Stop staring at the walls and PAINT them!

Spending more time inside during the winter can leave you staring at your walls, feeling less than enthusiastic about how the place looks. It's a great time to perk things up!

With paint, you can stick with a similar colour to subtly refresh the look or go for something completely different by using a dramatic change in colour. Either way, painting is probably the easiest and least expensive change you can do yourself.

There are all kinds of websites with excellent information about painting your home. Here's a few you can start with:

Click here to visit an ezine article that describes how to prime your paint brush or roller cover BEFORE dipping into your paint. It's a simple step that will prolong the life of your tools, and give better painting results.

When it comes to colour selection, check out Bob Vila's website to learn about colours and how to choose them, then visit Rona's "Paint Selection Tool" where you can play around changing the colours in the photo of a room.

Once you figure out what you want to do, the next really important task is to gather the best tools and materials to do your project. There's a wide range of quality and price for materials like paint. Don't be shy - talk with the people at your favourite hardware or paint store for their recommendations. Make sure they understand your budget too.

Just as important is the quality of your tools. Use a cheap paint brush, and you'll be picking bristles out of your paint, leaving unwanted textures in the painted surfaces, and if you wash and reuse the brush... at some point a nasty streak of rust will creep out of the ferrule to slide into the paint coming off the brush. Annoying, a waste of time and money. Do things right, the first time and you'll be so much happier!

Doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. For little more than $14, you can enjoy a pink Tomboy Tools paint brush. Choose from these 3 styles: 1.5" straight, 2" angled, or 2.5" straight. All have our unique ergonomic handle that has NO METAL in it (no more rust streaks!)

They also come as a set for $39.95, and as part of a Mini Paint Kit for $54.95. We also carry a 5-in-1 Paint Tool, Mini Paint Scraper, an ergonomic handled Paint Roller, roller covers, a Paint Tray Kit that can hang on the side of your ladder, a Paint Bucket that can hug your hand, and a reusable Paint Can Lid (so you can pour the paint without getting it down the side of the can). Smart designs for the discerning female do-it-herself-er.

If you're in the Ottawa area, I give hands-on demos where you can try these tools out before you buy. Have fun, learn tips and techniques, and ...

Turn the place you live in to the place you LOVE!
with
Karen and Tomboy Tools