The Power of Paint: Easy Ways to Breathe New Life Into Your Home
”Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors”
Ten years + One house + Five kids = Time To Repaint
Whether you're refreshing a single room or reimagining your entire home, I’m right there with you. These tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years will help you save time, money, and get a designer-worthy finish.
1. Test Before You Commit
Lighting dramatically changes how colors appear. Always test paint samples on multiple walls and check them at different times of the day. I love using Home Depot samples — they’re affordable and can match formulas from most major paint brands.
2. Prep, Prep, Prep
I’ll be honest — I used to skip this step, and I regretted it every time. Prep work saves you time in the long run. Turn on a podcast or audiobook to make it less tedious, then:
3. Don’t Skip the Primer
Primer helps your color stay true to the swatch and makes paint adhere better — especially when covering dark or uneven walls. When buying paint, show the employee your final swatch so they can recommend the right primer formula.
4. Choose the Right Sheen
While there are always exceptions, here’s the Styled by Rainie approach:
Flat: Only for ceilings
Matte/Eggshell: Best for bedrooms and living rooms — soft and forgiving
Satin/Semi-gloss: Perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and trim where durability matters
High-gloss: Fun for special projects but not ideal for whole-home painting
5. Choose the Right Sheen
I like to roll first to cover as much surface as possible, then use a brush only where necessary. My favorite tool for edging is this Behr Premium Edger. It’s a game-changer for painting the tops of walls when you’re not doing the ceiling. Now a word of warning: I have friends that can’t work this tool and it makes their job messier. Maybe practice first. For me it’s been great and I never have to tape my ceilings.
6. Layer Color Thoughtfully
When I painted my first house, every room was a bold statement — and it quickly became overwhelming. Paint doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Instead, coordinate wall colors with your flooring, cabinetry, and textiles for a cohesive, intentional design.
You can still use different colors from room to room — just create a whole-home paint map to maintain flow and harmony.
7. Keep it Neutral
I love bold color, but for the walls, I tend to stick with neutrals. Paint is an investment, and keeping your base neutral gives you flexibility to play with color in pillows, artwork, and decor — which are much easier (and cheaper) to swap out later.
Ten years + One house + Five kids = time to repaint.
Whether you're refreshing a single room or reimagining your entire home, I’m right there with you. These tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years will help you save time, money, and get a designer-worthy finish.
Tips and Tricks
Label Your Light Switches: After painting, write the brand, color name, formula, and sheen on the back of the main light switch plate. Future touch-ups will be so much easier.
Store Extra Paint Smartly: Keep leftover paint in a closet or cabinet inside the house — garages can ruin it.
Use Smaller Containers: I love these touch-up cups with screw-on lids. They’re easier to manage and prevent dried and rusty paint clumps from falling back into your paint.
Final Thoughts
Paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform your home. With the right prep and a little designer insight, you can elevate your space from simple to stunning — one brushstroke at a time.
Follow trends for inspiration, but ultimately, do what you love. It’s your home, your story — and paint is just one way to tell it beautifully.
