Devine Color's Blog

Ceilings: How To Paint Sloped Ceilings

When it comes to ceilings, I have a fast and hard rule: It is not a ceiling if the ceiling line is not at a hard 90 degree ANGLE—it’s a folded wall. I see a square room like a box with 4 sides and 2 ends. There are 2 “horizontal” ends: your top end or ceiling and your bottom end or floor… along with 4 “vertical” sides: the walls.

If I have a flat ceiling, it is a “horizontal” end that can be painted the same color or painted a separate color from the 4 “vertical” sides, otherwise known as the walls in my box. A flat ceiling is like a floor upside down. More about that in my next ceiling blog. When a ceiling folds, bends, or slopes, the square box has now changed. There is no longer a 0 degree angle to stop and start a color and define a “side or an end”.

This is why, if there is a slope, the color must flow up or down the slope! It is all about the silhouette as my hero Tim Gunn would say. Here is a perfect example of what I am taking about.

Ceilings: Color From Head To Toe

At some point along the way, having a white ceiling became gospel. I don’t have any record of when it all began or who started it, but I can tell you that everyone recites the same mantras, with unwavering conviction about why you should have white ceilings. You know what I mean. Try to remember the first time you heard someone say that your ceiling should be white, that it would make your space appear lighter.

Let me be the one who spreads the new common wisdom about ceilings. Think of a ceiling as the lid on a box. Should every lid be white, regardless of the box color? Think of a ceiling as the perfect hat. Should every hat be white, regardless of the outfit? Should you put a white toilet lid on a colored toilet? These are some of the questions I would ask when color consulting with my clients. The fear in their eyes, when I said that the color on their ceiling was “to be determined,” was palpable. Lucky me—I had reasons they could trust.

Should You Add White To Lighten A Color?

Adding white to lighten paint is a common practice when people want a lighter version of their wall color for their ceiling. Although this is often not the best strategy. Adding white to lighten a paint color can cause it to turn gray and lose its depth and dimension. So instead of adding white to your paint, I recommend having the color formula cut back instead. This way you have less pigment in the gallon base, creating a lighter version of the color without mudding up the hue. Cutting the color formula by one third seems to work consistently.

Another way to go is to buy our Mini-Paint Pouches™ and play around with complementary colors for your ceiling. Our colors are designed to work together, so rather than lightening the wall shade you’re using, you can another Devine shade. For example: Devine Shell™ is a lighter version of Devine Macadamia™, Devine Muslin™ is a lighter version of Devine Filbert™. Here are suggested wall colors with complimentary ceiling colors in the same hue:

Primer & Paint In One?

Does Paint & Primer in One deserve the hoopla? If you are going to buy paint that promises you something different, you have to ask yourself what that difference will do for you. I love it when paint companies do create better paint products that make it easier to paint—‘hey, that’s how I got Paint that Goes On Like Yogurt made.’ I wanted paint as creamy and smooth as Yogurt so it would spread, cover and, lather on walls like a dream. So what does Paint & Primer in One have to offer? Here is the deal…If you have a pre-painted wall surface you are repainting—absolutely nothing.

Looking For Vegan Cruelty-Free Paint?

livingcrueltyfree.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008,

HOUSE PAINT IS EVIL

So I’ve been reading up on paint that’s been tested on animals (thanks to Michael for bringing this to my attention!). Apparently, a lot of house paints have been tested on animals. I had absolutely no idea. For example, here’s the safety data for Behr white paint #1050 — it lists all the animal tests that were done on this paint alone. They are REALLY appalling.

How To Remove Stains From Your Walls

Our paint has an amazing rich quality and our beautiful color is irresistible—even to the touch. We have amazing personal endorsements from customers whose testimonials speak volumes about the durability, longevity, and beauty of our paint. Read All About It…

Being able to keep your walls fresh looking and clean is a given. All of our paint finishes are washable. As with any stain the trick to removal lies in response time. The sooner you act the better your chances of completely removing a stain from your wall. Mild liquid dishwashing soaps also go a long way in helping to lift stains from any interior wall paint. Stains that have dried out need to be soaked for a few minutes to bring them back to their original wet state before they will completely be release from the paint film.

Eggshell Paint Finishes

The pat-on-the-back declaration “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” is one I am quite familiar with. When something is the way it is because its always been that way, I have a persistent habit of asking why. Color and paint are one and the same. You can’t have solid, seamless color on walls without paint as the channel. So when it came to creating our paint sheens, the questions I asked were “how is it to make our color look?” The practical washable/durable qualities were a given.

Choosing A Paint Sheen For Your Paint Project

So for starters, know that Devine paint will stick to the wall, stay on the wall, and protect the wall. That is a given. All of our paint finishes are washable, some are more scrubbable than others, and all have great touch-up ability! To help you understand the purpose of paint sheens, and help you decide on which Devine Color paint sheen is the best for your paint project, let me indulge you first with a little background.