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Five Areas of Your Home you Never Thought to Paint

Grab your brushes and get ready to reinvigorate your space

Bedroom with brown dresser, desk and bed. The back wall has diagonal gray lines running across and there is a picture of a car above the bed

A little paint can go a long way, especially when refreshing often-used, yet overlooked, areas of your home.

Paint is the number one tool in a DIYer’s arsenal, providing the power to totally transform the look of your home without breaking the bank. In the matter of just a few hours, stuffy rooms can become inviting, dreary walls can turn vibrant, and focal points can grab attention once more.

Whether you’ve already tackled the major areas of your house or are simply looking for projects that make an impact, here are five unexpected areas of your home to overhaul with a fresh paint job.

Small half bathroom with updated brown wainscotting and gold floating shelves

Powder Room

While typically small, overlooked spaces, powder rooms offer a unique opportunity to make a style statement. For example, bold saturated colors and large-scale patterns that might seem overwhelming in a bigger space, like a living room or dining room, are often ideal for a half bath. A dark, moody hue screams chic glamor, while a clean white can feel modern and crisp.

Check out this DIY project from expert DIYer Bong Bain to see how she elevated her bathroom in just a few steps.

Trim & Baseboards

A new coat of paint on door or window casings, baseboards and other trim nearly always guarantees your space will look fresher and neater. Beige or white offers a classic look, but don’t be afraid to use color. When selecting hues, pick those that complement each other on the color wheel, such as violet and yellow.

Skip the do-overs and use a premium painter’s tape, like FrogTape® brand painter’s tape, to ensure sharp lines and professional-looking results the first time. FrogTape® brand painter’s tapes that are treated with PaintBlock® Technology, have a super-absorbent polymer that reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, ensuring clean, crisp paint lines.

Room with large windows. The lower half of the walls in the room are white and the upper half are black.
70's inspired room with cream colored couch with orange throw pillows, a wooden coffee table, and freshly painted green staircase with brown railings, landing, and steps.

Staircase Risers

Your staircase should be more than an avenue to get from one floor to another. Often located in the foyer, stairs are usually the first thing guests see, which means that a painted staircase can serve as a major décor focal point. Keep it traditional with two-toned stairs that match the stain of your floors or for a pop of color, paint your treads a playful hue, like aqua or yellow. Or take inspiration from this DIY project from the Renovation Husbands for a more earth-toned approach.

For a stop-in-your-tracks look, consider an ombre or rainbow colorblock stair riser design, or create a geometric pattern using different widths of painter’s tape. Just be sure to apply FrogTape® to protect your skirtboard and handrail from paint bleed before beginning.

The Fireplace

Rehabbing a fireplace doesn’t require major reconstruction. A simple coat of fresh paint goes a long way. Create a striking focal point by painting your hearth and mantel a deep, rich hue and extending the color up to the ceiling.

Another option is whitewashing the brick. While it might feel intimidating, it’s actually very easy! Simply tape off the fireplace, mix equal parts water and white latex paint, then get to work brushing first the grout line then the bricks, wiping the wet bricks and grout with a clean cloth as you go.

Living room with wraparound couch, round coffee table, two black chairs and fireplace.
Bedroom with brown dresser, desk and bed. The back wall has diagonal gray lines running across and there is a picture of a car above the bed

The Ceiling

Revive your ceiling – a.k.a. the “fifth wall” – to add dimension and ensure the murky yellow-white paint from the previous tenant doesn’t spoil the otherwise crisp design of a room.

Be extra thoughtful when choosing a color because this is one wall that is difficult to repaint. Hesitant about a bold hue? Simply going one shade lighter or darker than your walls can be all you need to make an impact.

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