Give your home a mini facelift in a weekend
Updating the decor in your home doesn't have to be a long, laborious or expensive process. Instead, get a little instant gratification by using Plascon paints to easily refresh areas and items throughout the house.
Furniture facelift
Whether it's an old pair of chairs in the attic or a desk that's seen better days, it's easy to breathe new life into pieces of forgotten furniture with a fresh coat of paint. You can add interest and a pop of colour to any room. You will find plenty of hints, tips and techniques in our
Decorating section for painting a wide variety of surfaces.
Use Plascon Double Velvet for a finish that is easy to clean and hides any imperfections. This paint is washable, which means it's easy to keep painted furniture clean. If you prefer a matt finish that can be distressed and wax, choose Plascon Polvin and finish off the painted surface with antique wax.
How to:
- Make sure the surface is clean, dull and dry.
- Prime with wood primer to ensure the surface is properly sealed. This will help the paint go on evenly and uniformly.
- With a foam roller apply the paint of your choice to achieve the best finish. These tools are versatile, lightweight, and can quickly and easily deliver a perfect finish with smooth rolling action.
Door do-over
Changing the colour of an interior or exterior door can make a big impact in any room. The key to getting this update right: colour selection. Choose colour similar to your walls for the door, because you don't want the contrast to be jarring. If you feel like making a bold statement, match the colour to an accent colour in the room.
Be sure to paint the frame too, so the door doesn't seem to float in space, and use a satin or sheen finish. Use Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims for both interior and exterior doors. Suitable for inland and coastal environments.
Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims can be used as a decorative and protective finish on interior and exterior mild steel, galvanised steel, timber and masonry.
How to:
- Remove door and hinges from the wall.
- Prime bare, sanded woodwork; there's no need to prime previously painted surfaces if they're in good condition. However, if you are going over an existing oil-based paint with acrylic paint, sand the door with 180-grit sandpaper to de-gloss and prepare for painting.
- When applying paint or primer, work from the centre of the door outwards in the following order: moulding, inside panels, rails, stiles
- Once paint is completely dry, re-hang door using existing hinges.
If you've got an old door lying around, apply a couple of coats of Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims and add a colourful feature to your garden.
Frame your home
Window frames need to look good not only on the inside, but on the outside too. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders for your home and leave it looking refreshed.
How to:
- For wooden frames: sand to remove varnish, or use steel wool and turpentine to remove oil or sealer. For steel frames: sand to remove painted finish. When sanding, start with 60- or 80-grit sandpaper, follow this with 120-grit and finish off with 22-grit.
- Treat any damaged wood with Plascon Woodcare or Woodoc Wood Restorer, or treat rust on metal window and door frames with Polycell Ends Rust - both products can be found at your local Builders Warehouse.
- Apply Wood Primer or Waterbase Primer to surfaces before painting to prepare and offer ultimate bonding for paint.
As we start heading for autumn and the cooler months, it's also time to think about painting the exterior of your home. Many homeowners leave it too late and end up painting either in the heat of summer, or during the rainy season - both of which should be avoided.
Plascon Micatex contains Weather BlockTM – a unique formulation that offers improved water-resistance and, together with mica and marble, protects your walls year after year by filling existing hairline cracks and preventing the formation of new ones.
Micatex is available in a wide range of Plascon Inspired Colour tints.
Painting is the easiest way to make a dramatic and instant impact on a room. This weekend, get inspired and makeover with these simple and inexpensive projects.