Painting 101

In this section:

• Color Basics 
• Color Psychology 
• Choosing Color 
• Finishes Charts 
• Paint Quick Tips 
• Prep 
• Clean-Up 
• Glossary 
• FAQs 

Color Basics

 

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Color Psychology

Psychology of Color

Color describes our personalities.

 

How do you express your color?

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  Black represents elegance, mystery and power. Those who like black are said to be ambitious and sophisticated. Too much black, however, can be depressing. Consider using it as an accent color to add drama to your room.
   
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  Green is the color of nature. Calm and relaxing, green can also be described as joyful, harmonious, energized, and filled with life. Those who like green are said to believe in balance, stability and persistence. Bring energy to a room by painting it a shade of lime green.
   
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  Purple stimulates the imagination. It's the color of royalty, luxury and wealth. Those who like purple tend to be creative, wise and romantic. Want to create a sense of relaxation and serenity in a room? Try painting the walls a calming shade of lilac.
   
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  White represents youth and cleanliness and creates a cool, refreshing feeling. Those who like white prefer a contemporary style. Warmer shades of white help make a room feel cozier, while cooler shades tend to achieve a more formal feel.
   
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  Blue is calming and cool. It is the most popular color because it symbolizes the sky and heaven. Those who like blue are trustworthy, loyal, friendly and strong. Because of its calming power, blue works well in the bedroom.
   
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  Brown represents earth, security and contentment. Those who like brown tend to love nature, simplicity and comfort.
   
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  Red, the color of confidence excitement and energy, is the most psychologically stimulating of colors. Those who like red are passionate, energetic, outgoing and courageous. Want to bring a cheerful feel to your space? Try painting it a candy-apple red.
   
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  Pink is the delicate part of the red color family. Those who like pink are perceived to be feminine, innocent and romantic. Compared to red, pink is a more tranquil color that can work well in the bedroom.
   
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  Yellow represents happiness, optimism, inspiration and summer. Those who like yellow are attracted to what's new and modern. Pale yellow can bring a sunny feel to a space without being overwhelming to the eye.
   
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  Silver represents prosperity and wealth. Those who like silver have a sense of style and are very motivated. Accenting rooms with the color silver can create a feeling of ornate richness.
   
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  Orange is considered wholesome and fruitful. It demands attention while symbolizing balance, warmth, vibrancy and enthusiasm. Those who like orange are friendly and get along with everyone. Orange stimulates appetite and can add spice to a dining area.
   
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  Gray is classic, elegant and works well with most colors. Those who like gray are intelligent and disciplined. Warm gray paired with other warm colors creates a lively and inviting space.
   

Choosing Color

Choosing your perfect color is simple at True Value

 

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Finishes Charts

Interior Paint Finish Chart for EasyCare PLATINUM® and EasyCare® Paint

Choose the best finish for your project.

Walls	Flat	Flat Enamel	Eggshell	Satin	Semi-Gloss	High Gloss
Family room
Dining Room
Bedroom
Home Office
Stairway
Playroom
Hallways
Kitchen
Bathroom
Ceiling
Accent & Trim
Doors
Windows
Room Trim
Cabinets

Exterior Paint Finish Chart for WeatherAll® Paint

Choose the best finish for your project.

Surface	WeatherAll Flat	WeatherAll Satin	WeatherAll Semi-Gloss	WeatherAll High-Gloss
Exterior
Exterior Trim
Garage Doors

Definitions of Finishes

 

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Paint Quick Tips

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  Repaint Trim

  A fresh coat of paint on door and window trim gives your home a fresh look without all the work that goes into painting the whole house. Plus, it helps protect the wood from the elements throughout the year. For more project details, click here.

   
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  Paint An Accent Wall

  A great way to update an entire room without painting every wall. First, select the wall. Then choose your color – perhaps from a piece of art or upholstery. Next, cover furniture and prep the room. Finally, prime and paint. For more project details, click here.

   
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  Remove Outdated Wallpaper

  Perhaps your tastes (and the times) have changed. Or maybe you moved into a home already decked out with wallpaper that would never have been your selection. Take action now by removing dated wallpaper and giving your walls a fresh coat of paint. To learn how, click here.

