Curb Appeal

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Create Curb Appeal

Curb appeal refers to the way the outside of a home looks from the street. Whether on a cul-de-sac or out in the country, having a home that looks put together and inviting from the outside is extremely important. While curb appeal is a term that is often used in the real estate world concerning houses being put on the market, it is equally important for homes that aren’t for sale to have great curb appeal. When it comes to curb appeal, there are many different areas of the exterior that can be improved to make a huge impact on the overall look of the home.

Landscaping

Every spring, many homeowners head outside and start planting, mulching, and pruning. This time spent in the garden has a huge payoff. The bright hues of flowers, precisely trimmed shrubs, and fresh, thick layers of mulch or rocks give the exterior of any home an instant upgrade. When the landscaping is done, the entire property is beautifully transformed. To successfully landscape a yard, homeowners will want to follow a few steps to get the most out of their hard work.

Prepare the Ground 
This step is the most important step to keep landscaping looking great year-round without having to spend hours in the yard each day. To prepare the ground that will be landscaped, landscaping paper should be laid down to stop weeds from growing. Then, homeowners should edge the landscaping to make cutting the grass and doing other yard work around the landscaping easier. Lastly, they should make sure the soil is of good quality so that plants will not die.

Choose the Right Plants
The best plants for a home will depend on many factors. The amount of sun and shade an area gets, the average rainfall, the desired upkeep, and the overall look desired are all very important things to consider. Most local nurseries and home improvement stores will carry plants that are well suited for the local climate. Homeowners will need to decide if they want annuals, which only bloom for one season, or perennials, which, in the right conditions, will return each year. After the technical part of choosing the right plants is sorted out, homeowners can move on to choosing plant colors and types.

Do Routine Maintenance 
Even with extensive preparation, landscaping will need to be maintained throughout the year. Landscaping will need watered and weeded almost daily. Less frequently, it will need to be pruned and more soil, mulch, or rocks may need to be added. This constant upkeep is well worth it since the result will be a beautifully landscaped exterior.

Paint

Sometimes, all a house may need is a good scrubbing to make the exterior look as good as new. But, occasionally, the exterior will need to be repainted. Painting is the most impactful way to give homes a new look. However, this new look will come with considerable costs, both financially and physically. To minimize the time and money spent to make an upgrade with paint, homeowners can choose to paint smaller portions of the home. Whether painting the entire home or just a few accents, new paint is sure to skyrocket a home’s curb appeal.

The Entire Exterior 
Painting the entire exterior of a home is a huge job, even with a small home. Many homeowners choose to call in professionals, but painting a home can be done alone. It’s important to choose the right kind of paint and application method depending on the material of the home’s exterior. Homeowners should also consider the color of the home and choose colors that will work well with the home’s surroundings. While painting the entire home can be a lot of work, the result is well worth it.

The Front Door 
Homeowners looking for a smaller job that will still have a huge impact can just paint their front door. Most front doors are purchased in neutral colors and are never painted, which make them look drab and dingy over the years. Painting the front door with a bright paint that stands out from the home but still works with the color scheme can transform the look of a home. From the curb, eyes will be drawn to this bright focal point and away from other parts of the home that may not be as new-looking.

Small Accents 
For an even smaller job than the front door, homeowners can paint small accents around the exterior of the home. Some small accents that can be painted are the mailbox, shutters, metal awnings, stairs, and handrails. By giving these small pieces a fresh coat of paint, the entire home will look cleaner and well-maintained.

Sidewalks, Walkways, and Driveways

These are often the most overlooked portion of an outdoor area. Sidewalks and driveways are utilitarian rather than decorative, so they are often ignored. Also, they can be one of the most expensive parts of a home’s exterior to improve or replace. But, oftentimes, sidewalks and driveways just need a little bit of attention and some elbow grease to get them looking as good as new.

