New paint, new room! Tips from the DIY network on interior painting!

A few points from the DIY Network!  If you are considering painting a room in your home, check us out at www.routzahnsway.com, stop by in Frederick, at 100 Routzahns way, or call 301-698-2450.  We carry interior and exterior paints, stains, and primers, and over 1900 color choices to find the perfect tone for your project!  No project is too large, or too small for us, we even have commercial solutions!

 Different paint finishes have their advantages.

Before you begin to paint, consider wall imperfections and other factors. High-gloss paint offers greater durability and is very easy to clean. If your wall is less than perfect, however, high-gloss paint can enhance the imperfections. Flat paint will do a much better job of hiding imperfections, but it's much easier to damage than high-gloss. Eggshell is a great middle-of-the-road option. 

 

Don't let fear of color turn your room white.

Colors can add depth and texture to your room. Using the right colors can turn an otherwise dull room into a beautiful, warm space. If you get a color you don't like, just paint over it!

 

Small samples prevent big surprises.

It's very difficult to tell what a color is going to look like on your wall using a small paint swatch. Investing in a "test gallon" can get expensive, especially if you can't make up your mind. Many paint manufacturers are now offering small sample cans of their colors. They cost only a few dollars and will prevent you from wasting money on a color that just isn't right. 

Square footage is only half of the equation.

When you go to buy your paint, you have to know the square footage of your room. There are many other factors that contribute to the amount of paint you will need, however. Always consider the surface you're painting, whether you're priming walls and the number of coats you are going to need. All of these things will affect the amount of paint you need to purchase. 

Get ready to spend some time preparing.

About 80 percent of your time should be spent doing prep work. Contrary to popular belief, paint will not hide all imperfections. Take the proper steps to make your walls as flat as possible, and make sure you clean them before you start to paint. Any dust or debris left on the wall could cause your new paint to peel.

There is a reason it's called primer.

Primer is essential in any good-quality paint job. It seals the surface of your walls and provides a great base for the paint to grab. If you've spackled your walls, priming is a must to prevent flashing. Unprimed spackle holds gloss better than drywall, causing a "shiny" spot on your wall.

Don't cut in a line.

Always do brushwork in the corners before you begin rolling. Rolling after brushwork will flatten any brushstrokes left in the wall, giving you an evenly painted surface.

 

 

Rollers can put more than paint on the wall.

Use simple masking tape to remove any extra fibers before you paint. If you don't, those fibers will become a permanent fixture on your wall.

 

Avoid overextending yourself.

Extension poles are a great way to cut time and effort out of a paint job. They will prevent you from climbing up and down a ladder and give you more leverage when you're painting a wall that's right in front of you. The benefit of an extension pole far outweighs the price.

If you "box" your paint, you will never fight blotches.

It may be connected to a computer and look high-tech, but the color mixer can create slight variations from can to can. The last thing you want is to have two shades of a color on the same wall. This can be remedied by mixing all of the paint cans together before you start painting. Boxing your paint ensures you will have consistent color throughout the room.

How to choose furniture for your home.

This week, we thought we'd put up a little help when it comes to choosing furniture.  These ideas were garnered in part from a crowdsourced wikihow article.   There are many different ways to pick furniture out.  Different patterns, colors, sytles, brands, measurements, feng shui placement, kid / pet friendly, easy to clean, and much more are all choices to consider.  This provides a great way to start shopping, and hopefully steer you in the right direction!  Don't let yourself get confused and stressed trying to pick new furniture for your home, develop a plan of attack and go!  See below for how other shoppers recommend you look for your furniture!

• Start with the basics. Most living rooms contain a sofa, armchair, side table, and coffee table. Look for these basic elements before adding extra pieces such as ottomans and additional tables.
  
  
  
• Buy investment pieces. Look for solid furniture with sturdy wood frames and sinuous steel springs. High-quality pieces may cost a little more, but they tend to hold up better and last longer.  (we offer a vast variety of furniture to appeal to every budget!)
  
