With the changing of the seasons, it’s time to think about sprucing up the house! A lot of first time home buyers are faced with the challenge of restoring and decorating small spaces. One of the quickest and easiest ways to maximize the look of a small room is to use paint colors to trick the eyes, making a room appear larger, taller, and more interesting. Carefully placed splashes of color and creative use of dark and light paint can make a world of difference. Whether you’re planning on buying a home in Portland or preparing to sell, here are some tips for maximizing small spaces with paint, as well as the best places in Portland to get the richest colors, most reliable finishes, and expert paint advice.
A well-painted house, large or small, can make a space seem more modern, cleaner, and more welcoming. We’ve been in plenty of homes for sale in Portland that are unable to sell because their paint colors leave potential buyers less than enchanted. On the other hand, our years in Portland real estate have proven again and again that a great paint job, interior or exterior, can make an average home a total star. As a general rule, dark colors make things look smaller and light colors create the impression of a larger space, but this rule has some definite exceptions.
Splashes of dark color in small rooms, such as the inside of a bookshelf or windowsill, can create added dimension and depth. Small homes with any size foyers or entryway can paint them darker to make the lighter-colored living room see much larger in comparison. This trick also works with hallways, leading into light colored bedrooms and offices. It’s all about fooling the eye to believe an important space is larger by making a less significant space seem smaller.
Another trick is painting one wall in a light-colored room a deeper, darker color. This gives the impression of depth by making that wall recede into the distance. This makes that wall appear to recede, which, again, creates an illusion of a larger space. Similarly, painting a ceiling a lighter color than the room’s walls makes the room feel airier and taller than it really is.
Here are some of the places to buy paint and get painting advice in Portland:
Powell Paint Center – 5205 Southeast Powell Boulevard – Before you embark on a large-scale paint makeover, head over to these experts for great tools, tips, and, of course, paint! According to the owner, Powell Paint Center “will help you add value to your most important investment – your home.”
Rodda Paint – 321 SE Taylor, and more locations – Rodda is the largest paint manufacturer in the Northwest, but their retail stores feel more like local experts, willing to help with all of your paint needs. If you need help picking a sheen, colors, or paint tools, this place will give you all the answers.
Ecohaus – 819 SE Taylor Street – This cool place specializes in green building materials and eco-friendly paint, and are true members of the Portland community. They participate in educational programs with local and state colleges, and lead tours for professionals and school groups interested in green building. Their material wall is full of samples that you can pull out and mix and match, or you can pull up a stool at the “paint bar,” talk to the coatings specialist and watch your paint get mixed.
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Also, a new countertop would not hurt: and this service – new to the area – allows to turn any old unsightly counter into brand-new, SEAMLESS granite in your choice of color for under $1,000 (often less). Check out our website: like I said, this is very new, and we are trying to let people know this option even exists