topic Re: Paint advice in Home

Paint advice

software — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:59:41 GMT

For those who have decorated, I need to paint my small bathroom. It had wallpaper. I was originally thinking white, then I could coordinate with any color, or just do black & gray accessories.

My walls are still not perfect. The drywall/wallboard was not sealed or primed before the wallpaper. I've patched, sanded, sealed & primed all I can. But there are still a few small flaws.

What would camouflage the flaws best, a dark color or light? I was thinking gray or beige but my walls would look dirty. I'm out of ideas.

Re: Paint advice

grandme — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:13:14 GMT

For sure a lighter color on the flawed walls. Generally in bathroom eggshell finish is used but that will emphasize the flaws. You could opt for wainscoting but depends on your decorating style. Finally gut the walls put up new drywall and get a fantastic taper prime it well and paint away. That will be more expensive but you may be happier in the long run.

Re: Paint advice

LonestarBabs — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:16:05 GMT

To hide those flaws on the walls you could do a texturing technique and then paint.

Re: Paint advice

River Walk Diva — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:37:02 GMT

I did a grey textured paint in a small bathroom. It is stunning. Accented with white shower curtain and accessories. Hides the flawed walls.

Re: Paint advice

shaggygirl — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:29:21 GMT

I had the same problem in my bathroom with the walls after taking down the paper. The walls hadn't been 'something'...the word isn't sealed or primed it's some other word specific to what you should do to walls before papering but the word is escaping me at the moment. Anyway, I wound up giving up and having it repapered with a very plain paper, just a simple teeny tiny print, so teeny tiny that if you walked by the open bathroom door you'd probably think it was paint.

I probably went through 20 wallpaper books before I found something that suit me.

Aha the word just hit me......sizing.

Re: Paint advice

Kachina624 — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:44:52 GMT

Just avoid any glossy paint. Like shiny fabric on a person, it accentuates any flaws.

Re: Paint advice

Still Raining — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:03:04 GMT

If you paint over flaws, you will just have painted flaws. The flaws must be dealt with first. Sad but true.

Re: Paint advice

ECBG — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:10:55 GMT

Love Dover White by Sherwin Williams. It's a soft egg shell.

Re: Paint advice

Laura14 — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:17:16 GMT

@software I think your thought process is correct. A bold color would accentuate and a white/light color would do the same. I think an in between would work best.

If it's possible to cover the small flaws with a mirror or a small wall shelf (or just distract with amazing towels and accessories), I think you'll like the outcome.

Re: Paint advice

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:25:43 GMT

@software I asked the same question at Sherwin Williams, I was told light color is best as well as NOT a glossy finish.

If you need pops of color....when I repainted my bathroom after wall paper (I did have someone come in and put on a skim coat....it looks OK not perfect). On one small wall I purchased vinyl peel and stick wall decals....I chose large flowers, with lots of color. It really add a pop of color....they are to be applied to smooth walls so I am guessing you can use them. QVC sells this product as well as many other sites. There is a LOT of variety....and the are not overly expensive.

Re: Paint advice

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:27:50 GMT

@River Walk Diva ....what 'texture' paint did you use? What was the texture?

I have tried using the sand in the paint technique...and found it to be very messy. I have one wall in our master that I'd like to try for a different look...thanks.

Re: Paint advice

queendiva — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:49:30 GMT

I would install wainscoating up to the windowsill. Easy, inexpensive way to cover flaws. I would paint the beadboard white semigloss and paint a color of my choice above that. I would also use the pricier Benjamin Moore bath & spa paint for the basthroom. Totally worth the added expense.

I would choose a new curtain (if applicable) and towels FIRST, and then choose a paint to coordinate with them.

Re: Paint advice

Scooby Doo — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 04:14:53 GMT

@LonestarBabs wrote:
To hide those flaws on the walls you could do a texturing technique and then paint.

That's what I have done. I had the drywall guy put a texture over some paneling, then I primed and painted. You can't tell that there's paneling under there and I like the look. It was way less money than removing the paneling and putting in new drywall.

