Cheap Home Decorating Ideas Using Colorful Shutters

I came across a photograph yesterday that had some beautiful shutters on a set of arch-top French doors. They made a difference on the house that was truly remarkable! I was so impressed, that I immediately wrote a blog post on the subject of custom exterior shutters!

Custom shutters is something I’ve been thinking about for some time. The reason is that so many houses have a huge untapped potential design improvement right out in the open! Thousands, probably even millions, of homes have fake decorative shutters. Some of them are even made of plastic for crying out loud! Why would we do that to our home?

I think the answer is simply that we often don’t even think about the alternative! Let’s do that for a second.

Using Real Shutters On a Normal House

There is nothing altogether different about windows on newer homes than on homes from years past. The demise of shutter use is something I wish I understood better, because they really work! A few advantages of shutters:

• When they are real, they look better! – you can see the hardware, and there is a slight angle to the way they sit on the wall. It’s obvious that they are there for a purpose and not just decoration. Authentic always looks better!
• Because they move, they don’t get all nasty behind them with cocoons, spider webs, and leaves.
• They actually work! The biggest benefit is in the actual function of security, privacy, and protection from weather.

How much work is involved in making it a reality?

There are a few things to consider when planning to install working shutters to the house.

1. Is my exterior able to be attached to? – The most difficult surface to do a clean and simple job would be vinyl siding or stone. Vinyl siding is really not great to be putting holes in and stone is naturally uneven. With either of these surfaces you would need to build a frame around the windows to compliment the shutters and facilitate the installation.
2. Are my windows far enough from each other, and from corners? Are they the right size? – for shutters to work they actually have to be half the size of the window. Many homes with fake shutters don’t even come close to the right ratio (another real thorn in my side). You’ll see homes with six foot wide windows with 18″ shutters on either side. (if done right this can look fine, but the idea annoys me). You may not have room for operable shutters.
3. Are my windows a shutter friendly shape? – Arch top or round top windows often create the absolute best look when shutters are installed, but the cost is much higher. Consider this before you start out. Another annoying look is an arch top window with a rectangular shutter. (but again, it can look good if done very well… meaning nicely aligned panels, other accents such as a window box, etc.)

The bottom line is that shutters can be a great asset to your house and if you can make them work rather than just be decorative, you can create a real added-value feature.

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Interior Painting Guidelines

Once good preparation is completed, the actual painting can go quickly and easily. But there are still a few guidelines helpful to observe, in order to get the best result.

Proper paint selection is the first requirement. Interior paints, whether latex or oil-based, come in a variety of finishes: glossy, semi-glossy, satin, eggshell and flat. Which to choose depends, of course, on the final look desired. The names are descriptive of the final finish.

High gloss paint leaves a very shiny, easy to clean surface. But it reflects a lot of light, giving a room a very bright look. It also shows dirt and smudges clearly. Semi-gloss is nearly the same, but with a lower sheen. They work well for high humidity rooms and trim.

Satins give a mild sheen that cleans up easily. They can be used anywhere inside. Eggshell paints go on smooth and leave a low-sheen on the surface. That can be the perfect look for a hallway, den or other quiet area.

Flat paint is just what it sounds like. It goes on thin and leaves a matte look, with little light reflection. Far from being dull, though, that may be just the right look for certain areas.

A bedroom can be the perfect place for a subtle, low-key look. Also, flat paints, because they don’t reflect as much light, help mask wall defects, such as small scratches. That makes a touch up of a wall in the kid’s room the perfect application for a flat paint. Ceilings are an ideal application, where low light reflection is often desired.

Once the paint is selected, it’s time to go. Start at the top with the ceiling, if that’s part of the job and work your way down. A roller can do those large areas quickly, but be sure to pick a nap length that will produce the desired result. The longer the nap, the rougher the final look. Take care not to move too fast and fling paint off the roller as it moves.

If you use latex, you’ll need to paint a smaller area at a time. Latex dries quickly and you need to keep a wet leading edge to ensure there are no overlap marks left when it dries. For most people, a square three to five feet on edge is about right. Oil-based or alkyd paints require a little more care to apply. They tend to drip more and leave runs. They require more smoothing.

When you get to the areas near the trim and baseboard a brush becomes mandatory. Even a well-masked border will absorb some paint from a roller as it bleeds through. A technique called ‘cutting in’ is used with a brush in those areas.

Cutting in requires a steady hand, but most do-it-yourselfers can manage it. Dip the brush into the can or pan about two inches and scrape off any excess paint onto the rim. Move the brush close to the border and give it a short jab, taking care not to touch the masking tape. You generally will just touch it, but by making an effort to avoid it, you’ll tend to produce little paint at the very edge.

Now go over the same strip near the edge horizontally, in order to smooth out any lines or narrow vertical strips produced by cutting in.

Easy!

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There is no single type of paint that is required for indoor paint jobs. But in most situations, a few that carry that label earn it by working much better than exterior paints.

Most paints can be divided into two broad categories: oil-based or alkyds and latex or water-based types. In general, alkyd is used outdoors and latex indoors. But there are many exceptions, which makes selecting the right interior paint all the more interesting.

Latex paint has many advantages for indoor jobs.

Latex is great for a wide variety of indoor surfaces. Plaster or drywall, stucco and other common interior wall and ceiling materials soak it up just fine. It will last for years, providing a glossy, semi-glossy or flat appearance according to choice. Just pick the finish you want and voila!

Latex spreads easily and is very forgiving. Running is less likely and it soaks into many surfaces well. It is no problem to apply evenly and if you have produced a streak a single brush stroke can solve the problem.

It cleans up easy. Once you’re done, or just done for the day, you just rinse the brush or roller or sponge out and you’re good to go for the next day. Clean up of pans and other items is equally easy.

The results dry quickly. Since it’s less expensive than other types of paint, if you’re not satisfied with the look or just need another coat, it’s easy and cheap to apply another. It also ‘breathes’, so any moisture trapped will evaporate out of the paint without producing a bubble. Mildew buildup is rarely a problem.

But there are circumstances where other types are called for.

In sunny rooms that get a lot of direct sunshine an oil-based paint will last longer. Oil-based paints also are made with more and deeper pigments. That gives a selection of ultra-bright or rich colors that can be difficult to achieve with latex paints.

Also, trim, doors and other surfaces often look better painted with an alkyd type, even in a room otherwise done with latex. The extra brightness and rich color gives a nice contrast.

Certain surfaces do better with something other than a latex or alkyd paint. Acoustic tile, for example, is carefully manufactured to soak up sound, to prevent sound reflections off the surface. Rooms with a stereo system or TV-theater system can benefit from a ceiling or wall covered with it. But painting acoustic tile with an ordinary oil or even latex paint can substantially interfere with the ability of the tile to perform its intended function.

To get the best results, a special acoustic tile paint is needed. It’s more expensive than the other types. But anyone who went to the trouble to optimize their home entertainment area won’t mind a little investment. That will make the area look great while keeping the sonic qualities desired.

Certain specialized applications, such as painting masonry can benefit from an equally specialized paint, such as a rubber-based paint. It clings to the surface well and will last longer than latex. It’s waterproof, making it ideal for certain applications, such as the basement.

Select the type of interior paint most appropriate for the job and you’ll get long-lasting and beautiful results.

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