Eliminate Weeds 
Nothing diminishes the look of a sidewalk, walkway, or driveway more than weeds. They seem to find every crack and crevice in the pavement and grow like, well, weeds. To rid these areas of weeds, homeowners can pull weeds when they emerge or spray the area with herbicides. Both methods have their pros and cons. Pulling weeds can be cumbersome and weeds often return quickly. Using weed killers isn’t the best choice for those concerned about the environment and, when sprayed indiscriminately, they can kill unintended plants. Whichever method is chosen, having weed-free pavement will greatly increase curb appeal.

Do Small Repairs 
Small cracks and holes in driveways and walkways can be repaired easily using pavement repair products from a home improvement store. Blacktop, brick, concrete, and many other materials can be repaired quickly, even by inexperienced homeowners. Replacing missing bricks or filling in potholes will make the exterior look well maintained, stop the issue from getting worse, and decreases the risk of someone being injured by an uneven walkway. These small repairs to sidewalks, driveways, and walkways give homeowners a great result without putting in a lot of time, money, or effort.

Add Some Lighting 
A quick and easy way to make driveways and walkways look more finished is to add lighting. There are many options when it comes to outdoor path lighting. Individual solar lights are a popular choice that require very little effort to install. Homeowners may also choose waterproof rope lights, which can be installed along the edging of walkways. There are many other options for path lighting, and each one will make the outside of the home look incredible, especially at night.

Décor

When it comes to outdoor décor, there are so many options to choose from. Just like the inside of the home, the outside deserves to be decorated beautifully in the homeowner’s style. Decorating the outside of a home with small accents makes it look more put together and welcoming. There are many ways to use décor outside of the home, and each one will set the home apart from everyone else in the neighborhood.

Seasonal Elements 
Even homeowners who do not normally have decorations outside of their home will often decorate for holidays or seasons. These decorations are specific to a certain time of year and may include lights, lawn ornaments, or wreaths. Decorating for the seasons is a great way to change the look of a home’s exterior throughout the year.

Bring the Inside Out 
Though there are many choices when it comes to outdoor décor, sometimes using elements from inside the house can make the exterior look warm and inviting. Things like plush blankets, comfortable pillows, table centerpieces, and pictures in frames can turn an underutilized covered porch into an extension of the home. If these items are kept away from rain and aren’t in danger of blowing away, they can make an outdoor space look and feel much more comfortable.

Express Personal Style
Since the outside of a home is the home’s first impression, it’s also the owner’s first impression. By using items that express the owner’s personal style, the home will stand out and have a unique curb appeal. Some ways to express unique style outside of the home are by using specially made items rather than big box store goods. Some popular items are personalized signs, funny or inspiring quote plaques, and tongue in cheek welcome mats. There are many other ways to express personal style outside of the home to make the exterior more unique and well suited to the owners.

Make a Great First Impression

The outside of a home is the home’s first impression and will set the expectations for the rest of the house. If the exterior of a home looks dilapidated and unkempt, it will be assumed that the interior of the home will be in poor shape, as well. Whether homeowners are looking to spend their entire summer working on curb appeal or are just looking for a weekend project, there are many things they can do to beautify the outside of their home so their house can make a great first impression.

