With our current public health situation keeping many stuck indoors, lots of folks are finding themselves strapped for activities and things to do. There are only so many jigsaw puzzles you can complete before you start to feel a little crazy!
One way to pass the time is to take up various small DIY paint projects around the house. This can keep you busy during your “down” time and change up your environment simply by adding some new interior paint colors to the favorite spaces!
Even as a professional color expert, I’m always amazed at how much some simple color adjustments and DIY wall painting ideas can completely change the look and feel of a room.
Here are three simple DIY paint project ideas to get you started.
If you want to add a pop of color or switch up the look of a room without having to paint the entire thing, an accent wall could be just the right thing for you.
Accent walls can add depth, brightness and some much needed variety to any room in the house. Accent walls look especially great in areas surrounded by neutral colors like white, grey, taupe, beige and others. 
Accent walls are a great way to both get creative and to highlight key features of the room. For example, if you’re painting a wall in the living room, perhaps you want to match the accent wall color to a detail in your curtains or to go along with the color of your sofa.
This idea extends to picking the wall you want to paint. Maybe one wall is covered with windows so you could choose the relatively blank wall next to it instead. Or, if you have a wall with interesting features (perhaps it has a gorgeous mantle, nice shelves or a fireplace), you could choose to paint that wall to draw even more attention to those features.
Speaking of special and fun walls, one of my favorite DIY wall painting ideas is to create a chalkboard wall. Perfect for communal spaces like the kitchen or for a playroom or kids room design, chalkboard paint can create a wall that will be a fun project for the entire family.
What kid doesn’t want to draw on the walls of their house? Chalkboard paint makes that possible (without the parental headache caused by a toddler using a crayon or marker on the walls of the hallway).
This activity is fun for the entire family to help with and it will continue to provide fun in the future. You can use the wall for your kids to draw on, to draw up a family schedule, a grocery list or anything else you can come up with!
See examples of my work here.
Walls aren’t the only DIY paint project you can do to keep busy. If you aren’t ready for the commitment of painting the walls of your home, why not spice up some furniture you have?
Desks, chairs, coffee tables, dressers, bookcases… the list goes on! I’m sure there are plenty of pieces throughout your home that could use some touch-ups or even complete makeovers! Like with accent walls, adding pops of color to furniture can brighten up the room it’s in, without having to go “all in” with painting the walls.
Here are a few key tips to doing a furniture painting project right.
First of all, if you will be painting a piece of furniture, it is necessary to cover anything NOT being painted, and don’t cut corners. Cover everything you can see in the room! Even if you’re painting something small, expect that drops of paint will get everywhere… even feet away from where you’re working.
I would also recommend disassembling the furniture you’re painting if you can. This will help you get the new paint into every crack and crevice so no part is missed or overlooked. This also makes it easier, especially if you’re working with bulky or heavy furniture.
I also suggest using the right finish when you are choosing your paint. When you are painting walls the paint is usually not a shiny finish, whereas furniture requires the same kind of paint as a piece of woodwork or trim. Be careful to choose the right color, and the right kind of finish before you get started!
There you have it: three simple DIY paint projects that you can get started on today!
I’m always ready for a new project. I’d love to hear what you’re doing to keep busy during this time and I’d also love to see what you come up with if you take on one of these projects!
Contact me here or leave a comment down below.
