When you think of wallpaper, do you think of bilious colors and floral patterns that haven’t been changed since 1954? If so, you are not alone, but you may be missing out on a versatile and potentially lovely décor choice. This year, many people have already boarded the wallpaper train, and we’re impressed with six style choices they’re making with the material.

Why Wallpaper?

What can paper offer that a fresh coat of paint cannot? Well, for starters, it can add texturing and visual interest, especially in small spaces. It can be used to create a consistent motif throughout a room or make a bold impact as an escalated version of the accent wall. Its strongest point is its versatility. Wallpaper caters to styles both contemporary or traditional. It can be subtle or dramatic, busy or simplistic, vintage or avant garde.

Made for You

Because wallpaper has a lot to offer for many different tastes, the trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Its customizable nature speaks to those looking to create a space entirely their own. While we’ve listed some of our favorite ways we’ve seen wallpaper used, each style choice presents itself differently depending on who is designing the paper. Do any of these styles strike your fancy? How would you make them your own?

Murals

Instead of adding sheets of a repeating pattern, many are choosing to use paper to create impressive murals across their walls. We’ve seen some beautiful examples of subtle lines depicting Japanese Sansui painting or a world map in faded sepia tones. You might consider doing this as a statement piece on only one accent wall, or even making the whole room a statement piece by wrapping the mural around the entire space.

Botanical

Depending on the feeling you want to create in the room, you can use bold strokes and colors or soft brushes and hues. Do you want to evoke the lush vibrance of a jungle or the cool serenity of a forest? Maybe a breezy meadow full of wildflowers is more your style. Using motifs with leaves or flowers can be subtle or striking, airy or attention-grabbing. 

Chinoiserie 

Chinoiserie, using Chinese motifs and techniques in Western design, is making a long-awaited comeback. We’re talking about an eighteenth-century Europe comeback. Wallpaper sporting chinoiserie can follow a typical repeating pattern or lean more toward the mural style. It adds sophistication and an almost lavish elegance to any room.

Geometric Patterns

Hear us out. Geometric patterns on the wall do not have to be reminiscent of the carpet in hotel lobbies. Instead they can lend an air of modernity and class. Monochromatic color schemes feel particularly chic. Consider overlapping lines of gold against a navy backdrop, or try triangles of different sizes to add a bit of visual fun. 

Textural

The world is your oyster if you jump on the texture trend. It can be achieved in several ways. If you want to stick with neutral colors, you can work in impressions that create the illusion of familiar textures, or you can use actually textured paper for a design element that appeals to more than just the eyes. If you are looking for something in the middle, consider wallpaper that reproduces the image of bricks or stone or wood planking to evoke different structural material. It’s the best of both worlds, we say.

Birds

Further following the nature theme, you might try birds in your designs. If you like jewel tones, the inclusion of a statement peacock in your motifs wouldn’t go awry, but if pastels are more your fancy, try flocks of little songbirds peppered across the paper. Adding chipper avians is sure to make any wallpaper sing.

Opting for Paint After All

If we haven’t convinced you, if wallpaper is not a trend you’ll be jumping on any time soon, you can always fall back on paint. (We’re personally partial to it.) Paint is generally less expensive than rolls of paper, the installation is more straightforward, and it can help prevent mildew and mold by creating a sealed layer. 

If you want to paint a room that has been papered, the best practice is to remove wallpaper before paint is applied. This can be a tedious process, but it can be well-worth it if you love the permanence of paint. The exact removal process will depend on what your walls are made of and the kind of paper on the walls, so give us a call today for help getting started.

We love a fresh coat of paint. Painting a room is one of the easiest ways to give it a whole new look. If you’ve never painted a room before, however, it can be a daunting task. We’ve broken the process into eight steps to help it seem more manageable.

Choose Your Paint

This step can be overwhelming if you don’t already have what you want in mind. Paint is sold in every color you can imagine, usually in both matte and gloss. To help you choose, most paint merchants offer patch swatches at no cost, so you can see at least a bit of the color in question on your wall. Keep in mind that most paint dries darker than it appears while wet. 

Before getting started, know the right paint for your walls. Depending on what your walls are made of, you may need to put down primer before painting in your color of choice, especially if you are updating to a lighter color.

Get a Handle on the Right Tools

The exact tools you’ll need are determined by the shape and layout of your room. If you have tall ceilings, you’ll need a paint roller extension pole, and the protective coverings you need will depend on your flooring and furniture. As a general rule, though, this is a good list of tools to have on hand:

• Paint 
• Paint roller
• Paintbrushes
• Paint tray
• Drop cloths
• Painter’s tape
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Rags

Make sure you have enough paint before you start your project. One gallon per 400 square feet is a safe estimate, but remember that more paint is needed to paint a wall lighter than the existing color. Paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore offer paint calculators to get a more specific volume of paint for your space.

Prepare the Room

Protect your furniture by covering it with plastic tarping or by removing it from the room before you begin to paint. Make sure you cover your floor as well, no matter what it is made of. Remove all pictures, decor, and appliances from the walls. This includes outlet and light switch covers. Unscrew the covers and protect the outlets and switches with painters tape. 

Once you’ve protected the room, protect yourself and ventilate the space. Open any windows and use fans to blow noxious fumes out of harm’s way. This will not only help the paint dry faster, it will mitigate the fumes you inhale. 

Patch Any Holes

This is also part of prepping the room. If you have holes in the walls, use putty to patch them then sand over the spots to smooth them to be flush with the rest of the wall. Make sure the putty is dry all the way through before you begin to sand. If you need to caulk the baseboards, do so before you paint.

