Architectural Design | University Painters

Regular Post

Written by Colleen Kalil

4 March 2018

5 Colors You Should Never Paint Your Walls

Painting your home can be an overwhelming task and can feel like a chore at times. There are so many colors, combinations, and finishes to choose from. You sometimes wonder if you should go the easy route and paint it all white. You probably shouldn’t if you plan to resell your home down the road.

Painting your home may not be easy to do, but it’s one of the easiest ways to update the look of your residence. If you want to add a new coat of paint but will be listing your home soon, here are some shades you need to avoid.

Yellow

Never paint your kitchen yellow, no matter how warm the color makes you feel. Homes that had soft yellow or marigold kitchens sold for $820 less than other homes, according to Zillow. Yellow is a tricky and risky color to pull off when it comes to your home’s interior. While buttery yellow can look pleasing to the eyes, bright yellow can cause headaches and anxiety.

Dark Brown, Eggplant, or Any Dark Color

Dark brown is also not a hit with Zillow’s study. Bedrooms that had dark brown walls sold for $236 less than other homes. Colors like dark brown, eggplant, olive green, and green-brown make homes feel small, cramped, and dark. While buyers have the option to repaint their homes, they can’t see past these ugly shades.

Terracotta

Terracotta may look like another cheerful color, but even a muted terracotta can decrease the value of your home. Buyers aren’t crazy about bright orange walls since it’s one of the least-liked colors in the world. They also didn’t like seeing brick red and copper dining rooms and kitchens.

Gray-Blue or Slate Gray

While blue was one of the most-liked colors in 2017, buyers weren’t crazy about rooms with gray-blue walls. They didn’t take kindly to living rooms that featured muted silver, pastel gray, light blue, periwinkle, or slate gray walls. Gray may be a trendy color in fashion and interior design, but that doesn’t mean it’s likable. Paint your home’s dining room or living room gray or slate, and you could lose $1,112 when you sell it.

White, Off-White, or Eggshell

White bathrooms may seem simple and minimalist in design, but buyers disagree. A coat of this generic color could set your home’s selling price back by over $4,000, according to Zillow. Some people prefer off-white or eggshell because it makes a smaller room look brighter and bigger. Buyers, on the other, thinks it makes a room look “dead” and “flat,” especially if the room lacks in natural light.

Considering painting the interior of your home? Need to freshen up your space? Contact University Painters today for a free estimate and more information on our interior painting services.

Regular Post

Written by Josh Jablon

31 December 2017

Mistakes To Avoid When Decorating A Small Space

Many homeowners, particularly those who live in densely populated urban cities, no longer decorate sprawling and multi-room houses but rather more compact apartments and condos. Packing a stylish punch into a limited space though is possible as long as the following mistakes are avoided:

Using Too Much Furniture

Space is crucial when you live in a small house or apartment. Do not allow the limited number of square inches to define your home though. One of the common mistakes that people make is having too much furniture in a small space. You may have to skip having two side tables for your sofa.

In a small space, everything is more visible so choose pieces of furniture that do not weigh down the room. Armless sofas and chairs are examples of this type of furniture. You may also go for versatile furniture or those you can use for multiple purposes. Bookcases, for instance, can be used for displaying art pieces as well as storage for your books. The ottoman can provide extra seating or serve as a coffee table.

Using Curtains With Dominant Designs

Experts advise against using heavily colored horizontal patterns or large flowered prints because these designs tend to dominate a room and create a feeling of less space. Go for curtains in the same color or lighter shade than the wall to provide consistency.

Do not place the window treatments at the top of the window frame. Instead, suspend them from the ceiling to give an illusion of a higher ceiling.

Shying Away From Color

Do not allow yourself to fall into the idea that everything needs to be white or neutral. While neutral colors are wonderful for small spaces, you are not limited to using neutrals.

Neutrals can make small rooms look more spacious because of their simplicity but do not assume that any neutral color will work great in your small space. A neutral color that is too muted can make your room appear small and dark.

If you love color, don’t hesitate to incorporate them in your home. Instead of taking the all-or-nothing approach, consider painting one wall a rich shade you love. Pastels are great for painting and decorating small rooms.

Do hire an experienced painting service contractor with keen attention to details to paint your home. University Painters takes pride in providing professional painting services for small spaces like condominiums since 1986. Contact us today to get an estimate for a painting job.

Design, Paint Colors

Architectural Design, Armless Sofa, Art Pieces, Compact Apartment, Curtain, Displays Art, Interior Design, Much Furniture, Provide Extra, Shies Away, Small Spaces, Space Decorations

Regular Post

Written by Josh Jablon

19 April 2017

Interior Decorating Done Right: Tips to Freshen Up an Old Look

Decorating an older home to give it a more modern appeal doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, there are plenty of ways you can freshen up an old look by using a few simple interior decorating tricks. Here are some tips to help you add a modern and fresh feel to your older home.

Neutral Walls

Paint walls in a neutral tone, such as beige or light gray. Neutral wall colors make a room feel fresh and can create the visual effect of being larger. Besides, if you stick to neutrals you can change your accessories quickly and easily to create the style you want to achieve.

Declutter

If you visit some grandmothers you’ll soon notice their older-style homes are filled with clutter. There are ornaments on shelves, vases on tables and benches, pictures hanging on every available wall space, and various pieces of unnecessary furniture in living rooms. Giving your older home a modern appeal could be as simple as removing any clutter from rooms to help avoid them looking as though your grandmother still lives there. Think about adding one or two poignant ornaments or a bold piece of art on one wall to create a statement instead. Make a focal point rather than filling the space completely.

Natural Light

Lots of older homes are notorious for having heavy, dark-colored drapes over the windows. Aside from being outdated, those drapes can make a room appear smaller and reduce the amount of natural light entering the space. Replace outdated drapes with lighter colored window coverings. If you want to stick with drapes, choose a lighter color that won’t fade quickly, but can still be drawn back to let light in without making the room seem small.

Update Outdated Fixtures

The fixtures and fittings in your home can be a tell-tale sign of age, so it pays to think about updating them. Dated light fittings and discolored light switch plates can drag down your efforts to refresh the home, so replace them with modern alternatives that match your décor whenever possible.

Choose the Right Shelving

Displaying some of your favorite decorations or ornaments on shelves can be a great way to add character to an older home. However, solid shelving units created from dark timber can make everything seem dated. Consider replacing those dark shelves with airy display units instead. Choose shelving with an open back or perhaps even glass shelving to increase the sense of space in the room and add a gallery-style charm that is ideal for older homes.

Fresh is Best

Some older homes can have a musty or stale odor that can make them feel more dated than they really are. For some, a myriad of problems could contribute to the odor. Others may simply be suffering from lack of airflow or ingrained odors in carpets or rugs. Add a few drops of essential oil to some baking soda and sprinkle the mixture lightly onto carpets or rugs to eliminate bad odors. A combination of baking soda, water, and a couple of drops of essential oils or doTERRA products in a spray bottle can also help cleanse bathrooms and leave a fresh aroma behind.

There are plenty of simple ways to update an older home. Be objective about the house and its current condition. Then make your decorating plans accordingly and you’ll find it much easier to achieve your goals.