A smart and easy way to give a room a new life and feel is to repaint it with new wall paint. On the one hand, the room's finish will look like new, while old marks and other imperfections disappear, and on the other, you'll make a change that makes old and dull feel fresh and updated.
1. Don't settle for paint samples – test your paint selection!
Who hasn't made the mistake of borrowing a small sample of paint from a color chart and later discovering that the color on the wall doesn't look anything like the sample from the shop? Well, we've probably all been there. Ask the store for a small can of paint sample instead and take the time to paint a small section of the wall you've been meaning to paint. That way you'll be much closer to the real thing and can make a better decision about whether the color from the color chart will actually be the one you fell in love with when you saw it in the shop.
Jotun Color Chart 2021
2.The wall color changes in different light conditions
This can be particularly troublesome with light shades of grey, for example. In the bright light of a shop, a light grey shade can look balanced and yellowish, while on the wall at home it will turn either blue or purple depending on the light in the room and the conditions. The wall color in a room in a shady part of your home can be perceived quite differently compared to the same color on the wall in a room in a sun-drenched part of the home. It can also change with the time of day from sunny morning to balmy evening. Therefore, test paint a proper area on the wall and study the shifts during the day and on different walls in the same room to be absolutely sure you are choosing the right shade.
3. Plan the big picture
Don’t forget that your newly painted walls need to combine with your furniture and the rest of your room. Do your old things match your new wall paint, or are you thinking of buying new furniture anyway? If you’re letting old furniture stay, think of combining it with the new color or even changing some of the furniture or the existing textiles. And don’t forget the floor!
4. Get inspired
A good way to get a clear idea of what the end result will be when you repaint is to start with inspirational images. Find out what others have done, how they went about it and save nice pictures of results you like. Pinterest can be a great source of inspiration where you can quickly and easily search for what you're looking for. If you're looking for instructional videos or have questions about materials and equipment, YouTube is the best source where you can watch videos and get tips on how others have gone about doing something.
5. Furnish for the moment or over time?
Repainting can be quite a demanding process if the room is large. On the one hand, it takes time with the actual painting which, depending on the conditions, often requires several strokes, and on the other hand, you may need to cover up or move furniture out. It also costs money, paint is definitely not free.
6. Quality over quantity
Sure, you can go to the discount store and buy large quantities of cheap paint, but the quality is often second best. Choose quality according to application. If you're going to paint the roof or walls in the garage quickly, a cheaper paint will do just fine, but if you're painting the ceiling and walls indoors, we recommend choosing a quality paint that will last over time to avoid wear and tear, roughness and cracks. With paint that's too low quality, you risk having to redo the work and paint several times, which can end up being a lot more expensive than choosing a quality paint from the start. Feel free to ask at the paint store, but don't choose based on low price – choose paint based on quality and application!
7. Record and save your color codes
Almost all the colors you buy today are broken which means they are mixed with another color to give a warmer or cooler shade. Color codes with the suffix -Y have a warm hue while color codes with the suffix -N have a neutral hue that tends towards the cold side. This is important to keep in mind when choosing paint for your rooms, but also if you need to order more or want to add more paint at a later date. A good tip is to take a photo of the label with the color code that is on the can and, if possible, save the paint can for a later date.
8. Spackle the surface
If you want to make sure that you get a smooth and nice wall surface when you repaint, pay attention to the substrate. Often there are marks, small damages in the wallpaper, nail holes or screw holes from paintings and other things that create unevenness in the surface. Sand and spackle! Buy a small tube of putty and fill in gaps with putty and a putty knife. Sand the surface to make it smooth before you start painting to get a perfectly even finish.
9. Matte or Glossy
The gloss of the paint is normally given on a scale from 1 to 100. Low numbers are matte and high numbers are glossy. A slightly duller paint is usually preferable when painting ceilings and walls, while glossier paint is good for kitchens and wet rooms as a glossier paint is easier to wipe off. When painting walls in living rooms and bedrooms indoors, 7 is a common gloss number.
10. Use a good brush or roller
For the painting to flow quickly and smoothly and for the best results, it is important to have the right equipment. The right type of brush and high quality roller will make the work go quickly and give a nice final result. Poor brushes, on the other hand, make the work inefficient, giving an uneven result and perhaps brush hairs that drop and get stuck in the paint on the wall. Ask the paint shop which equipment is best suited to your type of paint and your circumstances.
11. Strive for perfection
To repaint might sound like a simple process at first, but after a while it can become a heavy chore. But never settle for anything less than perfect! You won't regret it. It's easier to be thorough and to do it right from the start than to do it all over again. Therefore, be very careful in your choice of color and test paint thoroughly and let the process of choosing a color sink in and take its time. Experiment, view in different lighting conditions and allow yourself to process it. Once the work is underway, also be careful not to paint too quickly or sloppily. If two or three strokes are required, don't paint once too little once you've started. Also remember to paint wet-on-wet and paint from one side over to the other. Don't start painting from two different directions at the same time, if you have several walls to paint, take one wall at a time. If you discover afterwards that you've made a mess because you rushed the process, you'll never be completely satisfied.
Good luck!