   

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Faux Techniques

Basic

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  Sponging: Sponging is perhaps the easiest decorative technique to learn. You'll need a natural sea sponge, glaze and two or three colors of paint to produce a wonderful interplay of dimensional color and texture. With sponging, you can add personality and interest to your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or child's room.
   
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  Color Washing: Color washing, or "broken finish" technique, can bring authentic old world charm to any room, making it feel as if it's weathered by time. Yet it's amazingly simple to do. Best of all, brush marks are actually encouraged. This process involves applying a thin, translucent glaze over a contrasting base color and using feathery brush strokes to produce a mellow, soft texture. Once you're done, you'll feel like you've stepped into an Old Master's painting. It's a great look in a kitchen, family room, den or master suite.
   
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  Ragging: Turn any room into an elegant place where you can entertain your guests or just cozy up with a good book. Achieve the rich look of old leather or weathered stucco with ragging. You simply use a rag to add or remove paint/glaze mixtures that have been applied over a different-colored base. Use a rag with texture for more interest. Whether you're in the mood for something subtle or bold and dramatic, ragging is a simple way to make a big impact in any room.
   
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  Clouds: This technique is surprisingly simple to master and utilizes a basic "sponging on" of white paint to form the clouds. You can sponge them onto a field of blue or any soft color you choose. Finish off the edges with glaze if you wish. The secret is to concentrate the white in the center of the cloud and less toward the edge for an authentic "up in the sky" look.
   

Textured

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  Marbling: The rich color variations, veining and intricate patterns of natural marble are the inspiration for this stunning technique. Marbling offers great enhancement to many surfaces, including fireplace surrounds, tabletops, picture frames and, of course, walls. Marbling can make a small space, like a powder room, intimate and dramatic. Marbling, which is a process of layering tinted glazes over a base coat, does take some time and effort. But with a little practice, you can achieve effects that a stonemason would envy.
   
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  Granite: Many homes today are featuring the sophisticated styling that only granite can provide. There is virtually no limit to the colors and pattern variations of granite. When you look at a piece, the colors and texture are random and very interesting. Express yourself with this simple faux stone painting technique that combines sponging and speckling – flicking or dabbing glaze on with a brush. Use this technique on furniture, floors and decorative containers in addition to walls.
   
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  Bricks: The bricks technique, with its rugged textures and earthy colors, can add true character to your decorating scheme. It's the perfect touch for an accent wall in a family room or to give definition and presence to a fireplace. It's a surprisingly easy look to achieve with faux painting. You simply use a light paint to simulate mortar and then sponge in the "bricks" using varying shades of paint. No trowel necessary – just a little imagination and creativity.
   
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  Crackling: Want an aged, weathered look on a surface such as a door, chair or table? Crackling can provide real attention-getting style and create a focal point in a room. There is an endless array of color combinations you can choose and the difference between the colors can be subtle or dramatic. This technique uses two colors of paint, crackle medium and varnish to make the magic happen. It's fun, and can give an instant country or Old World look to your selected surface.
   

Advanced

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  Dragging: Think of the beauty of sumptuous silk or crisp, airy linen. You could spend a fortune on real fabric or expensive wall coverings. Or, you can try the faux technique of dragging, also known as "strié." Dragging is just that - pulling a special paintbrush or wallpaper smoothing brush over a colored glaze that has been applied to a base coat. The darker the top glaze, the more drama you create. It's a luxurious, high-end look that you can master in no time.
   
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  Frottage: Think of the beauty of sumptuous silk or crisp, airy linen. You could spend a fortune on real fabric or expensive wall coverings. Or, you can try the faux technique of dragging, also known as "strié." Dragging is just that - pulling a special paintbrush or wallpaper smoothing brush over a colored glaze that has been applied to a base coat. The darker the top glaze, the more drama you create. It's a luxurious, high-end look that you can master in no time.
   
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  Diamonds: Diamonds can be everyone's best friend. A diamond pattern on either an accent wall or in the entire room can be fun and casual or elegant and trés French. While it necessitates careful taping, this technique can add an incredible ''wow'' factor to a bedroom, hallway, vestibule or dining room. To achieve this effect, you apply the lighter color base coat, then create a tape grid of diamonds, filling some in with either a contrasting color or another finish in the same color as the base.
   
