Photo: hgtvremodels.com

We often choose colors we believe to be an expression of ourselves. But the science of color psychology suggests that we might successfully select paints based, not on who we actually are, but on who we want to be.

The practice of using color to influence health and moods dates back to ancient times, when it was thought that blue heals burns, yellow alleviates breathing problems, and red overcomes paralysis.

Though it doesn’t support the bold claims of our ancestors, modern research has proven that, indeed, color can have dramatic effects on our mind states. By applying color theory in each room of the house, you can ensure, not only that your colorful abode is visually appealing, but also that it makes you feel great!

 

KITCHEN

Photo: Blackburn Architects, PC

As part of an experiment known as the cocktail party study, a group of designers and scientists developed a series of rooms, each with a different prevailing color. People gravitated toward the room painted yellow; here, they were more sociable than in the other two rooms. Being that the kitchen always tends to be a popular gathering spot, why not paint the room yellow to facilitate exchanges among friends and family?

Alternative: Red. In the same study, participants were also quite sociable in the red room, where they reported feeling hungrier and thirstier than participants in other rooms. That fact suggests that red may be the perfect color choice for revving up appetites prior to mealtime.

BEDROOM

Photo: virtualimaging360.com

Green has long been considered a symbol of fertility, so it’s an obvious choice for the bedroom, even if your baby-making days are in the past. Ever wonder why talk show guests hang out in the “green room” before appearing on live television? Because green helps with the jitters; it’s been shown to reduce stress. Green has also been associated with enhanced reading ability—a boon for anyone who likes to curl up with a good book before dozing off.

Alternative: According to studies, blue has soothing properties, as well.

DINING ROOM

Photo: shutterstock.com

For centuries, people held the belief that red gets the blood moving. Turns out they weren’t wrong: Red is, in fact, associated with increased heart rate. Another effect of red is that it stimulates appetite, making the color a natural candidate for use in the dining room. Red’s stimulating effects may lead to more lively dinner party conversation, but caution: Since red has been linked to aggression, too, steer clear of any topics that are especially contentious!

Alternative: Orange exerts a similar, less intense influence on appetite.

HOME OFFICE

Photo: westelm.com

We usually try to avoid “getting blue” in the office, but doing so may not be such a bad thing. If you work from home and frequently need to access the right side of your brain, then bear in mind that blue bolsters creativity. Another beneficial side effect of blue, particularly in the home office context, is that research indicates the color is calming.

Alternative: Red. Its stimulating qualities can help you avoid mid-day slumps, and its aggressive tinge might give you the edge you need. In addition, studies correlate the color with improved memory and accuracy in detail-oriented tasks.

LIVING ROOM

Photo: carolinadesignassociates.com

Because the living room hosts a variety of experiences, from rollicking Sunday football games to quiet candlelit nights, it’s best to go with a neutral color. Browns work well, because while fading easily into the background, they also create an overall sense of solidity, security, and warmth—perfect for a room at the heart of a home.

Alternative: Green, often as refreshing as it is soothing, remains supportive of the living room’s mood, even as that mood changes throughout the day.

For more on color, consider:

Take the COLOR QUIZ!
Boost Your Color Confidence
Bob Vila’s Guide to Historic Paint Colors

For Every Hue, a Mood: Use Color to Make the Most of Every Room Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: architecture.about.com

mp3_link

Listen to BOB VILA ON EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR or read the text below:

Start by looking at the colors on your home that you can’t change. If you have brick or stonework, for example, your paint colors will have to work well with these elements.

Also consider your home’s location. A house in the woods usually looks great in earth tones, and homes near water look good in blues, greens, or cream shades.

Take the color of nearby homes into consideration, as well. You probably don’t want to paint your house the same color as your neighbor’s, but you’ll want a color that looks good in the context of the other houses.

Then consider the style of your home. A stately Greek Revival home looks great in white, and old Victorians look their best when sporting bold colors that accent their many architectural details. And of course think about what colors you just happen to like.

