It's a common question: what can I do about my small kitchen? Thankfully, one of the best things to do is also one of the easiest and least expensive... paint! A fresh coat of paint, in the right color, can make your small kitchen feel bigger, brighter, and infinitely more personal. Not sure where to start? Need help finding the perfect color? Ask Sherwin-Williams™. They know all about it, and they'll have you painting like a pro in no time...
Fact: you're a darn good cook, and your kitchen should reflect that fact. Fact: you have a strong inclination that painting your kitchen will turn it into the cook's haven you've always dreamed it could be. Fact: you have no idea what color to choose or how to do it. If you're paint-challenged, have no fear. The Sherwin-Williams® online paint tutorial will tell you how much paint you'll need, how to prep your walls, even how to use a paint brush! You won't be left in the dark.
When choosing a color for your kitchen, Sherwin-Williams advises taking a good look at your existing furnishings, appliances and accent pieces — as well as more permanent fixtures like flooring and countertops — for cues on where to begin. (For example, you're not getting rid of your dishes and you have open shelving, so the paint color is going to have to coordinate with the color of your dishes.) Next, do a little research. You loved that kitchen you saw in last month's Gourmet magazine... tear out that page and study what elements were attractive to you. Here are a few other tips to make your kitchen come alive:
• While it's true that lighter colors tend to provide a sense of freedom and openness, warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) infuse energy and life into a space. Pair a warm color with white trim to keep it from becoming too overwhelming.
• You can also enhance your space by focusing on a key point in your kitchen — an archway, a heating pipe— and creating a color "pop" on that wall.
• Don't forget about neutrals! Monochromatic color combinations offer slight variations that will expand and unify your kitchen.
• Play with dimension. A darker shade on a shorter wall and a lighter shade on the longer wall can help make your little kitchen appear wider.
Still having trouble? The Sherwin-Williams® Color Visualizer offers the ability to experiment with over 1,500 colors to help determine your style and find coordinating colors. Once you've found a few good options, take a color test drive! Tape a few paint sample cards to your kitchen wall and watch how the color changes throughout the day. When you're ready to take it one step further, pick up a Color to Go® sample — hassle-free Twist-n-Pour containers with paint that will cover approximately 75 sq.ft. This will allow you to apply enough paint to visualize the color in your environment.
Your kitchen is likely a heavy traffic area. Sherwin-Williams offers Duration Home®, a low-VOC, low odor paint that is perfect for the kitchen and anywhere long-wearing durability and antimicrobial properties are a must. Duration Home® is tough enough to withstand repeated cleanings, and is available in any Sherwin-Williams color — even bold accent hues.
No matter what your needs, Sherwin-Williams' knowledge and expertise will guide you through your kitchen upgrade from start to finish.
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