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  Stripes: Stripes are a classic design element that can add texture and interest to any room. You can achieve the simple elegance of fine damask by using the same color in two different sheens. You can be bolder and more contemporary by using stripes in irregular widths. Or, stripe a room horizontally for a cozier effect. Your choice of colors also dramatically affects the end result. Striping is a versatile and fun technique that only looks like it was difficult to achieve.
   

Other Faux Techniques

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  Antiquing: There's a special technique that you can use to give a piece of furniture, cabinets, tables, planters or anything else you can find around the house the look of age. The Antique look is accomplished with the application of a glaze that is usually earth-toned or darker in color. You can antique the other way around, but remember a light base coat needs a darker glaze, whereas a dark base coat should use a light glaze.
   
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  Lime Washing: The ''scrubbed-chalk'' finish has been popular since the medieval period. This finish duplicates a uniquely aged look and is versatile enough to be used for period rooms as well as modern interiors. For instance, lime washing looks great in a kitchen or porch, but works equally well in a bathroom or bedroom. This process also has the advantage of a short drying time.
   
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  Pickling Wood: Pickling, also referred to as ''highlighting,'' is a technique that can lighten old wood that has been darkened with age or give a new piece of wood a wash of color. Therefore it's best for wood furniture, cabinets or other woodwork.
   
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  Stencil a Wall or Border: Stenciling is perhaps the most widely used decorative painting technique and it's something almost anyone can do. In part, the reason must be its aesthetic appeal and its relatively easy degree of difficulty. Stenciling can also be an inexpensive fix for decorating and architectural problems. Some stencil locations: Border a too-small window to make it appear larger. Use a border on a wall just below the ceiling to warm up a cold room or to make a high-ceilinged room look cozier. If you like the look of a chair-rail molding but aren't up to the carpentry involved, try a stenciled border there. You need very little paint but likely several colors. Choose colors that coordinate with your furnishings. In any case, you'll find this technique to be both fun and easy.
   
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  Stenciling a Wood Floor: If you have wood flooring in your house, stenciling can turn it from wood to WOW. Stenciling is unique, it matches your room perfectly and it is more artistic than area rugs as the centerpiece to any room. Plus, it even covers up scratch marks. In order to create the look of an area rug, just make a large rectangular or square border with a central design in a different color. The central design can be anything, from a recognizable shape (such as a sun) to an abstract form (such as alternating circles and ovals). Use this idea in any room simply by adjusting the scale. One thing that you need to decide is if you want to design your own stencil or buy it ready-made. If you have an abstract design in mind you probably want to design your own stencil, which is easy to do and cheaper than buying ready-made stencils. However, if you have a design that you can't draw, buying ready-made is the better choice. There are a wide variety of ready-made stencils in many different styles that could complement your room, and they're easy to find at your local True Value Hardware Store.
   
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  Verdigris Finishing: Create the look of aged bronze on accent pieces with the Verdigris technique. The term ''verdigris'' is from the French, ''vert de Grece,'' which means ''The green of Greece.'' True verdigris is actually a coating of cupric carbonate formed by weathering on copper, brass and bronze from age. The beautiful blue-green patina, which can be seen on historic domes and spires, lends an ancient, soft and chalky aspect to decorative metal work.
   
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  Wood Graining: Wood graining is a centuries-old painting technique used to simulate the appearance of wood. This dramatic technique can be easily applied to doors, painted furniture or interior trim molding.
   

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Prep

All About Applicators

Brushes, Rollers, Pads and Specialty Tools

The quality of your paint job depends as much on the applicators as it does the paint so don't skimp here. A first-time painter with high-quality brushes and rollers can do a better job than an experienced painter with cheap ones. And, since you'll have to live with the results for years to come, the better products are worth a little extra money.

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  Must-Have Tools

  For most jobs the following should be sufficient:

  • A 2'' angular or straight-cut brush for woodwork and windows.
  • A 2'' sash brush for "cutting in" around odd angles, corners and thin detailing. The tighter the space, the narrower a brush you'll need.
  • A roller frame and cover with extension pole. Use for flat, unornamented expanses such as walls, ceilings and doors.

