Personalize Your New Home with Paint

Everyone wants to add their own mark to a new home. Whether you’re replacing the colors chosen by a previous owner or adding the first touches of color to a newly constructed home, paint can make a huge impact.

When I decided to personalize my home in Austin, Texas, I knew that I wanted to use paint to transform more than just the walls. Part of a development of modern green homes, my house featured interesting architecture, enormous commercial-grade windows, and lots of open space. On the downside, it included many builder-grade touches, such as simple maple doors and trim, basic kitchen and bath cabinetry, and lots of drywall covered in stain-prone,contractor-grade white paint.

1 Painting trim and doors

What I did: My home prominently featured a black metal staircase with inlaid bamboo steps and a maple handrail. Set against a charcoal accent wall, the black metal got lost and created a cave-like feel in what should have been a bright room. I had CertaPro paint the entire staircase glossy white, and then I wrapped the open treads in jute runners. The staircase, gleaming in the sunlight, created the feel of a fun, happy retreat.

What you can do: When assessing the walls in your new home, don’t ignore doors and trim. In many rooms, doorways consume much of the wall space, so you should factor their color and finish into your design plan. Want to enhance a simple room without putting a bold color on all of the walls? Consider using a door as a statement piece. Want to tone down a room with too many entrances? Make the doors neutral, matching them to trim and possibly walls. While not all doors deserve to be painted, CertaPro has worked with me on many styles of doors - even tough-to-paint louvered closet doors - and I’ve always been impressed with the look and durability of the finished product.

2 Painting stairways

What I did: My home prominently featured a black metal staircase with inlaid bamboo steps and a maple handrail. Set against a charcoal accent wall, the black metal got lost and created a cave-like feel in what should have been a bright room. I had CertaPro paint the entire staircase glossy white, and then I wrapped the open treads in jute runners. The staircase, gleaming in the sunlight, created the feel of a fun, happy retreat.

What you can do: Does your new home have a staircase with worn-out treads or balusters? Are you unhappy with the stain or paint color, or are you considering replacing stairway carpet? Professionally applied paint can be a durable option for updating your staircase without replacing components. Brighten up a dark stairway with pale neutrals. Or, if your stairway isn’t getting the attention it deserves, consider using a bold color to emphasize its importance.