Re: Paint advice

software — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 14:38:06 GMT

Thanks for the replies, I had forgotten about the different paint finishes as well, gloss vs. semi gloss, etc. That helps me too

The flaws are not bad enough for me to do anything like a texturing or any of the other suggestions. My problem is I know everywhere I patched, so of course, my eye goes there. No one else will notice if I use the right paint color & finish.

I don't have a window and like I mentioned the room is very small, wainscoting is not an option, there's just not enough wall space to bother. I have a large vanity & mirror on one wall, the other is the bath/shower combo. The 3rd wall is the door. There is only 1 small wall that's "vacant"

I've struggled with this awful room for years, literally, I wish I could gut, but no $$$ for that so I can only do the best I can with what I have. I'll find a medium shade in an eggshell finish.

Re: Paint advice

Jaspersmom — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 14:57:27 GMT

Why don't you use a skimcoat first. I had to do that in one of my bedrooms and the walls came out looking brand new.

Skim coating is a texturing technique used to make a wall smooth. Drywallers use this technique to hide an imperfect taping job, to give the wall a plaster-like appearance and in situations when only the smoothest surface will do.

Re: Paint advice

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 14:59:50 GMT

For a small, windowless powder room can I suggest

a warm creamy yellow, it will work with the lighting to create the glow of natural light that a windowless room lacks. You can decorate with white and blue accessories for crisp, cheery look.

Another color I have found is a rose quartz color (Behr) it is more of a taupe color with a rose pink undertone it is a lovely hue that looks especially happy with shades of green.

One last idea- if the room is under a staircase with sloped ceiling lines consider painting the ceiling the same color as the walls so it disappears and opens up the room.

Re: Paint advice

wagirl — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:33:36 GMT

I would also look into the type of finish your paint has too, like one of the posters said-- you know how there is enamel, eggshell, flat, semi-gloss etc. I know one type of finish was done on the ceilings in our downstairs to help hide the cr*appy sheetrock hanging/taping/texturing and another was used on the walls. Go to a paint store and ask for help.

Re: Paint advice

Fressa — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 17:16:23 GMT

We are always in the process of another DIY project. We have an older home now and are in the middle of removing wallpaper from a few rooms. A light color will not show wall imperfections the best. If you want grey then choose a very light grey. There are many shades of white with a color undertone. There is a white with a grey undertone that might work. How much natural light do you have in your bathroom? Is it large or small? These answers will help you with your color choice.

I would keep the wall painting simple. I've done the texturing on the walls but I find they work best in a large space with lots of natiral light.

Paint color should be one of your favorite colors that you like. What works for me is to pick up the paint color strips (no more than 3 at a time) from the hardware store or big bos store. Tape them to the wall and stare at them for a few days. Move them around the room so you can see the color at different times of the day/night and in different light.

Sometimes you have to make a few trips to get the proper color strip that works for you but once you do then you have an easy match for your accesories to what's on the strip.

Good Luck.

Re: Paint advice

AuntG — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 13:35:16 GMT

I once used paint that had a little texture to it. It wasn't difficult to put on, but helped cover tiny bumps and rough patches.

Re: Paint advice

Mominohio — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:43:32 GMT

I will echo the lighter color and fixing as much of what you can.

And while I agree that a gloss or semi gloss with accentuate the flaws, I personally would be careful how satin/matte/ flat you choose, for the ability to clean the walls in that area is of great importance (as compared to say a bedroom wall).

I've had some satins that are so perfect, just enough gloss to make them easy to clean, but not shiny. Others have ended up looking and performing just like a flat paint, and nothing comes off them. So very frustrating.

Definitely pay to get samples and brush on the walls, let dry for a couple of days and compare colors and finishes across the brands that interest you.

In my opinion there isn't a 'standard' for what the end product of those various terms (gloss, semi gloss, satin, flat etc.) actually exhibit once on the walls. Various brands are really quite a different end product. I used to balk at paying a lot of money for a wide range of samples, but not anymore. It's worth it to see what several different choices will actually dry like and feel like and look like on your actual surface.