It's amazing what a difference something as simple as paint can make in a space. The only difference between the two images above is paint. Painting yourself can seem intimidating, but I promise it's just the matter of a little know-how and the patience to prep well.
For the bathroom, I went with colors that we had either already used in the home, or that I knew coordinated well. All our paints are Sherwin-Williams, and we use the Cashmere finish - it helps hide the imperfections in our 100 year old plaster walls. For the grey, we went with Passive. It's the same color we have in our primary bedroom, and we love how relaxed and cozy it makes a space. The trim is Extra White, and the door is Comical Coral.
The first step to any paint project is prep work, and if you do this well, everything else becomes easy. Here are three simple steps to ensure your room is ready for paint:
1) Remove all hardware, then patch and sand the holes and imperfections.
2) Wipe everything down with a damp rag to remove any dust or debris. Dry with a rag, then allow to dry 6-8 hours, or overnight.
3) Use Blue Painters Tape and carefully edge everything that needs edging. I highly recommend only using Scotch brand tape - none of the others I've tried have blocked as well or pulled off as cleanly. Take your time with this step! Done well, you'll get sharp, clean lines with minimal effort.
Bonus Tip: Buy the right tools for the job. From the size of the brush to the nap on the roller, each detail can make a big difference in how your paint applies and looks finished. If you're unsure where to start, a pro in the paint department is always a good resource.
I was able to talk G into letting me paint the door pink! It's one of my favorite parts of the room.
I knocked out each color in a day - the grey took a day, the pink door took a day, the white trim took a day and the ceiling took a day - but if for some reason you need more time, or just want to be able to go back for touch-ups easily, you can always stick your brush or roller in a zip-lock bag and place it in the freezer! Once it thaws, you're ready to paint again.
After painting, we moved on to tile. Thankfully there are some amazing peel and stick options these days, and I have a friend who knows what he's doing. Stay tuned for the tile I chose, how to apply it, and some things to watch out for when ordering!