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Office Color Ideas

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When an office starts to feel a little outdated, plain, or boring, the most effective way to spruce up the space is with a few coats of paint. Painting an office can breathe new life into the area and affect the way people working in the office feel. The color of an office can be so impactful, in fact, that it is important to seriously consider which paint color, or colors, will be used. Though it may seem as easy as picking an appealing color and slapping it onto the walls, there is so much more to painting, and paint colors, than meets the eye.
Choosing the right paint color can increase productivity, foster office friendships and comradery, help ease eye strain and mid-day fatigue, and even boost sales and customer relations. With so much at stake, it’s no wonder choosing a paint color is such a serious matter. Before heading to pick up paint samples, it is important to consider the feeling the office should have. How should those working in the office feel all day? The right paint color can create the right atmosphere, whether it be creative, relaxed, serious, or any other mood. Once paint color options have been thoroughly explored, it’s a good idea to call in a professional team to paint the space. They can provide a professional opinion and make sure the paint application is perfect throughout the space. Once an office is freshly painted, the only thing left to do is enjoy the many benefits the new color provides.
Creative
Professions that are centered around creativity are steadily gaining popularity and prevalence. Offices that specialize in art, design, product development, and other creative fields deserve to have a paint theme that is as fun and creative as the people who work there.
The best colors for creative spaces are typically brighter blues, greens, or teal colors. Creative spaces can get away with something that is a little bit brighter than more traditional office spaces. However, even the most creative industries must keep in mind that there is such a thing as ‘too bright’ in an office space. These blues and greens should still be slightly muted. This will help to avoid eye strain and the color will be less likely to distract workers or make them feel anxious.
Relaxed
Not all professional spaces are about hustle and bustle. Many spaces can benefit from being more relaxed and tranquil. Counseling, consulting, natural health, and other slow-paced professions can benefit from a more relaxing paint color. This will make the employees, as well as the clients, feel more calm and comfortable.
To make an office space feel more relaxed, colors with soft, muted hues are ideal. Grays, soft blues, greens, and other earthy tones are best for a relaxed atmosphere. These colors will provide balance and help to ground the room. When employees work in a relaxed atmosphere, they are less likely to be overwhelmed with daily tasks. They are also more likely to feel calm and be kind throughout the day. This can increase overall worker satisfaction and, in turn, make clients happier, too.
Energized
Some office can benefit from a rush of energy being pulled into the room. Professions that are peppy, with tasks that may be creative and exciting, will benefit from an energizing paint color. Offices for fashion design, art design, party planning, and other upbeat tasks are naturally energetic. By bringing in a paint color that compliments that constant energy, employees will have more fun performing their daily tasks.
Some energizing colors to bring into an office space are orange, yellow, peach, and pink. These colors can be brighter, but it is still important to keep the colors muted enough that they will not be distracting. A great way to incorporate energizing colors into an office is to paint one wall, an accent wall, with the energizing color. All other walls can be painted a more muted tone. If the accent wall is visible from most areas of the office, it will brighten the whole space without being too overwhelming.

modern office interior

Modern
Modern office spaces can be some of the most breathtaking spaces. Even though they are usually minimal, a modern theme can be very impactful. A modern look works well with professions like architecture, web design, and with tech start-ups. The clean lines and striking tones of a modern paint theme will help employees keep their minds clear, improve organization and order, and let clients see that the company they are working with is cutting edge.
Some common modern colors include black, slate gray, and silver tones. With very dark colors, like black and dark gray, it is important that the color is not used throughout the entire space. Dark colors tend to make even the largest of spaces appear small. Instead, it is a good idea to use very dark colors as accents, and then use lighter grays and silvers throughout larger portions of the office. A well-executed modern office space will give a great first impression time and time again.

Serious
Very professional offices can benefit from a new coat of paint, as well. More serious professions include law firms, consulting, and finance. When a client is trusting a business with serious matters, it is important that a professional image is conveyed. This will help to keep employees focused on their tasks. It will also help clients to feel more at ease when they leave large matters in the professional’s hands.
Just because the office is a serious, no-nonsense space, doesn’t mean the walls have to be plain and boring. By choosing a sensible, yet striking paint color, serious workplaces can look great while employees get down to business. The best paint colors for an all-business office are deeper hues of gray, warm browns, muted reds, and off whites. To create as professional of an environment as possible, avoid bright colors, and colors that are too dark.

Unique
As e-commerce grows and more small businesses are being opened, many offices do not fit into a certain category. For offices that offer unique products and services, there are no set rules for which paint color will work best. The ideal way to figure out a paint color is to consider the personality of the company, its employees, and its customers. Every business has a feeling it would like to evoke, so by considering that feeling and painting accordingly, the perfect paint color can be chosen.
There are very few rules for unique businesses to follow when painting. However, it is still important to use very bright or very dark colors only as accents. It is also a good idea to use muted hues throughout the space, so the walls aren’t distracting. Pinks, reds, yellows, blues, and even patterns can all be used for a unique business. The most important thing to keep in mind it to stay true to the business and make sure the office space fits the company.

