How to Paint Your Apartment
Try painting a long, narrow room with a darker shade on the end walls. The darker colors will recede and create an illusion of width.
Make a small room look larger by choosing a light color with furniture in similar shades.
Light will affect your paint color dramatically. Be sure to view your colors during both the day and night and in bright, sunny light.
Light-color ceilings attract attention while dark-color ceilings pull the eyes back into the center of the room.
Colors will look different depending on which wall they are placed on, the amount of light that reaches them and even the temperature in the room.
The shade may look much different in the store than on your walls. Test the color first and keep in mind that dark colors will transform the most. Before you buy a gallon, ask for a sample size. Only buy the amount you need when you’ve determined that you are 100% sure of the color you want to use.
Measure the square footage of the room before buying your paint so that you know how much you’ll need. You can determine the square footage by measuring each wall, starting at the corner. Round each measurement to the nearest inch and divide your total by 12 (12 inches=1 foot). Don’t forget to measure the small wall panels and the ceiling.
The supplies
Gather up these supplies in advance of the big painting day:
3-inch flat brush
Small angled brush for trim or corners
Canvas drop cloths, plastic tarps or newspapers
Spackle
Turpentine (if using oil-based paint)
Bucket
Painter’s tape or masking tape
Putty knife
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