Whatever you do, don’t commit to a color until you sample it. Paint a section of your house with a few possible choices, and live with them for a while before you decide.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on painting, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Historic Paint Color
Bob Vila Radio: Painting The Front Door
Bob Vila Radio: Paint Rollers

Bob Vila Radio: Exterior Paint Color Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: inspirationforhome.blogspot.com

mp3_link

Listen to BOB VILA ON CHALKBOARD PAINT or read the text below:

Chalkboard paint, which is sold in paint stores and home centers, can be painted onto a single door panel, a small area above a desk, or even onto an entire wall. Use it on dresser drawers to label their contents, or on bedroom doors to leave messages or just express feelings. For finishing touches, install molding around a chalkboard-painted area to create a picture frame effect, and hang a ledge or cup nearby to hold chalk.

Let the paint cure for three days before using it as a chalkboard, and use a damp cloth instead of an eraser to wipe it clean.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on paint, consider:

How To: Stencil a Floor
Trending Now: Painted Stairs
Bob Vila’s Guide to Historic Paint Colors

Bob Vila Radio: Chalkboard Paint Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: amazon.com

mp3_link

Listen to BOB VILA ON KRAFT PAPER or read the text below:

Rolls of kraft paper, sometimes referred to as builder’s paper, are available at paint stores and home centers. The paper can be unrolled across a floor from edge to edge for perfect coverage. Unlike a drop cloth, it lays perfectly flat on the floor and can be left in place for days or even weeks. Overlap the paper by an inch or so as you lay it out, and use low-tack painter’s tape to hold it in place along the seams.

Kraft paper rolls are usually two to three feet wide, so for most rooms it only takes a few passes to cover the floor from wall to wall. You’ll have to do some custom cuts in irregular-shaped corners.

One of the best places to use kraft paper is on staircases, where a loose drop cloth can be a dangerous trip hazard. Take your time and tape down the edges and seams carefully along treads and risers.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on paint projects, consider:

Bob Vila’s 12 DIY Painting Tips
How To: Paint a Room
How To: Clean a Paintbrush

Bob Vila Radio: Kraft Paper Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: flickr.com

mp3_link

Listen to BOB VILA ON RANGE HOODS or read the text below:

Restoration experts have come to understand that original paint colors in historic homes were probably much stronger than they had realized, but that they had faded over the years. Those pale yellows and grays you’ve thought of as historic probably started out as much brighter shades.

If you’re committed to creating an authentic look for your home, look into what colors were common for your home’s style. Georgian-style homes were often yellow or brown. Federal style brought in softer creams, yellows, and wedgwood blue. The bright, varied colors of victorian homes had as much to do with new technology as they did with changing styles – as the 20th century approached, chemists were coming up with ways to create a wider variety of colors than had previously been available. They also had at their disposal a brand-new invention that revolutionized the availability of color choices: the paint can!

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on paint colors, consider:

Bob Vila’s Guide to Historic Paint Colors
Selecting a Historic Paint Color
The Do’s and Don’ts of Choosing a New House Color

Bob Vila Radio: Historic Paint Colors Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: HGTV® HOME by Sherwin-Williams

In her position as director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, Jackie Jordan spends her days looking at color, thinking about color, and predicting which colors will work best in today’s homes.

Related: Trending Now: Emerald Green

While whites and creams still rank among the most popular paint choices in America, Jordan has noticed home color use steadily growing over the past decade. “People are becoming less fearful of using color,” she says. Here are her tips on choosing harmonious hues for your own home:

Turn on the TV. Jordan credits the popularity of quick-makeover shows for inspiring people to experiment with bright and sometimes even unexpected paint colors. On these TV series, people are often involuntarily pushed beyond their color comfort level, and most are pleasantly surprised with the results.

Look around you. To find colors that you’ll love to live with, survey your wardrobe, walk in your garden, or hunt around your house. A favorite scarf, flower, or throw pillow may help you identify the perfect paint color.

