Tips, Tools And Know-How MakePaint Projects Simple (NAPSA)—Onany given weekend in the U.S., thousands of people set out to accomplish home improvement projects. However, stumbling blocks such as color selection and knowing where to start can cause DIYers to delay starting their projects. To make life easier, enhance- ments to True Value’s Color Made Simple paint program help simplify the often-overwhelming process of selecting paintcolors. “Weekends are a great time to freshen up your home with paint,” says Sloan Payne-Rutter, de- signer, paint expert, author and host of the public television series “Paint! Paint! Paint!” “Color Made Simple and True Value give DIYers the color selections, paint tools and advice they need to complete paint projects they can be proud of.” Payne-Rutter suggests the following weekend paint projects to bring little color into your home: Shabby Chic Antique: Project Idea: Liven up your living room by “antiquing” a coffee table to give it the look of age. The antique look is accomplished with the application of a glaze that is usually earth-toned or darker in color. Tip: Use flat paint, which is more porous and absorbs glaze better. You Light Up MyLife: Project Idea: Give your kitchen a quick face-lift this weekend without spending a lot of money. Brighten the entire room by simply painting dark cabinets a lighter color and updatingcabinet hardware. Tip: The fumes from the paint and the primer can get intense, so make sure to open some windowsor doors. Quick Tips Get Inspired.—Create an “ideo board” using favorite} room shots from magazines, catalogues, fabric swatches and paint chips to draw inspiration, color ideas and a themefor your project. Confused With Color?—Take a peekinside your closet andsee what colors standout in your clothing— these colors are likely those you naturally gravitate to, so you can feel comfortable using similar shades for paint projects! Avoid Paint-Splattered Hands.—Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to your handsbefore painting—this will make it easier to remove anypaint from them when done. MakePouring Paint Easy.—Tear a paper cupin half (down the seam) andflatten it outinsert the flattened cup aroundthelip of the paint canfora quick and easy wayfo pour paint into a bucket or tray. Virtually Paint Your Walls!—Anew color visualization system, Color Inspirations Made Simple software (available at TrueValuePaint.com), lets you virtually “paint” the walls and trim on digital photos of your own roomsfo see how different combinations look hefore starting a project. @ It’s Faux Real: Project Idea: Add some fun to a child’s bedroom with a faux-finishing paint technique. Sponge painting is a quick and easy decorative painting style that’s popular and perfect for beginners. Use a natural sponge as a paint applicator and two or three colors of paint to create a multicolored, textured effect. Tip: Use a clear commercial glaze and tint it with interior paint. Mix one part paint to four parts glaze. See how different combinations will look in your room before starting the project with a new color visualization software, Color Inspirations Made Simple, available at www.TrueValuePaint.com.
