1.  Trim should always be white.

Not necessarily. Sure, white trim provides a nice, crisp edge—but what if that’s not what you want? Painting your trim a color can highlight architectural features (like the built-ins in the image above).

2.  Ceilings should always be white.

Nope. Painting the ceiling of a tall room a darker color than the walls—like charcoal or black—can add drama. Or try white walls with a brightly colored ceiling to show your playful side.

3.  You can’t paint walls and trim and ceiling the same color.

Says who? If you want something else to take center stage, matching your walls, trim, and built-ins will provide an even color palette that makes a perfect background for your favorite painting or snazzy sofa.

4.  Small rooms should be painted white or light colors.

Not really. Dark colors create a perception of depth as the walls appear to recede, which actually may make a small room bigger. Plus, if you’ve fallen in love with a wild, dark color  it might be better limited to a small space than taking over a big part of your house.

5.  Open-plan spaces should have the same color walls throughout.

They can, but they don’t have to. Just make sure the colors play well together and steer clear of more than one color on a continuous wall to avoid a choppy look.

Whether you decide to break the rules or paint by the book, here’s one thing you should always consider: Hire a professional to do the painting. We will do the prep, painting and cleanup and you’ll love the results. Request a consultation today.

The post 5 Painting “Rules” You Can (and Maybe Should) Break appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

1. Lavender

This lush hue might not be as saturated as the rest of the colors on this list, but it’s still a great seasonal pick that you will enjoy year-round.

Our inspiration: A scoop of lavender ice cream on a warm summer night…yum!

2. Mustard Yellow

Okay, okay. So, we’ve clearly got a thing for mustard—just about any time of year. But there’s something about this color that simply screams “summer” to us.

Our Inspiration: The neighborhood lemonade stand

3. Green

This blue-ish green is a winner in our book! We love it as an accent wall, but it would be a wonderfully bold color for your kitchen and living room. We could see it in just about any room!

Our Inspiration: Walking barefoot in the grass

4. Blue

This whimsical shade of blue is guaranteed to put you in a good mood. It’s perfect for a kitchen as pictured below or would also be great for a bathroom refresh.

Our inspiration: Blue summer skies

Looking for help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post 4 Vibrant Shades We Love for Summer appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

We scrolled through Instagram to find images and inspiration for summer remodels, paint projects, and home improvement adventures, and more! Take look through

For your paint swatch Collection:

For the bold color enthusiast:

For the minimalist:

FOR Those Who can’t quit Wallpaper:

Now that you’ve got the inspiration you need to get started on your next project, you might be looking for some practical tips and tricks to get you started.

Here are a few blogs we recommend checking out next to help you on your way:

What Different Paint Colors Mean in Your Home
Four Professional Painting Secrets You Need to Know
Five Interior Paint Mistakes Most People Make

Looking for professional help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post Instagram Inspiration For Your Summer Paint Projects appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

1. Incorporate Texture

We’ve mentioned before, but we love a good pairing of color and texture. For example, this deep green hue and vertical panels are match made in heaven!

2. Be Matchy-Matchy

If you’re not sure where to start with an accent wall, gather some inspiration by looking around the room! Try coordinating with a piece of art, your favorite piece of furniture, or even a throw blanket or a pillow on your couch.

3. Bring Back Wallpaper

If you’re a little apprehensive when it comes to wallpaper, you’re not alone! Tacky wallpaper was a staple of the 80s and 90s, but we’re here to let you know that it’s safe to get back in the water!

Wallpaper can be an incredible way to create an accent wall—just avoid overly busy patterns and find one that feels like a classic that you’ll love for years to come!

4. Embrace Nature

Sure, the reclaimed wood has been a little overdone thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines. But incorporating wood textures or panels can be a wonderful way to bring some dimension to a room with lots of white space.

So there you have it! We hope you’ve gained a fresh appreciation for accent walls and the character they can add to your home.

Are you in Middle Tennessee and need a free quote for your next home improvement project? Contact our ProTek Painting Services team!

