walls.

-If the room has no windows, try painting it in a light color, using pain that will reflect light. Notice that you are advised to use a light color, so you don't have to use white. A color will give the windowless room more warmth.

-If the room somehow seems short, use a cool color on one wall and a warm color on the rest to create the illusion that the room is longer than it really is.

-If, on the other hand, the room feels long, then do the opposite: paint one wall in a warm color and paint the rest in a cool color. This will make it feel as if one wall is closer to you that it really us and take away from the feeling that the walls are so far from each other.

Have a Painting Party

If you are thinking about painting part of your home and are not inclined to hire professionals, you can still get some help to get the job done. Recruit friends and family to assist you in adding some color to your home. You will save money and be able to create great memories because a painting party is not all about work, it is about having fun too.

Before you get to it consider doing the following:

Buy a roller for each person. The work will go faster if every person involved has their own paint roller. If you want to spring to get every their own brush for corners and other areas that the rollers don’t quite reach, you can do that as well.

Put up painting tape before the party. Your guests will likely arrive ready to paint, so having to put up tape will slow things down. Taping is a little more tedious than painting, so if people are providing free labor, you can spare them this task.

Have your color scheme already planned. Make sure you know which room will be which color and communicate this clearly.

Painting Tips

Painting involved more than just picking a color and slapping it on the wall. Here are some tips to make your next paint job look great.

Put it to the test
Once you’ve finally decided 1) to go ahead and paint and 2) on a paint color, it can be tempting to just get the job done. Not so fast. You can save yourself a lot of hassle if you take the time to test the paint first.

Buy quarts in several shades of the color you want and paint a little of a wall with each one. Allow the paint to dry and see how it looks over a few days. Then you’ll see that the shade you thought was perfect may not be quite right. Or you may find that your first choice is best. Either way, it is better to give it a trial run.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up
Professionals know that no two paint cans are exactly alike. There can be a slight difference between different cans of custom-color paint. But how can you assure yourself that these slight differences won’t affect how your home looks? By mixing all of your paint together. This is called “”boxing.” When you “box” you paint you pour all of the paint into a large (5 gallon) bucket and mix it up. This mix will dilute the effect that any slight differences in shade or tone that one can may have. After mixing the paint in the large bucket, you can return it to the smaller cans because it is not easy to paint using a container that large.

Do a little blending, too
Adding just a few tablespoons of the wall paint to the trim paint will help the two blend together much better. Just a bit, though. You still want them to be different colors.

Choose the White Paint that Fits the Room

When choosing a white paint for your home, give it as much consideration as you would when selecting a color.

You shouldn't just pick up the first white you see at the home improvement store and march to the cash register. Why? Because white paint comes in different varieties and some are better for certain rooms than others. For example, some kitchen appliances will appear dingy next to a wall painted with bright white paint.

Did you know that...

...white paint with blue undertones is good for low ceilings? (It is reflective.)
...white with pink or peach undertones can flatter the skin? (Use it in the bathroom.)


There are as many swatches of white paint as there are of colors like blue or yellow and there is a reason for this: the shade and undertones of a white paint can change the way a room and decorations look. So take your time and don't dismiss the idea of a white paint with an undertone. There are warm and cool white paints that can affect a room's lighting in different ways.

And remember: white paint really emphasizes and nicks or scuffs in a wall, so be sure to smooth over the surface before painting.

Neutral Palette Blooms With Color

Gone are the days when selling your house meant drowning it in a sea of beige to appease potential buyers. The neutral palette now blooms with color. Turquoise, purple and orange flash a bit of brilliance next to the creams and sandy tans.

"There is an entire world out there of colors that are not beige," says Stephanie Hoppen, author of the book Perfect Neutrals: Color You Can Live With (Watson-Guptill, $35). "If green is not neutral, gardens would always look ghastly; if blue is not neutral, nothing would go with the sea or sky."

Explaining color theory, Hoppen shows how to pair deep, rich hues with equally intense colors to create a soothing room. In the right combinations, even saturated colors can harmonize, not jar, she says. To aid the reader, Hoppen includes helpful reference charts for paint colors, carpets and upholstery fabrics. She also provides a source list for paint, wallpaper, carpet, flooring, fabric, leather, lighting and accessories. As Hoppen is British, a number of the specialty stores are in the United Kingdom, but most of her sources are international with products available in the US.

If you're getting ready to sell your house, consider using colorful new neutrals to attract buyers. Consult with veteran realtor John Day. An expert at staging homes for sale, John can let you know where best to spend your time and money to make your home attractive to buyers. Visit John Day's website for more seller tips. You'll find great tips for buyers too and hundreds of beautiful homes for sale in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're selling or buying a home, John Day is your key to success.

Dress Up Your Home's Exterior With New Coat of Paint

If you want to give you old home a new look, do it with paint. A new coat of paint can make your house sparkle, set it off from it's neighbors, and make an old, dated house look new and hip -- all through the creative use of color. The trick is in choosing a color that you not only like now but will still like 10 years from now, the typical lifespan of outdoor paint.

There are some folks in Pittsburgh who have you covered, so to speak. The Color Stylist Group at PPG Industries in Pennsylvania predicts color trends for everything from house paint to cars to handbags. So what will the next decade bring?

• Inside colors are moving outside. Expect to see more homes painted in greens, browns and natural stone colors.
• The environmental movement is driving a new trend to lose your house in the landscape. Color and design will be used to meld your home with the natural features that surround it.
• Bright reds and oranges will add some punch to your home. Expect to see them on front doors to make a bold statement.

If you want to see how your home will look with a new color scheme, check out the color visualizer tool on the Sherwin-Williams website.

If you're considering selling your home in the near future, give veteran realtor John Day a call. He can tell you what home buyers are looking for in the Maryland and Washington DC metro area. If you're buying a home, visit John's website to preview the latest homes on the market. Whether you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.