Photo: Sherwin-Williams' ColorSnap

Utilize new technology. Web tools and smartphone apps have completely transformed the color selection process—for the better! One example is Sherwin-Williams’ ColorSnap, a mobile app that shows what different shades would look like on the walls of any room you’ve ‘snapped’ a photo of.

Get samples. Images in magazines or on the computer can point you in the right direction, but the only way to really see how a color will look in your home is to get a sample from a retailer.

Save your walls. Rather than painting a square that will later need to be covered with primer, ask for a “Small Wall.” You can move these adhesive-backed paint sample boards around the room to observe the effects of sunlight versus artificial light. Likewise, you’ll be able to judge how the color will look beside furniture or artwork sharing the space.

Photo: HGTV® HOME by Sherwin-Williams.

Start small. If you’re feeling timid, experiment with color in a cozy powder room or an out-of-the-way guest bedroom. Then if you’re pleased with the look—and if friends can’t stop complimenting your choice—consider a bolder palette for other spaces as well.

Break it up. Still overwhelmed by the thought of four walls of color? Consider an accent wall, or if you have waist-high wainscoting, paint a bright shade up above and white down below.

For more information and resources, visit Sherwin-Williams.

For more on color, consider:

45 Ravishing Red Rooms
12 “Expert Picks” for Fail-Safe Colors
Bob Vila’s Guide to Historic Paint Colors

Boost Your Color Confidence Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Varnish, lacquer, shellac and other clear coats are applied to protect wood furniture and flooring from scratches, scuff marks, and stains. Applied properly, these products do their job well—but what if you want to re-expose the wood grain for refinishing, repair, or restoration?

Then your first order of business will be removing the wood’s existing finish. There are many different clear-coat finishes, and if you don’t know the origins of your piece, it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between finish types.

Here are three ways to de-varnish wood when you aren’t sure what type of finish you’re dealing with.

Removing finish by sanding: Good for paint, acrylic, varnish, lacquer, shellac

Porter-Cable Random Orbit Sander from Amazon

Though labor-intensive, sandpaper is capable of removing nearly any wood finish. It can be used to refinish hardwood floors, or it can be used to remove varnish from much smaller surfaces—a tabletop, for example. Tackle flat surfaces with a power tool like the random orbit sander; for irregular areas, use handheld paper or a sanding block. If you’re removing the finish from a piece of furniture that you plan to paint, sanding is the only necessary step: Begin with 150-grit paper to rough up the surface and finish with 220-grit, being sure to remove any dust with tack cloth or a lightly dampened rag.

Removing finish with solvents: Good for shellac and lacquer

Photo: rockler.com

Shellac and lacquer are alcohol-based finishes, which can be removed with a variety of solvents that are available from your neighborhood hardware store. Shellac can be removed with denatured alcohol. If alcohol doesn’t work, try lacquer thinner. If your piece was manufactured by a quality furniture maker after 1930, a thinning product is the best place to start, since your furniture is likely finished with shellac or lacquer. Apply the solvent with a rag to loosen the shellac/lacquer from the wood surface, then lightly scrape the residual finish with a plastic putty knife.

Removing finish with chemical strippers: Good for polyurethane (acrylic), varnish, and paint

Photo: shearerpainting.com

Chemical paint-or-varnish strippers are very effective and won’t harm wood. But take caution: Historically, these products have contained the active ingredient methylene chloride, a harsh, caustic chemical that can do serious damage to your eyes, respiratory system, and skin (not to mention the environment). Chemical strippers are available in home centers, and if you’re able to work with the appropriate safety gear in a very well-ventilated area—and environmental friendliness isn’t a priority—such products make quick work of removing finishes.