  
• Look for high-quality, stain-resistant fabrics. Luxurious, high-quality materials will keep you feeling more comfortable and tend to last longer than cheaper fabrics. Stain-resistant fabrics are especially useful if you have young children, but they might still be a good idea even if you only plan on using the space for guests since spills and stains can happen to anyone.
  
  
• Look for cushions made of wrapped foam. Foam is comfortable and durable. Some cushions may be filled with down, but down usually breaks and wears quickly. 
  
• Test the strength of the frame. Lift one leg of the piece about six inches (15 centimeters) off the floor. If the adjacent leg has not risen as well, the frame is too flexible and too flimsy.

• Coordinate your pieces. Each piece of furniture in your living room should complement the others. Otherwise, your room will look chaotic and thrown together. If you have an interior design theme, such as modern or traditional, stick with pieces that fit with your theme.
  
  
  
• Know your themes. There are a number of ways to divide up interior design themes, but the main ones often include modern, contemporary, traditional, casual, and Old World.

• • Modern and contemporary furniture has sleek, clean lines and usually makes use of white, beige, or other neutral colors. Glass, metal, and shiny black lacquer are used more often than traditional woods.
  • Traditional furniture is elegant. It tends to look a little more formal and may include details like rolled arms and skirted bottoms. Colors range from ivory to rich hues of red and other colors.
  • Casual furniture is friendly and cozy. Many pieces make use of plaid, small prints, and other patterns.
  • Old World furniture combines styles from French, Spanish, and Italian designs. Rustic, antique pieces are especially appropriate, and you should look for deep, earthy colors.

• Opt for a loveseat instead of a sofa if you have a smaller space. Loveseats typically provide seating for two individuals. If you have a small family or only intend to use the space for entertaining an occasional guest, a loveseat could save you space while providing you with as much as you need.
  
  
  
• Fill the room in with additional pieces as space allows. Chests, flat-top ottomans, and extra tables or seating can add a lot to a large living room, but too many of these pieces will crowd out a smaller space.

Have a spring in your step...not in your seat!

Where should you buy your furniture, and why?

That, is the question.  It's almost like running into the bank. You use it every day in some way or another, yet rarely sit down and think about switching because it's comfortable to keep that way. What happens when things become....uncomfortable. The couch for instance, is not just a combination of wood and fabric, but a central part of your home. It's where you get together to watch TV, where you invite guests to sit when they arrive for Thanksgiving dinner(you know the people that always show up early) and mostly, it is a comfortable spot to enjoy relaxing after a long day at work. The worst thing that could happen is sitting in your trusty spot, and all of a sudden hitting the floor, or even worse, being poked by a spring that has lost its way.

This is where we come in. We want the furniture shopping, and purchasing experience to be different than any other store you've been in before. We have an expansive showroom, allowing you to see many options right in front of you, and knowledgable, caring associates to help you figure out what will suit the needs of your family. While enjoying a seat on what could be your next couch, pick up the tag on it and you'll notice a price. Not the sticker price, that you'll be staring at wide-eyed while wondering how you ended up with a car sized chunk out of your checkbook, no not that at all. What you'll see, is our heavily discounted outlet price. We want you to buy furniture from us for a long time, we'd like to sell it to your children, friends, and coworkers as well. This is the reason we pride ourselves in having the best experience, and the best price.

Bring us a picture of your current furniture and we will offer you a trade-in value on it, and give it to you in the form of a gift card. You can use that card at any Fitzgerald family owned company in Frederick MD. Use it toward the purchase of new furniture, or even for service, parts, or a down payment on a vehicle. When we deliver your new furniture, we will take your old one away for you at no extra charge. It doesn't get refurbished and stuck in the value corner either....no, no, no. We donate ALL of the traded furniture to local charity organizations that help those in need. We like to think of it as a way of giving back to the community that has so graciously helped us grow as the #1 source for furniture in the area!