(MS) -- Given the sluggish economy, now is not the time most of us want to spring for a costly remodeling project. But you don't have to spend a lot of money to spruce up your home with paint.
The nation's number one do-it-yourself project holds that title for a reason (two reasons, actually): Painting is easy and it's inexpensive, making it just right for budget-minded consumers.
What's more, even small paint projects can greatly enhance the appearance of your home. Here are some quick ways to get a lot of mileage out of a little paint, according to Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute:
Paint just an interior accent wall. Don't have the time or energy to paint an entire room? Give the space an exciting new look by painting just one wall in a different color. A so-called accent wall can add visual interest to a room and introduce another hue into your color scheme.
Paint the area above (or below) a chair rail. According to Zimmer, if your home is blessed with chair rails, you don't have to paint the entire wall. "You can choose to repaint only the wall area above the rail, or the area below it," says Zimmer. "It's a simple project that can dramatically change the appearance of the room."
Paint the interior windows and trim. Love your wall color, but still yearn for a new look? Give the room a makeover by painting your windows, molding, and trim. You'll be surprised how different a room can look when you change the intensity of color there.
Paint a room's standout feature. Play up what's special about a room by painting it a different color. This could be a fireplace surround, a curved archway, the backs of built-in bookshelves or cabinets, or something else. Using a strong "punch" color will draw immediate attention to your standout feature.
Paint the front door. Studies have shown that visitors get their first impression about a home from the condition of the front entrance, according to Zimmer. A freshly painted door helps ensure that first impression will be favorable.
Paint just a few exterior architectural details. Even if you don't have to paint your home exterior for maintenance reasons, consider changing the appearance of your home by painting a few architectural details. Shutters are good candidates. "But if you're lucky enough to own a house with ornamental fretwork, call attention to the trim by painting it a strong or vibrant color that contrasts with your walls," Zimmer recommends.
Whether you try one of these quick and easy do-it-yourself projects, or take on more ambitious home painting, Zimmer advises that you always use a top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint. These paints have superior "hiding" capability when painting over dark colors, they are stain- and mildew-resistant, many function as both primer and paint, and best of all ... they offer tremendous durability, so your paint job will continue to look great for years to come!
For more ideas on budget-friendly do-it-yourself painting projects, visit www.paintquality.com.
CAPTION: A bold-colored accent wall can add visual interest.
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