3M Safest Stripper Paint and Varnish Remover

I prefer a water-based product by 3M called Safest Stripper, which enables me—an allergy sufferer with environmental concerns—to work safely in my windowless basement. Upon application, the paste-like stripper stays wet for an extended period of time, making it possible to remove multiple layers if necessary. Use fine steel wool (#0000) rubbed in the direction of the wood grain to remove any residue.

For more on finishes, consider:

DIY Wall Stenciling
How To: Refinish a Wood Table
Bob Vila Radio: Paint Stripping Tools

How To: Remove Varnish and Other Wood Finishes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: coastalthemehome.com

It’s always amazed me to see workmen sanding all the paint off a home’s exterior just because some of the paint is peeling. All that work and expense, and rarely is it necessary. Generally, new paint isn’t going to adhere any better to bare wood than it would to a layer of old paint.

Before climbing the ladder, sander in hand, take the time to answer a pair of essential questions: 1) Why is the paint peeling, and 2) is it really necessary to strip all of it?

Paint usually peels due to high levels of humidity and inadequate ventilation, not because of substrate problems. If you lift a peeling section and see wood, it’s because unvented moisture from inside your house has built up in the siding and “pushed” the paint layer away from the wood.

In the above describes your situation, improve the ventilation in your home before doing anything else. Afterward, instead of stripping paint, scrape off loose or blistered paint, sand rough spots smooth, prime bare spots (anywhere that wood shows through), apply a new finish coat or two and you’re done.

If, however, the paint on your house is so thick that the definition of shingles, molding profiles, and decorative carvings has been lost—or if you want to reveal the wood grain that the paint is hiding—then at least some degree of paint stripping will be in order.

Homeright ProPlus Heat Gun from Overstock.com

My recommended plan of attack involves a heat gun and a quality set of paint scrapers. Hold the heat gun a few inches away from the surface to be stripped, and as the old paint heats up, you’ll see it begin to bubble and lift.

Before the softened paint can cool, use a scraper or putty knife to remove the loosened paint from the substrate, allowing the scrapings to fall on a drop cloth. These solidify quickly and therefore won’t create the noxious mess that liquid paint removers do.

For big jobs (e.g., large areas of wood siding that’s severely alligatored) consider using an infrared heater. This tool heats a larger area than a heat gun and can be mounted on a track for hands-free operation.

Scrapers are available with interchangeable steel heads, some flat and others with points or various contours for tackling curved surfaces. To quicken your work, keep scrapers sharp with a file or sharpening stone.

The heat gun-and-scraper combination can also be used when stripping paint from furniture and interior trim. Here, household implements (like old steak knives) can be useful for digging softened paint out of narrow crevices. Having completed the other steps in the process, lightly sand to remove additional paint residue, then refinish.

Two notes of caution:

1. When using a heat gun, remain aware of where you’re directing the heat. Do not point the gun in one direction for too long; you can inadvertently scorch the wood or ignite the paint (or any flammable substance close to where you’re working).

Infrared Silent Paint Remover. Photo: solventfreepaint.ca

2. If the surface you’re stripping has paint layers that date back to before 1978, they may contain lead paint. This stuff is no joke, and the heat gun may vaporize the lead, allowing it to be inhaled. On a windless day, this can even happen outdoors. If you’re scraping and sanding, lead-laden bits of old paint can scatter on the floor or get on your fingers, only to be ingested later without your realizing it. For protection, wear gloves, a dust mask, and ensure adequate ventilation of your work. Launder clothing after work sessions as an added precaution.

For more on painting, consider:

Exterior Paint
Bob Vila Radio: Paint Stripping Tips
How To: Avoid House Painting Problems

Is Stripping Paint Really Necessary? Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: allthingsconcrete.com

Hurricane Sandy proved to be a trial for many of us. My wife and I were fortunate, and our home suffered no major damage. The storm did, however, test the paint job I’d recently completed in the basement of our new co-op.

This apartment complex—a set of brick buildings with slate roofs and stone foundations—was completed in 1918. When moving in just a month before the hurricane, our basement looked as though it hadn’t been touched, or even cleaned, since the ’40s.