   
   
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  Specialty Tools

  You may want to consider:

  • Narrow rollers for trim and tight areas (e.g. behind toilet tanks and radiators)
  • Painter's mitt for pipes and contoured surfaces like railings
  • A paint shield for protecting walls while you're doing the woodwork
  • A paint edger with guide wheels (an alternative to masking)

   
   
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  Brush With Greatness

  Better brushes hold more paint and hold their bristles, too. This is important to help your job go more quickly with better results. Brushes use either natural or synthetic bristles, or a blend. Natural bristles work only with alkyd paints; synthetic bristles work with both alkyd and latex.

   

For most walls and ceilings use a paint roller. The best generally have a steel frame, a metal cage and a threaded handle that can hold an extension pole. When selecting a cover, choose a short nap (3/16'' or 3/8'') for smooth indoor surfaces and a longer nap (3/4'' or 1-1/4'') for rougher surfaces including textured walls, masonry and stucco.

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  Pad Applicators

  For edging, cutting-in and painting flat trim, foam pads provide a convenient alternative to brushes. Because they're flat, they leave less surface texture in the paint and tend not to drip or spatter. Their flexibility also makes them ideal for reaching inside tight areas like vents of heat registers.

   

Quicker Paint Stripping

Whether you're stripping paint from small parts or much larger surfaces (like window sashes, shutters and doors), it's often faster and easier to bring the painted parts to the stripper rather than the stripper to the painted parts.

Just make a 2' x 4' frame large enough to surround your work and line it with heavy plastic. Pour in the stripper and put items in face down (the work will remain "wet" for faster action). Cover any exposed surfaces with plastic wrap to slow evaporation and speed the chemical process.

Wood Stripping Made Easy

Try this time-saving idea when using chemical strippers to remove paints and varnishes: After applying the stripper to the surface, stretch a layer of thick plastic over the wood. This redirects the stripper's rising fumes back onto the wood increasing the effect of each application. It also keeps most of the fumes out of your breathing space. (But still wear a filter mask if the product's warning label advises it.)

Don't lay the plastic directly on the chemical stripper. Rig it so that the plastic "floats" just over the surface. This prevents the stripper from eating away at the plastic and prevents a big mess. To make the plastic "float," lay two thin strips of wood at either edge of the surface being stripped, then stretch the plastic across the top of both and secure the plastic with tape or small tacks so it remains taut.

Make Sure Your Caulk Sticks

How Compatible is Your Caulk to Your Paint?

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  If your caulking project coincides with painting or staining your house, make sure your caulk is compatible with your paint or stain. If the paint or stain contains wax, stearates, silicones, paraffinic oils or similar materials, there is a great risk that the caulk will not adhere very well. (You may have to do some "detective" work to determine this, but it's worth the effort to avoid this potential problem.)
   
• If you use a coating that is compatible with the caulk, it's usually best to do all your painting first - including the joints to be caulked - before caulking. That way, the coating acts as a primer for the caulk, usually improving the overall adhesion.
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  Unclog Spray Paint

  If you are up to some home improvement touch-ups using old cans of spray paint, you may be in for a problem. If you haven't used the cans lately, they may not spray but don't be quick to toss them and buy new ones.
   

• The paint inside is probably fine. It's most likely the nozzle that's sealed shut. Here's what to do:

  • Remove it and try clearing the nozzle with a pin. Never try this while it's still on the can.
  • If that doesn't work, soak it overnight in what the manufacturer suggests to clean or remove this type of paint.
  • If it still doesn't work, your local True Value hardware store sells standard replacement tips.
  • Stay a step ahead. Next time you empty a can of spray paint, turn it upside down, give it a blast (to clear the nozzle), then remove and save it for use on another can another day.
   

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Clean-Up

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  Cleaning Paint Brushes

  Gearing up for some painting? Good brushes will last for years if you treat them well so make sure to leave enough time at the end of each paint session for some brush work.
   

Start by removing paint from the bristles: For latex, rinse thoroughly under warm, soapy water until the water is clear. For oil-based, wear gloves as you work paint thinner through the bristles until the thinner comes out clear. If you have an empty baby wipe container, use it as a holder for your brushes while they soak in the thinner. The slit in the top should hold the handles of most brushes in place. But don't let the bristles touch the bottom because the paint residue will settle down there.

After soaking, use a brush comb to separate bristles that stick together near the heel of the brush. Then shake them out or put the brush in a spinner if you have one. Finally, dry the bristles with a rag and fold the brush tightly into a piece of butcher paper or in its protective sleeve to help keep its shape – otherwise it'll fan out over time and become useless for any sort of detail work. Store on a nail or hook.

