Winter is coming in faster than ever, and in a year that most people have had to spend locked inside, many aren’t ready for this final push indoors. The colder air, early nights, and dreary weather are enough to make anyone feel a little stir crazy. Don’t worry, though! There are tons of projects you can do at home to keep your whole family’s minds and bodies active. Instead of trying to force yourself into another hobby, here’s the best and most creative way to use your time while also improving your home.
Get Creative With Your Walls
This step might sound like I’m going to tell you to buy tons of art or that you should take out a wall- but think again! When most people paint their homes, they do it in one plain color and leave it for ten to twenty years. It doesn’t have to be like that, though! Pick a pop of color to create an accent wall or test your family’s artistic talents with a chalkboard painted wall.Try mixing and matching new hues and tones all over your house to brighten even the darkest winter day. You can even start by hanging a series of prints wall art with complementary color palettes above the sofa that will transforming your room into a beautiful and engaging environment.
What Do You Need?
Grab some family members and stock up on paint, tape, brushes, and rolls. Move all of your furniture towards the middle of your rooms- honestly, if you want to upgrade your couch, this would be the time! You can get rid of the old one before you paint and have the new one delivered as soon as the paint dries. Lay down tarps, old bedsheets, or whatever material you can use to protect your floors and furniture. Then you’re ready! All that’s left to do is give your family some brushes and let your creativity flow.
What’s Possible?
Anything! Do you want a wall of geometric shapes? Do you want to replicate a basket texture on one of your kitchen walls? Do you like the idea of a lined gradient in your office? Use sites like Pinterest to look around at what other people are doing for inspiration. Some techniques can be complicated, so it’s better to start simple if you don’t have much experience and then build your way up to more intricate patterns and designs. You aren’t painting a full mural; the tape you lay down will guide you, so don’t be too nervous! This job is a project you and your family should have fun with!
Is There Anything I Should Avoid?
There are a couple of things! First of all, use a painters’ tape that’s made explicitly for walls. Don’t buy cheap tapes that might not work because it could peel up the underlayer of paint and leave you with damaged borders. Wait until the paint is dry before you peel for the best effects!
Avoid clashing colors unless you’re entirely ready to look at them for the next five to ten years.
Don’t undertake massive and incredibly detailed projects right off the bat! If something seems too complicated, you might get frozen with indecision and fear… ease into painting your walls.
Can I Practice Somehow?
Yes! You can practice! There are a couple of ways to learn more by trial and error, so don’t be scared if you don’t have much experience yet! The first way is to practice right on a wall. You can paint something, and if you don’t like it, you can paint over it quickly. This option is an excellent choice because if you want something, you can keep it up. Unfortunately, this also means that you could end up with a thick layer of paint on your walls that you have to work to cover up if you practice too many times.
Another way to hone your skills without putting your wall at risk is to practice on wooden boards you can find at any home improvement store. These boards are cheaper than canvas, and you can throw them away if you hate the result! The only limit is how many boards and how much paint you want to buy.
How Do I Ventilate in Winter?
This idea is more straightforward than it may seem! You can crack your windows in winter to let out the fumes and let fresh air in, but you risk running up your heating bill. Another tip is to fully open all of your home’s interior doors and run a dehumidifier with essential oils. This work will thin out the fumes through your house and cycle them out quickly through your heating system. Your best bet is to go with a paint that has little to no volatile organic compounds, something you should consider going for even in summer. These are safer to breathe near and can still dry into beautiful colors and finishes.
Any Perks For Doing It In Winter?
Tons! The most important perk is that your paint will dry a lot faster than it would in Summer. Warmer months bring a higher rate of humidity and will risk bubbling or uneven drying. Painting in the winter, when the air is thin, lets you take care of that problem and will push you to have more freedom with a repaint if you need to do it. Winter is also better because we’re less likely to have guests over once December passes, so you’ll be able to work without worry of interruption.
