Paint an Accent Wall
Looking to add some bold color to a room for the holidays, but don’t want to paint all the walls? To add drama and excitement to your living space, consider painting an accent wall. It’s an easy and inexpensive do-it-yourself project that will add visual interest to any room.
Head to your local True Value hardware store for the painting tips and products you need to make this home improvement project a success! Follow the steps below to get started.
Step 1. Select the Wall to Paint
When it comes to an accent wall, remember it will become the focal point in the room. Before you pick a wall, ask yourself where you want to draw attention. Maybe you have a striking fireplace or large window you'd like to draw attention to. If so, adding an accent color can reinforce that part of the room. Accent walls can also continue color schemes or painting techniques from an adjacent room, bringing the two spaces together.
Step 2. Choose your Color and Sheen
When you're selecting a color, it helps to examine what is already in the room. A color that exists in artwork or upholstery fabric could be a nice choice for an accent wall. Selecting a bright or very dark color will add drama, while opting for a neutral color will add a subtle focus without distracting from art and furniture. With knowledgeable Color Experts and Idea Cards, your local True Value hardware store has the color selection tools you need to make picking a color simple.
After selecting your perfect color, next choose the sheen. It's usually best if the sheen you choose matches the sheen on adjacent walls.
Step 3. Calculate Amount of Paint
To determine how much paint you need, multiply the total width of the wall you're painting by ceiling height to find the square footage to be covered. Subtract 15 square feet for windows and 21 for doors. A gallon of paint generally covers about 350 square feet, so divide your total square footage by 350 to determine number of gallons needed. Depending on the size of the accent wall, one gallon of paint may be all you need, but, you'll need a few coats when using deep, dark colors.
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Step 4. Prepare Room
Cover furniture and floors with tarps or drop cloths. Using a damp cloth, wash the wall surface with mild detergent and water. Patch holes and wall damage with spackling compound. Scrape off flaky areas of old paint using a putty knife. Remove outlets and switch covers and cover edges with painter's tape.
Step 5. Prime and Paint
You don't have to apply a coat of primer before you paint, but doing so will improve the coverage and help the paint wear better. If your walls are stained or you're using a light color over existing dark walls, you should prime them first.
With a brush or roller, apply True Value EasyCare® latex primer widthwise in 6' sections, using a zigzag pattern of overlapping ''W'' strokes. Move from right to left, then left to right, spreading evenly with horizontal strokes.
Once the primer dries, apply True Value EasyCare® latex paint using the same technique. If necessary, apply a second coat of paint. You don't have to let the paint completely dry between coats, but your results will be better the longer you wait.
Step 6. Clean up
Thoroughly rinse your roller covers and brushes until the water runs clear. Store in plastic bags or hang them on nails or hooks to dry. Remove the drop cloths and pull off the painter's tape at a 45-degree angle to avoid removing any fresh paint. Reattach outlets and switch covers.
Well done! Step back and admire your beautiful accent wall. Look to the experts at your
local True Value hardware store for more painting ideas and inspiration.
For more projects, go to TrueValuePaint.com. >
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