The first thing I did was haul all the junk to the dump and scrub the floor and walls with TSP. Wherever the paint was loose or flaking, I used a wire brush. Though walls and floors had been painted in the distant past, about 20% of the surfaces were bare by the time I’d finished cleaning.

After allowing everything to dry for a few days, I spot primed the bare spots using Zinsser’s BIN primer-sealer. Then came two coats of paint. For the walls, I used Sherwin-Williams Super Paint in a satin white.

When rolling paints on a rough surface like stone, I recommend using a thick-napped roller cover. For me, one coat was enough.

On the concrete slab floor, I used Sherwin-Williams latex Porch and Floor Enamel, also in a satin finish. For the fun of it, I asked to have the paint tinted a deep cayenne red.

Sherwin Williams Porch & Floor Enamel

Then along came Sandy, pushing seawater across the beach and street separating us from Long Island Sound. Having evacuated, we didn’t see it firsthand, but a neighbor who stayed behind said an 18-inch-high surge burst through basement windows and bulkhead doors “like a waterfall.”

When we arrived the next morning, the basement more closely resembled a swimming pool.

Once we had managed to have the floodwater pumped out (65 inches in all), down I went to examine the damage. Much to my surprise, the paint on both the floors and the walls looked fine, except for a thin film of a clay-like silt. Another scrubbing or two with TSP, followed by sponging with a bleach and water solution, and the basement looked freshly painted again.

Lessons learned? First, I now have a greater respect for today’s paint technology. Not only are today’s latex enamel paints more people- and earth-friendly, but they also perform incredibly well. Chalk one up for regulations that have lessened the extent to which petro-based paints are used. There is simply no need for homeowners to get involved with oil-, alkyd-, and epoxy-based paints. They are difficult to apply, give off noxious fumes, and the leftovers are a pain to dispose of.

Second, I was happy that I didn’t choose to finish my basement with conventional walls and floors. My neighbor has spent weeks ripping moldy drywall from his basement, and some of his vinyl floor tiles were loosened by the ordeal.

Third, I gained firsthand knowledge about how water leaks into my basement. That it poured in through the basement windows and bulkhead door was to be expected. But in the days following the storm, after the basement had been pumped dry, several inches of water leaked back in. The sea water had, in effect, temporarily raised the water table.

The interesting thing was that the water leaked in through the joint at the base of the foundation wall and slab—not through the mortar joints of the painted wall. This makes me feel pretty good about the long term prospects for my paint job. If it held up to flooding and the scrubbing that followed, it should last for many years.

For more on painting, consider:

How To: Paint a Wood Floor
Bob Vila Radio: Painting Masonry
Bob Vila’s Guide to Historic Paint Colors

Painting Masonry Walls and Floors Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: todaysnest.typepad.com

mp3_link

Listen to BOB VILA ON TYPES OF PAINT BRUSHES or read the text below:

The first choice is what material you want for the bristles, natural or synthetic. If you’ll be painting with water-based latex paint, choose synthetic bristles, which can hold up to water without losing their shape. For enamel, choose a brush with natural bristles. If you’re using oil-based paint, you can use either material. Remember that the softer the bristles the smoother the finish. Stiff bristles tend to leave brush strokes.

Next, decide whether you want a flat brush or an angled one. Angled brushes, also called sash brushes, let you get into small corners and create crisp, straight lines. They’re perfect for painting window sashes or trim. Flat brushes are best for larger, wide surfaces like shingles, siding, and walls.

Finally, choose the right size brush for the job. For precise jobs like window sashes and trim you’ll want a small brush, usually one or two inches. Use a larger brush, three or four inches wide, for bigger jobs.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on painting, consider:

Paint Guide: 10 Essentials for Successful House Painting
Oil-Based Paint vs. Water-Based Paint
How To: Clean Paint Brushes

Bob Vila Radio: Types of Paintbrushes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com