Neutral
Some offices can’t be painted with bold, refreshing colors, for various reasons. Spaces that are rented often have an agreement that paint colors must be neutral and easy to cover, if the tenants are allowed to paint at all. Shared spaces, like multipurpose office complexes, may have so many professions in one area that choosing a color theme may be impossible. But, just because these spaces can’t be painted bright, bold colors doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from a nice coat of paint.
To create an uncomplicated, neutral space, using colors in the beige, white, and off-white family are the perfect way to brighten things up without making a big statement. In these cases, paint is being used to increase the overall look of the office, without changing its style. This is perfect for walls that aren’t in the best shaped, whether from paint chipping, cracking, scuffs marks, or other imperfections. By using neutral colors throughout a space, the office can be brightened up, look much cleaner, and still be cohesive enough for a shared space.

Hire a Professional Painter
Painting a few rooms in a house may be a job for a group of friends and a couple of pizzas, but painting an office space is much more complicated. Offices are professional spaces, so lines should be clean, coats should be even, and paint drips and splatters should not happen. Professional painters will make sure that the job is flawless. Also, those working in the office can focus on their work and leave the painting to the professionals.
In the St. George area, Accent Painting is the professional painting company that can be trusted with jobs big and small. Whether it’s one room, or an entire building, Accent Painting can get the job done. They can provide an outside opinion on paint colors, suggest different hues and application methods, and then complete the job quickly and efficiently. Any space, office or otherwise, can be completely transformed by the skilled painters at Accent Painting in St George, Utah.

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Your Room Color and Your Mood

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Boosting the Mood with Room Colors
Finding the best color for a home is a personal choice. Usually, the color scheme for each room is decided solely on the owner’s preferences for the aesthetic. While this is a valid way to choose paint colors, there is one more thing that should be considered before picking up that paintbrush.
The color of a room has a subtle but definite influence on the mood of the people who use it. The mood changing capability of color is what makes it so important to choose the right color for each room. By learning how the colors affect moods, each room can be painted to make the most out of everyone’s mood and energy.

NeutralsThese colors have the least impact on mood and energy. Neutrals include white, beige, gray, black, and all the shades of these colors. Neutrals are great colors to use for those looking to add color to their space with decorative pieces rather than paint. Neutrals, like beige and medium-grays, can evoke a cozy, relaxed mood while white and light grays seem more modern and clean.

 

Yellow

Let the sun shine in with this bright and cheery hue. Yellow is the perfect color to evoke happiness and positivity. Yellow is a terrific color for kitchens, living rooms, rooms without big windows, like bathrooms, or any space that could use some cheer.

Blue
This calming color comes in a variety of shades, from almost gray to nearly black. The softer shades of blue are perfect for bringing a calm, relaxing, and cozy feel to spaces. Therefore, blue is perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms. With a coat of paint, bedrooms will transform into a relaxing oasis and bathrooms will feel like a luxurious spa.

Red
Often called a power color, red on the walls will give rooms an energetic feel. Red seems to make people feel more rambunctious and spirited. This makes red a great color to make a first impression in and entryway, stimulate conversation in a dining room, and bring people together in the living room.

Purple
This color is reserved for only the most daring of decorators. Purple gives a feeling of depth, luxury, and creativity. While an entire room painted dark purple may be overwhelming, using deeper purples as an accent color gives an amazing look to every space. Using lighter purples has a calming and serene quality, which makes it perfect for bedrooms.

Green
The color best associated with growth and new beginnings, green is a terrific choice for a wall color. With its many different shades, it is possible to find a shade that can be both calming as well as energizing. Green is a great color for every room in the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom.

Orange
One of the lesser utilized colors when it comes to painting, orange can be an incredibly beautiful and versatile color throughout a space. Orange brings a sense of energy and enthusiasm into the home, which makes it the perfect color for entryways, workout rooms, or sunrooms.

