LOVE IS IN THE AIR…

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Red roses, red hearts, boxes of red chocolates…the color red is everywhere this month!

The color red is a warm and positive color associated with passion, energy, and action. It exudes a strong and powerful energy that excites emotions and motivates us to take action. It can be energizing and classic in a living room, spicy and appetizing in a kitchen, and a bit sensual in a bedroom. However, choosing the right red can be tricky. Here are some general guidelines; darker reds produce a soothing-calming effect, while bright or golden reds offer excitement. A shade that is too bright or too glossy will be hard to live with over time. Look for inspiration from items that you may own or find appealing, like a red velvet chair or tapestry. Another option, is to look to nature for inspiration. Natural red-clay colors can be very soothing. 

Whatever shade you choose, remember to get good quality paint and be prepared to use a grey prime coat and two to three coats of the red. Give us a call and we would “love” to help you plan your red room project!

Join Our Referral Program!

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At Hands On Painters we pride ourselves on our commitment to providing only the highest level of customer satisfaction. We know that a great painting experience is something you will want to share with family, friends and neighbors. 

As a Thank You for your confidence, we would like to send you a $25 Gift Card for every referral you make! Here’s how our program works. Locate and print out the Referral Form in the DISCOUNT & REFERRAL section of our website, fill it in and pass it on to someone you want to recommend to us. Once a Hands On Painters representative makes contact and provides an estimate, they will send you your $25 gift card! But that’s not all…we will do this for every referral you make, provided an estimate is given! It’s a very simple way of saying “Thank You”!

Unique…unexpected…appreciated…

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A Gift Certificate from a painter? An extra special gift for all those life changing celebrations!

New BABY coming? Nursery to paint! Want to send a HOUSE WARMING gift? Turn a new house into an inviting home! HOLIDAY GIFT for a newly MARRIED couple? They will think of you every time they enjoy their new room!

How to spruce up your home for the holidays…with paint!

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The holiday season is here and, even if you’re not planning on a full home makeover, you might consider some minor repainting to give the interior of your home a fresh look. With a few strokes of a brush, you can really make your home sparkle and leave a lasting impression on all those guests – both invited and unexpected!

Here’s some quick holiday painting ideas:

  1. Repainting heavy daily traffic areas, like hallways, foyers and kitchens can make a huge difference. These rooms get the most fingerprints and scuff marks.
  2. Bathrooms always take a beating. Look up, your guests will, do you have mold growing in the corners? Look down, have the walls near the toilet been clean recently?
  3. Walls look ok! How about your trim? Sometimes just repainting trim can make your room look brand new!
  4. Add an accent wall! Really want to impress? Paint the wall behind the bed in your guest room! Your guests will feel like they are in a fancy hotel!
  5. How about painting the inside of your bookcases?

Lots of people think painting is for the spring and summer, but with the help of our professional team, you’ll be ready to welcome all your holiday guests!

Choosing the RIGHT Paint Color Doesn’t have to be Spooky!

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Picking a paint color can seem scary. The paint store paint swatches are too small for you to be sure your paint is a wonderful treat and NOT an ugly trick!

Here are some simple tips can help guide you to the right choice for your specific room. Start with painting sample colors on the walls. Small containers of sample paint are available and typically covers approximately 75 sq. ft. This is enough to visualize the color in your room with your lighting and décor. Now, take time to look at the samples in different light, in the morning, during the afternoon, at dusk and at night with your room lighting.

Specific colors can emphasize certain features and minimize others. A long narrow room will look wider if you use a slightly darker color on the shorter walls and a lighter color on the longer walls. You can make a ceiling appear higher by applying a lighter color to it, or lower with a darker color. Dark colors absorb light, making a room look smaller. While lighter colors make rooms look bigger. To help a big room feel more intimate, paint the walls in colors that are warm, such as red, gold, orange and brown. To help a small room seem larger, try cooler colors such as blue, green or violet.

