What's behind our paint Ratings? and provide valuable feedback to other members and our testers. Many aspects of paint performance depend more on the quality of the base than on the color. The tint base largely determines the paint's toughness and resistance to dirt and stains, while the colorant contributes to hiding and how much the paint will fade. Here's how to pick the right one for the job: CO & smoke alarmsCustomer RecommendedSee allPaint and Home Decor

Painting your home is a big project, but with paints, primers and supplies from Walmart, you can get the job done — even on a budget.For indoor painting, start by moving furniture out of the room or covering it with a drop cloth. Remove wall hangings, switch plates, etc., and use masking tape and plastic sheets to cover objects and surfaces that won't be painted and can't be moved. Cover the floor with drop cloths. Wash the walls and use a drywall compound to fill holes and smooth out rough areas. Once the compound is dry, lightly sand it with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum up the dust.

Paint from top to bottom, starting with the ceiling and then doing the walls and woodwork. Paint the ceiling edges with a paint brush, creating a 2-3 inch wide border, and use a paint roller and extension handle to paint the ceiling itself. Use a brush to paint corners, ceiling edges and areas adjacent to woodwork, then use a roller to paint the walls. cute ways to decorate your room diyPaint molding and woodwork with a brush.cute ways to decorate your room with picturesFor exterior painting, first remove flaking, chalky or blistered paint with a paint scraper, putty knife and wire brush or a power washer. christmas trees decorated with picks

Fill holes in wood siding with an exterior-grade patching compound and seal cracks with exterior caulk. Clean the area and mask off areas that won't be painted. Paint gables first, then main siding, windows, siding trim and doors.One often overlooked way to outfit a beautiful exterior space is to bring pieces of old or unwanted indoor furniture outside—you simply have to know how to prep and paint it. christmas decoration ideas outdoorWhether you’re repurposing a budget dresser into an ice chest, transforming an old door into a bar or turning a curbside find into an exterior storage bin, the possibilities are endless! christmas decoration ideas 2013 pinterestWhile interior furniture doesn’t last as long as outdoor pieces that are made with treated lumber and exterior glue, you can get a lot of use out of a discarded indoor piece with the right treatment.western home decor ideas

Once you’ve found a piece, simply follow these simple steps to prep and paint it.Your surface should be as dust- and dirt-free as possible. I would recommend a diluted solution of TSP or dish detergent to help it along.This step is only applicable if your piece has any damage that needs attention. In many cases, minor wear and damage can add character to an older piece, so its not always necessary to address. In my case, I needed to glue down a corner where the board was coming loose and patch some holes with wood putty. If your piece is in good shape to start, you can skip this step.After you have a clean, repaired surface to work with, a light sanding will help create a better bond for the finish you’re about to apply. Clean off any residual sawdust before proceeding to the next step.Choose a paint that’s made for exterior use. In my case, I used Glidden paint’s High Gloss Trim & Door, which is an exterior oil. You can also use latex made for exterior use.Your goal here is to coat every surface that would be exposed to the elements.

You don’t just want to cover it, you want to encapsulate as much as possible. The more protection you can provide the wood, the longer your piece will last outdoors.You probably know it takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days to dry, depending upon the type of finish and relative humidity. But you may not know that your paint needs far more time to fully cure. So while it may feel dry to the touch after a short period, you’ll want to give it the time it needs to completely settle onto your furniture. If at all possible, store your drying piece in the garage or shed for a few days to a few weeks for best results.After your piece has cured, it’s a good time to add any other decoration or enhancement you would like, including further paint treatments and decorative trim. As noted above, an interior piece of furniture will not last forever when it’s outside, even when all of the above steps are followed. Sunlight, moisture and tempature fluctuations will all contribute to damage over time.

So when possible, using the piece on covered porches and patios will prolong its life. You can also recoat every few years or as needed. In either case, you can always give an old or unwanted piece of furniture new life outdoors while adding character to your space. I have been sponsored by the Glidden® brand paint for PPG to write this post but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.Unfortunately, there's no simple this-or-that answer. Paint the railing and you won't have to refinish it any time soon, but you'll hide the wood's color, grain pattern, and texture. Stain it and you'll accentuate all these characteristics, but you'll be stripping it back and starting again sooner than if you'd used paint. Either way, finishing the railing is critical, because unprotected wood left to the elements gets ugly fast. Moisture is absorbed by wood, causing it to twist, warp, and crack as it swells and shrinks. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun discolors wood and breaks down its lignin, the natural glue that holds the fibers together.

This invites more moisture and, worse, wood-decay fungi, which secrete enzymes that rot wood fibers. Even cedar, which contains weather-resistant oils, can look pretty rough after a few seasons. Painting your railing will give it the best possible, longest lasting protection against the elements. High-quality, water-based latex paints are more flexible than oil-based paints and can withstand the wood's moisture fluctuations better. The high solids content in paints helps form a thick, opaque film on the surface that hides imperfections, resists moisture, and blocks UV rays. If done right, a painted surface could last 10 years before you'd need to strip it back and refinish. However, painting is a messy job, and you'll need to prepare, preserve, and prime the wood first (see "Finish Exterior Wood Like a Pro," above). Plus, you've got to be handy with a paintbrush if you want the project to look good. It's worth noting that paints and other film-forming finishes aren't ideal for large horizontal surfaces that get a lot of wear, such as decks.

Instead, use a water-repellent stain or other penetrating finish. If you stain your railing, don't expect the same longevity you get with paint. Stains soak deep into the wood, filling in microscopic gaps that would otherwise absorb moisture. This helps keep the wood stable, but it's not as effective as a paint's protective coating. On the upside, most stains are formulated with a wood preservative, so mold and rot shouldn't be a problem. However, stains don't do a good job blocking UV, and that could be a major factor if your railing gets a lot of sun. "Transparent and semitransparent stains contain some pigment and offer a bit of UV resistance, but the clearer the stain, the less protection you'll get. The wood will gray after a few years," says Ryan Coffey, a product specialist for paint manufacturer Rust-Oleum. A solid-color stain might offer a compromise. "Whereas all paints are UV-resistant, only solid-color stains offer comparable protection," Coffey says. These near-opaque stains form a protective film on the surface similar to paint, but they're thinner so they won't hide the wood's texture.

Plus, you can buy them in different shades, so matching your cedar's natural color shouldn't be a problem. A solid-color stain might last eight years or more. One last consideration: Many homeowners find stains easier to apply than paint, so even though you'll refinish the railing more often, it'll be a lot less work each time. "My dad went with a stain because it was more manageable," Coffey says. "It was thinner, and there was a lot less messing around with blobs and runs." 1 Clean surfaces thoroughly before painting. Stripping existing finishes and removing dirt, dust, mildew, and loose wood fibers improves adhesion. 2 Set nails and screws below the surface, and fill the holes with an exterior-grade wood filler to help keep moisture out. 3 Apply a paintable water-repellent preservative before priming to inhibit mildew and rot. If staining, use a product that already contains a preservative. 4 Priming all surfaces before painting improves adhesion and moisture protection, adding as much as two years to the life of the finish.