Spruce Up Your Pad With a Painting Party

It’s when the winter months begin to dwindle down that thoughts of refreshing my home start dancing in my head. One of the most effective and inexpensive ways of doing that, as so many design divas have taught, is to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls. If you’re anything like me, the job is fun at first, but it gets to be a bit tiresome as the day wears on. One way to gain new walls and have a good time doing it is to have a painting party.

Decide what room or rooms you would like to refresh. This may help you determine how many friendly helpers you need to invite. Determine what colors you will use and what painting techniques, if any, you will be using. One of the most helpful tools for picking out new colors is simply looking at home fashion magazines and catalogs. If that seems too stodgy, try picking some of your favorite colors from the closet…those colors you love to wear may look great as a coat on your walls. It’s not going to break the bank if you pick a color that tanks, and it may give occasion for organizing another painting party.

When you’ve tacked down what you are going to do to your walls, send out a note to request a little creative collaboration from your friends. Have them save the date for a stress-busting, easy day of splashing color onto some walls. I find it’s less taxing to start earlier in the day and wrap up your work early on as well. This keeps your night free for other social activities, like vegging out on the sofa.

• Measure your rooms and determine how much paint you need to buy.
• Buy your supplies—paint, rollers, brushes, paint pans, masking tape, etc.

  When your painting pals arrive, divvy up duties to prep the space for painting.

• Clear the walls of artwork, draperies, and furniture.
• Sweep or vacuum your floors to clear them of wayward dust.
• Keep the mood light. Chuck on some of your favorite tunes and open a few windows.
• Wash walls of dirt, grime, and muck. Make sure to rinse well!
• Tape off parts you don’t want painted.
• Go to it! Slap that new color on fearlessly.

Break as often as needed for food and drink breaks. Sub sandwiches and soda are convenient and light enough to keep food coma from setting in, and fruits and m&m’s serve well as mini-snacks to fill in gaps. Be sure to keep ventilation going with open windows and fans.

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