Clean the Ceiling and Walls

Paint needs to be applied to a clean, dry surface to ensure the strongest and smoothest adhesion. Using a damp cloth, wipe away any sanded-down grit and other dirt and grime that has built up. This should be done even if the walls don’t look dirty. Trust us, you don’t want anything getting between your walls and your paint.

Trim with Tape

It’s almost time to start painting! First, give yourself a defined area to color in the lines. Painters tape is specifically designed to be easily added and removed without removing existing paint, so use it to protect your windows and door frames and give your paint job sharp, clean lines. For best results, use a putty knife to really secure the tape’s straight edge. Never apply tape to wet paint.

Paint to Perfection

Before putting brush to paint, stir your paint to thoroughly mix it. Next, pour some paint into a paint tray, not the whole can, just enough to comfortably work with. If you are painting your ceiling, start there and work down. Paint trim and doors—if they are in need of a fresh coat—before painting the walls. Wait until the ceiling and trim paint is dry before painting the rest of the room.

We have a few hints on applying paint:

• Make sure the paint is thick enough to cover but not thick enough to drip.
• Roll the paint on in small sections.
• Lay the paint on with smooth sweeping strokes of the roller.
• Paint in a “W” pattern to help eliminate paint roller marks.
• “Cut in” the wall paint around the trim and door frames. This means use a paint brush to get right up against the tape on the frames.
• Be quick so the paint doesn’t dry as you work, but keep your strokes even.
• Repeat with a second or third coat if necessary.

Cover Your Bases

If you take a break, make sure to cover your rollers and paint trays. Even if you’re only away for 10 minutes, the paint will continue to dry, and if it dries on your brush, that brush will become unusable. Wrap the head of your paint brush to limit the air flow that facilitates more rapid paint drying.

Any time you are not using the paint can, put the lid on it at once. When you are all finished with your paint job, multiple coats and all, clean brushes and rollers with soapy water.

 

At Brush Brothers, we know that painting a room—and even preparing to do so—is no small task. If you’d like the experts to take care of it, or if you’d like more professional painting tips, give us a call today.

Is it a trendy retreat or the kids’ stuffed animal sanctuary? Is it meant for boxes or bench presses? Is the focus of the room the TV or the racks of wine? Whatever purpose your basement fulfills, we know it can be a challenge to make it feel inviting, but never fear. Here at Brush Brothers, we have a few ideas on using paint to make your basement brighter.

Use Light Colors 

Of course this one has to be first. The paint in a room is the gel that holds it together, and the basement is no exception. Light hues can lend an airy feel to a closed off room or a sense of coziness to a space that is, by nature, usually cold. We’ve got a few palettes that we’re particularly fond of.

Bright whites

Using lots of white will not only reflect the light already present in the room, but it will also leave plenty of room to change up the theme of your basement. White walls are a blank canvas that give you liberty to play with accents and décor. Be deliberate when choosing your white paint and stick with hues with cool undertones. Stark whites won’t look dingy in the darkness of a basement. 

Sky blue or lavender

If you are looking for a way to make your basement brighter and more tranquil, opt for cool-toned pastels. Gentle blues are calming, and pale purples soothe. With light color on the walls, accents and furniture can be light as well or dark for more defined lines.

Soft gray or a cozy greige

Sophisticated. Classic yet modern. If you have used these terms to describe how you’d like your basement to look, consider working in light grays. Downy grays pose a triple threat: they can make a basement brighter and softer without making it feel sterile. For a slightly homier touch, add just a drop of beige to your gray paint. Pair either of these schemes with neutral or more vivid furnishings. 

Warm yellows

For a more vibrant and cheerful room, try tones of yellow. If your basement has floors in warm wood, ochre and mustard can communicate a southern charm. More delicate shades like champagne or ecru can be combined with white furniture for an airy and spacious feel reminiscent of the most famous yellow room in the United States, the Yellow Oval Room in the White House.

Natural greens

Where do we start? Verde has the advantage of being very versatile. Consider a funky lime or a restful sage. Opulent emerald accents are a sure way to make a statement. Pair green paint with neutral furniture, maples for an earthy feel and blacks and whites for a more modern vibe.

Creams and browns

If your biggest goal is to create a basement that exudes natural elegance and warmth, opt for shades of caramel and ginger, latte and hazelnut. Hues of brown are relaxing, and you can use white accents and furniture to brighten the room.

Use Few Colors

In addition to keeping it light, we recommend limiting the number of colors. Too many colors will make a room seem busier and more cluttered, effectively closing the room. Be kind on your eyes and stick to two or three colors, with one hue making up 60% of the color palette. 

To Make a Basement Brighter, Freshen the Framework

Play with Pop

We said few colors, not none, and adding an unexpected pop is a great way to make a basement more interesting without being overwhelming. Consider an accent wall and corresponding pillows. Try giving your door frames and doors a fresh coat of paint in a rejuvenating white or another shade to match the room. If you feel especially bold, you might paint a wall or even the ceiling black. We don’t recommend this if the rest of the paint in the room is dark.

Use a Glossy Finish on the Ceiling 

A sneaky way to make your basement brighter (or at least seem so) is to utilize the light you already have. Adding a glossy finish on the ceiling will help to reflect the light already present back down into the room. Matte paints tend to absorb light into themselves.

 

We know choosing the right paint scheme to make your basement brighter can be daunting. We at Brush Brothers are here to help. Give us a call today for more painting suggestions.