Paint A Dining Room In An Older Home

Paint your dining room trim to match its antique wallpaper.

Popular color schemes for interior painting changed with each era. Whether your house is Colonial, Victorian or a Sears kit home from the 1930s, you can bring your older dining room back to its original spirit by choosing historically accurate paint colors. Many paint supply stores have charts with historic paint colors. In addition, online resources can help you research period colors. Don't be afraid of making a bold color choice, as you'll notice that many rooms in older homes used strong colors.

Instructions

1. Move the furniture to the center of the room. Drape a plastic sheet over furnishings. Put down drop cloths to protect your dining room floor.

2. Dust around the edge of the ceiling and walls with a feather duster. Wipe baseboards with a damp sponge.

3. Place a strip of low-tack tape along the edge of the ceiling to protect the walls, cornice or crown molding. Tape the base of your ceiling light fixture or chandelier.

4. Stand on a ladder to apply paint to the edges of the ceiling and around your light fixture with a 3-inch brush. Apply the rest of the ceiling paint with a paint roller attached to an extension pole. Put two coats of paint on the ceiling for full coverage Allow the paint to dry between each coat.

5. Remove the tape from next to the ceiling. Tape around the bottom of the crown molding or cornice with a new strip of tape. Tape along the baseboards and door trim.

6. Paint the edges of the walls with a brush. Fill in the walls with the paint roller. Apply at least two coats of paint. Dark colors may require three coats. Allow the paint to dry between each coat.

7. Remove the tape. Allow the walls to dry overnight.

8. Tape the walls and ceilings next to the trim. Apply two coats of semi-gloss paint to the trim with a 1-inch or 2-inch angled brush, depending on the width of the woodwork. Use more than one color on your cornice to imitate a Victorian paint job.

9. Remove the tape. Wash your brushes with warm water and dishwashing liquid.

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