Most people think that it takes a lot of money to do the kind of home improvements that really increase the value of your home. But what if I told you that all it really takes is a couple of cans of paint and a free weekend? No joke – we’ve seen it firsthand as one of the top residential painters in Asheville! Today we’re going to share with you our favorite best-bang-for-your-buck painting home improvements.
Choose Neutral Paint Colors
While your favorite colors may be in the brilliant jewel tone family, the fastest way to a buyer’s heart is through a neutral color palette. We often recommend that customers find a shade of gray or beige that they really love and then find others in that same color palette will help keep a consistent theme going throughout the home.
Some popular options include:
- Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) A warm, soothing gray-beige (greige)
- Stormy Monday (Benjamin Moore) The classic, cool gray
- Ellie-Gray (Sherwin Williams) Gray with blue-green undertones
- Nomadic Desert (Sherwin Williams) A slightly darker shade of beige with a hint of yellow
- Pale Almond (Benjamin Moore) A cool beige that complements almost everything
Paint your Front Door
In contrast to the previous tip, we want you to consider this permission to put a splash of personality into your home. Consider your home’s surroundings for inspiration. Is your home surrounded by nature? Use it! Does your home have a classic red brick exterior? Compliment it! And don’t forget the storm door or screen door if you have one – think of it as an opportunity for an additional pop of color. (Consider trying a monochromatic play off the front door color).
Finally, be sure to choose a paint quality that can survive the elements, such as an exterior paint with a semi-gloss finish. That combination should provide you with a refined resiliency.
Repaint an Outdated Bathroom
You can save a lot of money by simply painting bathroom elements instead of replacing them. Let’s take a quick look at the top three features that can transform your bathroom’s look.
- Fixtures: Bring that old brass faucet into the 21st century with a simple coat or two of paint! We love Rust-Oleum for this kind of project. Try Rust-Oleum Automobile Spray Primer as your primer, a coat or two of your color of choice and finish up with a coat or two of high gloss lacquer spray.
- Tiles: Another quick and inexpensive way to update your bathroom look is to paint the tile floor or walls. You can stick with one flat color or get really fancy with a stenciled pattern. Types of tile this technique works best on include ceramic, natural stone, un-glazed quarry or porcelain. We recommend priming with Benjamin Moore’s INSL-X STIX.
- Tub: For tackling this DIY, go with an all-in-one kit like Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refreshing Kit. It’s got everything you need for a clean, professional look and it’s under $25!
Paint Kitchen Cabinets
Let’s not forget the kitchen! Never underestimate the impact of a modern, clean kitchen whether you’re trying to sell or just looking to give the heart of your home a little TLC.
Even with the most intricate design, most times this project can be done in 3-5 days and with a budget of less than $300. If you have the time and the tools, it’s always best to strip the finish first. However, if that’s not an option for you, at the very least you should begin with a good scrub and light sanding. Make sure you have a high-quality brush to work with – synthetic bristle for latex paint or natural bristle for oil-based paint.
Remove Wallpaper and Popcorn Ceilings
As with everything on this list, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. And, while both wallpaper removal and popcorn ceiling removal are tedious, they make a huge difference in the look of your home.
- Wallpaper: If you choose to go the DIY route, it may be helpful to rent a wallpaper steamer to make the job go quicker and easier. If you don’t have access to that option, you can try scoring the wallpaper and then soaking it with water.
- Popcorn Ceilings: The most important step in removing popcorn ceiling yourself is getting it tested for asbestos first. (Before the 1980’s, asbestos was one of the standard ingredients used to create the textured look.) As long as the test comes back negative, you can get to work!
These two may be projects that you’d prefer hiring a professional rather than DIY. Check out our page dedicated to wallpaper removal and popcorn ceiling removal to learn more about how we achieve superior results.
Painting Renovations in Asheville
D.A.B. Painting has been serving Asheville & surrounding Western North Carolina counties since 1993. We specialize in residential repaints and restoration—both interior and exterior – so we can tell you that each of these projects are well worth the time and effort. You don’t have to tackle them alone! D.A.B. Painting offers a wide variety of expert painting renovations in Asheville and beyond. Give us a call today to schedule your free estimate: 828-775-5707