A Better Mood is a Brushstroke Away
Taking the time to choose colors based on the energy and mood desired for each room will help homeowners to pick colors that will be suitable for years to come. By following this easy guide to colors, finding the perfect shade for every wall will be a breeze.

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Choosing the Best Color for Your Baby

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Parents get really excited for their newborn babies. Before you even select the color of the nursery room, you need to see the space first and see how you can use natural light to make the room look much brighter. You would want the nursery room to look spacious and comfortable for your baby. Using dark colors makes the room look much smaller than it appears to be.

What is the best color for your baby’s nursery room? When you are designing a nursery, there are different factors that you need to consider when it comes to choosing the color and designing the space. If your baby is a boy you can use the traditional blue color or if it is a baby girl, you can use pink.

If you are tired of using the usual colors, you can always play with them and be more creative. For instance, you can also use a neutral color (i.e. white) then you can add another second color like blue. You may also want to add an accent wall as well as the use of a nicely designed wall paper.

Nursery
Photo Credit: Emily on flickr

Adding an Accent Wall

One of the things that you usually notice in smaller rooms is that they have accent walls. This is because adding accent color can make a room appear much bigger and adds more depth. Just choose the accent walls that will perfectly complement the theme. For instance, if you want a Superman theme for your baby boy, you may want to add a mural of other heroes. Add the colors of these super heroes into the pillows, blankets, sheets, etc.

Think long-term.

You would not want to keep on redoing a nursery room. So, it is a practical choice to use a color that you know will last. For example, you may want to go for mint green or navy blue. These colors are perfect for a room that is non-gender specific. Another main advantage is that you can still use this color for years to come.

Go for soothing colors.

Colors directly and indirectly affect moods of people and the same thing goes for kids. As such, it is strongly recommended that you use soothing colors for your baby. Choosing the right color will surely improve their sleeping and can make their mood much better. You should not use too bright of a red, yellow or orange as these colors are often associated with too much energy. You can use these colors but only to specific areas. You may want to have pastel colors where you will put the crib or where your baby will sleep.

Reasons Why Exterior Paint Peels

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Is the paint on your outside walls starting to peel away? This can definitely affect the overall look of your house. So, why does paint just fail or if they work the first time it does not last?

There are reasons why this is the case. Whether it is painting for interior or exterior, you need to know the reasons why it peels away so you can take the appropriate precautions and actions to fix it. You don’t want to waste your money and keep on redoing the paint every time it peels away.

paint peeling wall
Photo Credit: Travis Long on flickr

Moisture

One of the main factors that cause any paint to peel away is brought about by moisture. When there is condensation and it is starting to build up, paint will start to peel off from the wall. This usually happens to areas where there is no exhaust fan or even if there is it is not working properly like for instance bathrooms. Rain can also cause moisture which can result to cracking or peeling of the paint. That is why you often see roof corners and wood boards where the paint fails.

Utilizing Interior Paint for Exterior

Exterior paint is specially designed to withstand weather elements unlike interior paint. Exterior paint can at least withstand sunlight, dust or rain. What happens when you use interior paint for exterior areas or surfaces? The result is that the paint will flake away simply because this is not the right paint to use on exterior surfaces.

Applying Paint on Unclean Surfaces

When doing any painting job, it is important that you paint on a clean surface especially when you are painting the exterior walls of your house. Prior to your painting, you can use a power washer to clean any dirt that could mix in with the paint. This is very essential and even if the wall appears to be clean under the naked eye, you can never be sure if it is completely clean. Just to be sure, you can check it and if you see rippled areas or any dirt build-up, you should clean.

Blistering

If you happen to live in highly humid and relatively hot areas, it can result to the paint peeling away. During summer especially when it is really hot, you notice that when you are painting the exterior surface you experience having dried paint or even blisters. To avoid experiencing this problem, it is strongly recommended that you paint in the morning or in the afternoon when the temperature is not so hot.