Cleaning Up Interiors

After the painting comes the cleaning. This involves three areas: your house, your tools and yourself. For the first, pick up the drop cloths, remove masking tape, use a one-sided razor blade to clean paint from the glass (best if done within 24 hours) and replace fixtures and wall plates.

If you use latex paint, clean your tools and do personal cleanup with warm, soapy water. Scrape excess paint off brushes and then rinse them, working water through the bristles until the water is clear. Use a paintbrush comb or small wire brush to clean the bristles.

Empty leftover paint from the paint tray into the can, and rinse the tray with water until clean, using a sponge to scrape more stubborn residue. For rollers, throw away the cover and use water and a sponge on the frame and sleeve.

With oil-based paints, use thinner to clean your tools. Soak brushes in thinner. While wearing rubber gloves, keep working thinner through the bristles until the thinner comes out clear. Comb with a wire brush and shake dry outdoors. Throw away paint trays and liners entirely. Throw away roller covers; clean the roller carriage and handle with thinner.

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  Leftover Paint

  Store leftover paint in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines. Dispose of empty paint cans at a recycling facility. Also, try to share leftover paint with those who can use it (i.e. schools, churches, your local Red Cross chapter, etc.) For disposal, please refer to these guidelines.

   

Latex-based paints:

Liquid paint is usually considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. Never pour paint down the drain, on the ground or into a garbage can. To safely dispose of significant amounts of leftover paint, take it to a special household waste collection center. (Check with your True Value associate, town hall or environmental web site for proper legal disposal.)

Oil-based paints:

For products that have dried up, wrap tightly closed container in newspaper and put in the trash. Significant amounts of liquid paint should be taken to a special household waste collection center.

Cleaning Up Exteriors

After you have completed your painting projects, there is still one more thing to do: clean up. Here are helpful ideas for cleaning the outside your home, your tools and you.

• First remove all masking tape, protective covers and drop cloths. Use a razor blade to remove paint from glass.
• Paint sprayers should be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Thorough and immediate cleaning is essential to ensure many years of service from your equipment.
• With latex paint, clean tools and yourself with warm, soapy water. Scrape excess paint off brushes and work the soapy water through the bristles. Rinse thoroughly. They're clean when the water is clear. Comb the bristles with a paintbrush comb (available at your local True Value hardware store). Twirl the brush dry and wrap it in its original cover or wrapping paper.
• Oil-based paint can be removed from tools and brushes with thinner. Soak brushes in thinner. Wearing gloves, work the thinner through the bristles until the thinner comes out clear. Comb with a wire brush and shake dry outdoors. Because paint thinner is harsh on skin, use a mechanic's hand cleaner for yourself. You can also use the cleaner for wet paint on clothing, but launder clothes immediately after application.
• Store leftover latex paint in a tightly sealed container (preferably the original can) in a warm, dry place. Liquid paint (i.e. paint that isn't dried) is usually considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. Never pour paint down the drain, on the ground or into garbage cans. To dry paint in the can, put newspapers in it to soak up and dry the paint; then dispose of it in the trash. To safely dispose of significant amounts of leftover paint, take it to a special household waste collection center. (Check with your True Value associate, town hall or environmental web site for proper legal disposal.) It's best if you can share your unused paint with a neighbor or a charitable organization such as a school, church or local Red Cross chapter.

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  Cleaning Spilled Paint

  With paint accidents, time is critical. So just like we read in 1st grade: "See Spot? Run." Be prepared to move fast with the right materials and the information provided here.

   

Step 1: Consider the type of paint you're using:

• Latex paint cleans easily with water. So always keep a damp rag handy to clean as you go along.
• Oil-based or alkyd paints require mineral spirits for clean up. When you're through painting, air-dry your rags and dispose of them in a safe manner. The rags should be put into an area that does not allow combustible fumes to accumulate and present a fire hazard.
• Do NOT think that water-based paints can be cleaned up with water when dry – it'll be too late. You'll need products specially formulated to clean-up dried paints...so move quickly.

