paint buckets with different colors - painting custom wainscoting concept image

Authentic paneled wainscoting can give your room a whole new look, but it’s just one of many ways you can transform your dwelling space. Have you also thought about wainscot color ideas to go with your paneled wainscoting?

In some cases, all it takes is a fresh coat of paint. A new color is a dramatic way to change a room, turning dull rooms more vibrant or making stressful spaces feel more calm. Paint can hide flaws, sure, but it can also reflect the mood of every room.

If you’re new to the world of DIY painting, here are a few tips to get started.

Choosing your colors

Start by thinking about the color wheel. Picture a clock. The three primary colors — blue, yellow, red are at the 12, 4 and 8’clock positions. When combined, they form new shades: green from blue and yellow, orange from yellow and red, purple from red and blue.

Colors that sit closer to each other on the wheel (blue and purple) blend nicely together, while those at the opposite ends of the wheel are complementary, playing off each other. Synergy is important when thinking about wainscot color ideas as typically wainscoting is white or some such reserved coloring that makes the perfect backsplash to really make other colors pop in your home.

Remember that this is your home! Rules are important but so is customizing things to your liking, so be sure to consider whether you prefer bold colors, muted colors, earthy tones, or something in between. The great thing about wainscoting is that it’s hard to make it look bad color wise. This leaves you with many different colors options to choose from.

Tips for painting and repainting

  • When it comes to buying paint, start small. You don’t want to purchase gallons of a shade you’re not happy with. Buy a quart, and then paint  a piece of foam to see how it reacts with the light throughout the day.
  • Once you’ve decided on your color, try to get about one gallon of paint for every 400 square foot of wall. Measure your rooms before you buy, and plan on purchasing extra if you’ll be painting surfaces that are textured, rough or unprimed.
  • Color mixers at paint/home improvement stores can create slight differences from can to can, meaning you can end with variations on shade from wall to wall or room to room. You can avoid this by mixing all the paint cans before you start.
  • Different paint types require different brushes. If you’re using latex paint, you’ll want to work with a polyester or nylon brush, as these won’t absorb water the way natural fibers will. Natural bristles do better with oil paint. Use foam brushes for delicate jobs such as molding, but note that these aren’t designed to last.
  • Don’t underestimate how long you’ll need to spend on painting. Give the paint at least 24 hours to dry before putting things back in the room. Wait at two weeks — or even a month — before washing or wiping down the walls.
  • Once the paint job is finished, keep some paint in case you need to do some touch up. Store them in small jars, making sure you’ve labeled them with the proper color.

Wainscot Solutions provides authentic paneled wainscoting

Just as new paint colors can help bring new life to a room, so can our authentic paneled custom wainscoting. If you’re looking for ways to provide a new look to your space, turn to Wainscot Solutions. We not only install authentic paneled wainscotting, we can also provide built-in cabinetry to give your home added storage space. Be sure to check online or ask us about wainscot color ideas along with your installations!

New colors and new additions such as custom wainscoting can give your home and your rooms a whole new look and feel. Contact us today to learn more.