While many people choose spring to knock out their home design projects, we at Activa argue that winter might be even better! Not only will you have less to do when spring cleaning comes around, but your home will look amazing for the holidays. As winter approaches, most of us spend more time indoors, making it a great time to start some winter painting projects. Stick around to learn more about some fun winter painting projects that will make your home beautiful and cleaner.
Cabinets
A full kitchen remodel can prove costly and time-consuming for any homeowner. If your plumbing and electrical are up to date, there are a few simple and easy ways to DIY remodel your kitchen. One way is by repainting your kitchen cabinets. In a high trafficked area like the kitchen, Activa can be extremely effective for painting cabinets; through the process of photocatalysis, Activa helps to remove pollutants and odors from the air in the painted area.
Trim
Painting the trim of your home might seem too advanced for beginner painters, but we’re here to tell you that you can do it! With the right guidance and help, anyone can make painting their trim into an easy DIY painting job. Check out these tips to help you paint your trim professionally!
Prepare the Room
- Remove furniture from the space or bring to the center of the room (if big enough)
- Place painter’s tape outlining the floor below the trim to avoid paint drip (this can also be placed on the wall to protect the wall paint)
- Place cloth or a covering to protect the floor
Prepare the Trim
- Sand the trim starting with 80-grit sandpaper and finishing with 120-grit sandpaper
- After sanding, wipe the trim clean of any dust or particles with a warm, soapy cloth
Prime the Trim
- Pour a small amount of any primer into the paint tray
- Dip the brush lightly to avoid major drips
- Apply primer along the entire trim (it doesn’t need to be perfect)
- Allow 24 hours to dry
- Sand lightly with 120-grit sandpaper to remove brush lines
- Remove dust with a warm, soapy cloth
Paint the Trim
- Choose your paint! One great recommendation to enhance the aesthetic of your trim is our White Eggshell Finish
- Use an angled paintbrush, only dipping an inch into the paint to avoid dripping
- Cover area in short strokes then again with one big stroke of the brush to ensure painting lines are clean and even
- Allow 24 hours to dry
Stairs
Although stairs take up minimal square footage inside a home, they can be one of the top visual components of a space. By repainting your handrail or even the stairs themselves, you can add vibrant energy to the room. Additionally, in a family household with multiple occupants, disinfecting commonly touched places, like the handrail, is extremely important. When you choose to paint with Activa, you’re receiving an amazing color along with self-cleaning properties to help disinfect the surface. Get the best of all worlds by painting with Activa Coating!
Furniture
When it comes to painting furniture, there are many things to keep in mind that might be missing from your traditional painting project. Follow our guide below and painting furniture can become one of your fun and easy winter painting projects!
Make A Plan – Pick Your Paint
- Decide what kind of look you are going for: Smooth or shiny?
- For an aged, smooth look, try using a matte or an eggshell finish paint.
- For a shiny, perfect look, try using a gloss or semigloss finish paint.
Do You Need to Sand?
- If you are looking for a smooth finish, it’s a great idea to sand the furniture prior to painting to make it completely even.
- If your piece will have a shiny finish, it’s crucial to sand before painting to avoid any ridges or scuffs being prominent in the end product.
- Lastly, if you do decide to sand, make sure to clean all of the dust and debris off the piece with a warm, soapy cloth before you start painting.
Use High-Quality Brushes
The last thing you want is for your project to be ruined due to a broken or faulty brush. Broken or cheap brushes can leave unnecessary brush lines or hairs on your painted piece. Invest in a proper brush before performing any major painting task.
Protecting Your Finished Product
- Protecting all of the progress you’ve made is important to have a long-lasting finish.
- When do you need to use a sealer or topcoat?
- Always when using chalk paint
- Surfaces that have objects placed on them
- If you are looking for a “flawless” painted piece
Overall, taking up winter painting projects can not only be fun but also can save you time in the spring/summer while making your house look amazing for the holidays! Additionally, by using Activa Coating in your home painting projects, you are helping purify your home’s indoor air quality. Make sure to check out our paints to help you find the best fit for whichever winter painting project you decide on. Happy painting!