Step 2: Consider the Location:

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  Carpeting

  The worst-case scenario is a whole can of paint spilling and getting into your carpeting – this happens even to those people who have taken precautions. You'll need plenty of clean towels and rags on hand. And if you don't own a carpet cleaner that uses liquid solvents, rent one and keep it on standby. If you have expensive carpet, consider this an insurance policy.

   

More than likely, the bulk of the paint will be on your plastic drop cloth. Take the drop cloth by the four corners and carry it out. Put it into a trashcan or someplace outside where it won't harm anything. Be sure there's nothing on your shoes because you don't want to compound the nightmare.

If there's pooled paint, scoop up as much as possible with your hands and dump it into the roller pan. With latex, use water and lots of it. With alkyd paint, use lots of paint thinner (it's wise to stock up beforehand). Soak the spot repeatedly, massaging the water or thinner into the carpet and blotting it up with all the towels and rags to get out as much as you can. Finally, treat it with the carpet cleaner.

Smaller spots probably won't require the carpet cleaner equipment, but the other steps will be necessary. If you discover drips or extremely small spots only after they have dried, you might be able to pinch them out with your fingernails or cut them out with a razor without doing noticeable damage to the carpet's appearance. Some "miracle" carpet spot removers may also handle small spots of alkyd paint.

To avoid huge spills on carpets, you may want to transfer paint from a big can to a smaller one before climbing a ladder. Store the big cans in a safe place, removing paint only as needed.

For spills on clothing and cleaning your skin, latex paint requires lots of water and scrubbing. With alkyd paint, don't use paint solvent. It's not good for your skin or your clothing. To clean alkyd from skin or clothing, use mechanic's hand cleaner; a solvent that handles paint, grease and motor oil.

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  On Window Screens

  Since your windows will be open for ventilation, your wet walls will be like flypaper if you don't have the screens up. And once dripped paint dries on a screen it'll never come clean, so be sure to tackle it immediately. Blot, don't smear, the excess, and then treat with water, thinner or mechanic's hand cleaner while the paint is still wet.
   
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  On Hard Floors

  If it's a big spill, use your hands (just as with carpeting above) to get rid of the puddle. Then soak and blot repeatedly with water or thinner. Use a wire brush for crevices in a stone floor or an old toothbrush for vinyl or wood.
   
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  What to Do with Leftover Paint

  Congratulations. You finished your paint job but you have some paint left over. What do you do with it?
   

1) Paint can be stored for years when done right. Just close the lid securely and then turn the can upside down to create a tight seal around the lid. That keeps it fresh. And here's how avoid playing the game of "What color's in the can?"

• Put a color swatch on the label, put a mark on the can to show how much paint is left, write the date and which room the paint was used for on the lid with a permanent marking pen.
• An even better idea is to transfer leftover paint into see-through containers such as a plastic 1/2-gallon milk or water bottle or a glass spaghetti sauce jar. Write all pertinent information on the outside and put plastic wrap under the lid to prevent sticking. You'll save space and be able to see what's inside.

Now you can use it for touch-up jobs, other projects or even mix with other leftover paint to create more of a single color.

2) Donate leftover paint to community groups, theater groups, schools, churches, etc.

3) You CANNOT discard latex paint that is still wet, so be sure it has already dried and solidified before tossing it in the garbage. Adding shredded newspaper or cat box filler speeds the drying process. If the can is empty, find out if your community recycles empty steel paint cans before tossing them in the garbage.

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Glossary

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  Primary colors: The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Any color can be created from primary colors but primary colors can't be created from other colors.

   
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  Secondary colors: Secondary colors are created from combining two primary colors. Secondary colors are orange, green and violet.

   
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  Tertiary colors: Combining primary and secondary colors creates tertiary colors. These colors are red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green and blue-violet.

   
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  Monochromatic colors: Colors from the same color family tend to look great together. Monochromatic color schemes use tints and shades of the same color to create a sophisticated and elegant look.

   
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  Analogous colors: Developed from colors next to each other on the color wheel, analogous color schemes offer more nuances while retaining the elegance of the monochromatic scheme. Usually, one color is used as a dominant color while others are used to enrich the scheme.

   
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  Complementary colors: Contrasting colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel add drama to any room. Complementary colors enhance the temperature of each other, which adds interest and energy to the décor. To get the most out of this scheme, use a warm color against a cool shade or add contrasting accessories to highlight the color of your walls.