There’s nothing like adding a little color to your home! Especially during the wintertime when sunshine is less than constant. Some days can feel like nights up here in the Adirondacks, so I decided it was time to add a bit of color to our dining room accent wall. I have always loved the modern, upbeat and mid-century feeling of the colors orange and white.
Now let’s get down to business! The first step to painting the walls a new color is to clean them with vinegar and water. Spray them down and wash them with a bit of elbow grease. This mixture really attacks the dirt and stains from many years of dinners, dirt and heat from the radiators.
Next up, wall sanding. Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have to sand your walls before repainting them. You have to do it! Especially to remove all the inconsistencies, bumps and whatever else has manifested itself on your wall. It’s not that hard to do. Just get a pole, put on the sanding mechanism and go at it. Luckily for me I had a little help.
Now it’s time for tape. Make sure you get the right kind of paint tape so that it doesn’t stick to your baseboards and door frames. I love taping because it really helps get a straight edge when you’re painting the walls.
Now it’s time to add color! YAY!! The orange color I used is, Carrot Stick by my favorite Benjamin Moore.
I like to use a smaller hand brush to etch out the ends first, go all around the perimeter and work my way inside. Then I use a bigger roller. I actually have two! One that is nice and big for wide, long strokes and one for smaller strokes.
The first coat is super easy! It’s the second coat that takes more time. Be sure to get your paint even and not leave any streaks. It looks easy but there’s really a fine art to painting. I’ve been doing it for 20 years so I have my technique down. It takes time, so just keep at it.
And voilà! Now we have a fresh, beautiful, bright wall of sunshine for the dining room! So fantastic!
