Low Cost Options For High Style Improvements Paint And Color Tips From The Paint Quality Institute

(HIT) - As the summer season approaches, decks are the entertaining space of choice for many homeowners. However, before you pull out that table and umbrella, think about re-energizing this space with a fresh coat of paint or stain. Debbie Zimmer, color and paint expert with the Paint Quality Institute says, "Not only will you enhance this often-used exterior "room", but you will also protect the actual wood surface and by protecting the surface, your deck will last longer."

Zimmer adds, "While browns and grey continue to be favorite color selections when painting or staining a deck, homeowners are increasingly choosing combinations that suit their home or decorating style." If you're not quite ready to add multiple hues to the entire space, add a punch of color by incorporating complementary or bold and bright colors onto railings, planter boxes, built-in benches or even deck trellises.

Remember, when it comes to painting your deck, you have plenty of options to harmonize or complement your outdoor surroundings.

1. A coat of semi-transparent stain can be a great way to spruce up a wooden deck. It lets you add some color to the wood without hiding its grain or texture.
2. If viewing the wood grain is not a high priority, an opaque deck stain can be a better choice. These products, which can be oil based or latex, are more like paints in their pigmentation and so typically hold up longer than a semi transparent stain.
3. Of course, if you don't want to show either the grain or the texture of the wood, a quality porch and deck paint or enamel may be the way to go. It will last longer than any type of stain although you may need to use a primer for best results.

About the Paint Quality Institute

The Paint Quality Institute (SM) was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now Dow Advanced Materials) in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com

(HIT) - Color trends for 2010 take inspiration from a variety of social and economic influences. In addition, living space personalization continues to act as a driver for color change, with accent walls or niche areas appropriate for small doses of high impact, bold color, while using more subtle hues on broad wall areas.

Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institutesm, states, "More and more homeowners are taking on the task of simple home projects to save money and improve their current space. Conversely, others are sprucing up in preparation for placing their home on the market."

Regardless of the purpose, a fresh coat of paint remains one of the most economical ways to accomplish all three. No matter what paint color is used, homeowners continue to strive for comfortable, tranquil home environments.

Good Morning

Zimmer shares, "While over-the-top renovations aren’t the norm today, handy homeowners are tackling small manageable home improvements, such as the addition of a morning kitchen to a bedroom or home office."

With consumers’ continued desire to create both warm and functional spaces, the Good Morning palette consists of hues that are fresh, clean and comfortable.

Color Recommendations:

• Honey-like hues such as tan or pale gold
• Coral
• Yellow
• Mineral Grey

Good Night

"The inspiration for the Good Night palette comes from above—the ceiling," offers Zimmer. Why sleep beneath a lackluster white canopy? Wrap any space with constant color by painting the ceiling in a tint, tone or shade of the wall color or add a softer touch by paring pastel hues. She continues, "From pastels to deep-tones, Good Night hues, as you might expect, are especially useful in bedrooms and baths or to ‘warm-up’ a family space."

Color Recommendations:

• Pastel hues, particularly pale blue or shell pink for ceilings
• Midnight blue
• Eggplant
• Wine

Good Bye

Home staging continues to grow in popularity, as property owners look for home sale assistance. Zimmer states, "The Good Bye palette reflects an assortment of simplistic hues that work across a variety of spaces, creating a welcoming first impression and suitable backdrop for any living area."

Whether you’re saying "good-bye" to one home or "hello" to another, this classic palette is suitable for all areas and is an especially good choice for foyers, kitchens and family living spaces.

Color Recommendations:

• Khaki paired with crisp white
• Mid-toned Blues
• Off-White, Bisque
• Black

Zimmer concludes, "No matter which hue attracts attention this year, consumers continue to have an increased appreciation for paint quality and value." And, why not? It remains a personal choice for a personal space—it’s about time.

For other helpful tips on painting and good design ideas, visit www.paintquality.com, where a great paint job begins.

About the Paint Quality Institute

The Paint Quality Institute^sm was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now Dow Advanced Materials) in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com

(HIT) - Do passersby walk past your house without a second look? Do you stroll out of your front door, eyes forward, heading straight toward your destination? Many people think that a home is a home, and curb appeal doesn’t truly matter that much. But, the fact is that few people will be eager to see your fabulous interior if they aren’t wowed by your curb appeal. And, of course, everyone will assume you keep a beautiful, clean, and flawless home if you do have curb appeal! A few simple changes to the front of your house can craft curb appeal that will bring your whole home together.

Painting the front door a dramatic color will create a focal point, and adding potted plants, planters, and window boxes will create the natural beauty of a garden without a lot of work. But, one of the best ways to make your home look more inviting is by adding patio furniture. Nothing invites you and your guests to your front porch like a place to sit! But, it’s important to choose outdoor furniture that fits your lifestyle and will be used. For example, if your daughter is strongly allergic to bees and the family prefers not to eat or bring food outside; a patio dining set or picnic table is probably not the best choice!

Think about how you want to spend your time on your front porch: if you want some escaped time alone, an outdoor rocking chair or porch glider may be best. If you’re hoping the entire family, or maybe even the neighborhood, will flock to your newly revitalized space; a deep seating collection, group of Adirondack chairs, or an outdoor furniture group may fit you better.

It’s also important to not let your furniture overwhelm your front porch. If you’re working with a rather small area, a simple porch swing or garden bench may be plenty. Remember, more is not always better!

Also consider what kind of maintenance you’re willing to put into your furniture; many kinds of wood furniture need staining or treating to keep them looking fine. While, synthetic wickers and polywoods are virtually maintenance free!

Creating a welcoming entrance and expert curb appeal is not as difficult or expensive as you may think. While full-fledged renovations make fantastic fodder for decorating shows, you can revitalize your front entryway using many materials you may already have, and other inexpensive additions. To make the whole process easy, go to a retailer that carries all of the options. CedarStore.com has nearly every kind of patio furniture design and offers them in a multitude of materials! Give your guests an extraordinary first impression by upping your curb appeal this spring. 

Black or taupe, wine or white? "Transforming your home from ‘last year’ to ‘New Year’ with a new paint color is one of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to achieve quick design impact," said Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute. "A gallon of paint and the right painting tools are all that stand between a space that’s ‘drab and dreary’ and one that’s ‘bright and cheery.’ Or, if subtle is more your style, some of the newest neutral tones can add lots of comfort and flair."

Whatever color best suits your unique personality, Debbie adds, remember that a fresh coat of wall paint is a wonderful backdrop for furnishings or fabrics -- if not the room statement wholly on its own. Zimmer shares, "And unlike many other types of home improvement projects, painting can be completed year-round, with minimal cost and minimal time."

So, Debbie emphasizes, this weekend is the perfect time to start the year right—dramatically renewing your space, from the kitchen to living area, from bedroom to bath, with a fresh new hue for 2010!

Five Quick Tips from the Paint Quality Institute:

• Not much time? Paint an interior accent wall with a dramatic new color.
• Look up and say "Goodbye" to boring ceilings.
• Who made the rule that all trim must be white? Break the rule, and create a classic monochromatic feel by painting baseboards and moldings the same hue as the walls but with a higher sheen.
• Ready to wall-mount that new flat panel for the playoffs? Take a moment and add some bold color to the wall behind it. Your view of the games will be "picture-perfect" when it’s framed with the right color.
• Whose got paint leftover? Put it to work, and delight your overlooked closet or pantry with the "pizzazz" of a new paint job.

To read more on 2010 paint color trends and tips, visit www.paintquality.com, where a great paint job begins.

About the Paint Quality Institute

The Paint Quality Institute ^(SM) was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow")) in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.4 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.