You can emphasize your home’s unique architectural features, like crown molding, mantles, window/doorway trim, with contrasting paint (lighter or darker than the wall) or by painting them with a glossy finish. Remember, all trim and moldings tend to look best in a lighter color than your walls.

Create an accent wall by painting it a different color. The wall to accent is generally the first thing you see when you walk into the room. Some rooms have a natural accent like a wall with a fireplace or large window. However, if there is not a focal point to a room, you can choose the wall where the headboard of your bed will go or wall behind your television.

Don’t let the wrong color haunt you! Following these simple tips can help carve a smile on your face and save you time and money!

What’s the right finish for you?

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Flat, matte, gloss, semi-gloss, satin…sounds simple right? Just choose one! So, how glossy is gloss? Flat sounds dull – who would use that?

Paint finishes matter more than you might think. For instance, if you have a room that has a lot of imperfections, small cracks, bumps and rough areas, then flat/matte is a good option because it does not reflect much light and will help hide these blemishes. However, flat paint is harder to clean. Ceilings are often painted with a flat finish. And if you have an adult home without kids and pets use flat and matte on everything! Eggshell has slightly more luster than a flat finish, but walls will not be shiny. It resists dirt better than flat and can be wiped with a wet rag. Eggshell is good for high wear and tear areas, like, mudrooms, kids’ rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. Low sheen and satin look best in for living rooms and dining rooms. Semi-gloss paint is tougher than eggshell, so it holds up better over time, but since it reflects more light, imperfections will stand out. Semi-gloss is also a good choice for a kids’ rooms or bathrooms. This finish is also often used for trim and doors. Gloss paint is a good choice for furniture, mantles and built-ins, because of its hard and shiny-durable finish.

A New Look at Doors

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Doors: white, black, slate or perhaps a bold red are all a part of past traditions. Now, the color design adventure can include an unconventional color spectrum for your front door. A burst of yellow sunshine can mark entrance ways. Limey-green can brighten a shaded porch and burnt-orange adds a splash of color to white-brick or grey siding. Jonathan

Putting Sizzle in the Splash – Five Oaks Diving Board Transformed

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Greece, the most beautiful country in the world, loved by many! Whether you have had first-hand experience, or are a screen-top dreamer, you will agree that the gorgeous beaches, blue waters and white rimmed sand are extraordinary. This was the inspiration when Hands On Painters was engaged to paint the Five Oaks Swimming Pool diving

To Paint or Not to Paint…

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Painting is not always a maintenance item for your To-Do List. It can also be a relatively easy fix to create major curb appeal! Whether your home’s exterior is brick or siding (vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass or cement) paint can help improve the appearance affordably.

Here are some pros and cons;

PROS – Like many surfaces exposed to the weather, brick walls will eventually fade and wear down and siding can become dirty and faded. Painting your brick and siding exteriors is an easy way to take your home and transform it to something fresh and new. Painting also can offer needed protection for both surfaces.

CONS – Both brick and siding need proper preparation prior to painting or peeling, buckling or warping may be the result. Be sure you are committed to painting your brick because going back is often impossible and know that painted brick usually requires more maintenance and should be repainted every 3-5 years. Painted aluminum often has a chalky appearance and light-toned vinyl, if painted much darker, it can absorb the heat and may deform the vinyl.

Warm-Sunny Days Reveal Work that Needs to be Done

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It is great to be able to take a walk around the neighborhood on a warm Spring day! What do you see? Paint peeling, mildew stains, rotten boards…certainly not on your home?! Look again! Dramatic fluctuations in temperatures, like we have in Maryland, can cause surfaces to contract and expand. The movement can cause paint to crack and flake off, if the paint on the surface isn’t flexible enough. Moisture can ruin exterior paint, too.  Rain, sleet, snow and ice can all negatively affect the paint on siding and trim. Moisture in all forms can cause paint to swell and soften, which eventually leads to cracking, blistering, flaking, and peeling. Moisture also encourages mildew growth. Hands on Painters can handle the details and make your home a showcase!