Any professional or amateur interior designer will tell you that the most dramatic change you can make to a room is to repaint it; As a bonus, it’s one of the cheapest ways to make a big change quickly. Especially when compared to other changes you can make, paint packs a punch at a very affordable price.

A fun way to decorate on the cheap

There are many ways to update or redecorate a room: you can buy new furniture or accessories, change window treatments, or opt for a new style of wall décor. However, all of these methods can involve considerable expense and time spent searching for the right items to achieve the look you are after. With paint, however, a can or two of a fresh, new color and some inexpensive tools are all you need to get the job done. Although painting requires an investment of time and effort, it can be a fun way to spend the weekend as a family. Or have a painting party, buy some pizzas and invite your friends to help you.

Gold, adds drama in small doses

If you’d rather not paint all the walls in a room, you can add drama by simply painting the bottom half of the walls; install a decorative chair rail or use a wallpaper border to divide the space with bands of color. You can also choose a focal wall for a dramatic take on color that matches the predominant color of the wall.

Another option is to paint the trim and millwork – choose a clean shade of white to add contrast. Alternatively, paint your woodwork the same color as the walls to add a contemporary feel to the room and make your furniture stand out.

You can also create accents with paint. Add a strip of color just below the ceiling or around the windows, or create a painted “frame” around your wall art for dimension. Paint a wall mural with bold geometric shapes using blue painter’s tape to create blocks of color. Painters tape can also be used to add stripes to a wall that adds a nautical impact; You can also choose two slightly different colors and add a traditional touch that mimics high-end wallpaper. You can even paint abstract swirls and flourishes to add interest where needed.

The great advantages of using paint

Few decorative materials are as versatile or come in as wide a range of colors as paint, so it’s easy to find shades to match or accent your decor. Paint can be used for a unifying effect if you choose a shade that brings together all the color elements in the room. Paint can also be used to highlight a favorite piece of furniture: a tomato red sofa will come to life against a gray wall, where it would only exist against a white wall.

Of course, one of the biggest advantages of painting is that it’s easy to paint over the existing color when you get tired or decide to change your style. It’s much easier to repaint than stripping wallpaper and less expensive than buying a sofa.