The post How to Perfect the Art of the Accent Wall appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

1. Mustard Yellow

This color may not be for everyone but it truly is a great option for bringing in a new season! Think sun after a long winter! Additionally, this color will bring warmth and light into your home all year.

________

2. Muted Green

The color green is essentially a symbol for the spring season because it hints at all the growth we see around us after winter frosts and leaf-less tress. What better way to ring in the arrival of spring than with an earthy and optimistic paint color!

________

3. Dusty Pink

We know pastels are an obvious choice for anything spring-related. But we love this shade of pink because it’s a relative of a classic pastel, but it has more depth and dimension. Plus, it can serve as a neutral shade for that favorite space in your home.

________

Looking for help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post Spring Paint Colors You’ll Love Year-Round appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

Pairing fresh paint with a textured surface already existing in your home can be the perfect combination. Think paneled walls, brick, tile, etc. that can provide additional balance or weight to the space.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few paint and texture combinations that we love:

1. Beige + Paneled Walls

2. White + Brick

3. Gray + A Pocket Door

4. Black + Window Trim

5. Dark Green + Built-In Shelving

Looking for help with your next home design project? Our ProTek Painting Services Team is safely serving Middle Tennessee right now, and we’d love to help! Reach out for your consultation and estimate today.

The post 5 Color + Texture Combos We Love appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

Sometimes all you need is a little bit of inspiration to get your next house project started. So we’re sharing 8 Instagram accounts we love to browse for design and paint inspiration. Why don’t you give a few of these accounts a follow before you start your next project?

Our ProTek Painting Service team is happy to serve commercial and residential clients in Middle Tennessee. If you have a home or painting project you’ve been meaning to check off your list, reach out for a consultation right here!

1. Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball creates paint and wallpaper that is both eco-friendly and on-trend. Follow their account for bolder designs, pops of color, and funky touches around your home.

2. Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Paint is top of the line, and their Instagram content is as well. Follow them to find lots of interior and exterior paint inspiration along with tips and how to’s in their Instagram Stories.

3. ProTek Painting Service

Of course, it would be a miss to not include our Instagram account! Be sure to follow us for inspiring color palettes, and helpful tips and advice for your home improvement projects.

4. Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy isn’t a solely paint-focused, but they do post noteworthy and inspiring interiors. Their account is especially helpful for figuring out how to use paint to tie all the elements of a room together.

5. HGTV

You might be familiar with some of the popular shows on the HGTV network, but did you know they have an Instagram account that’s just as addictive as well? Follow them to go behind the scenes of some of your favorite shows, and grab the looks you see on tv for yourself.

6. Architectural Digest

They call themselves the Design Authority, and for good reason. Architectural Digest will take you inside the homes of celebrities and let you tour some of the world’s most unique houses. But even first-time homeowners can find inspiration here for their next painting project.

7. Domino

Like Apartment Therapy, Domino’s account has a lifestyle twist that makes their content inspirational and fun to engage with. For everything from rustic to modern room inspiration, be sure to give their account a follow.

8. Sherwin Williams

Last but certainly not least, Sherwin Williams is one of our preferred paint brands here at ProTek. On their Instagram, you can shop their products, browse DIY projects, and of course see some of their most popular colors in action.

The post 8 Instagram Accounts We Love For Paint Inspiration appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

For some, the thought of garish red walls will warrant an automatic, “No, thank you!” But we’d like to create an argument for it. Depending on your design style and the goals you have for your space, you may find that a red paint job is worth considering after all! Here are 5 places where we’ve seen red paint create an inspired look that’s worth emulating. 

Love the look of one of the spaces you see below? Reach out to our Protek Professional Painting Services team! We’d love to help you bring a vision like one of these to life in your home! 

Make a statement with your entryway.

When was the last time you infused some new life into your entryway? This is the first space your guests see when they enter your home, so it’s definitely worth putting a little time and attention into. A bright pop of red paint might be just the thing to add some much needed warmth and welcome to your space.

Go bright and bold in your bedroom

Your bedroom should be all about calm and rest – a place where you can kick your feet up and get away from the world for a while. But that doesn’t always have to mean blue and green shades! Try one of these warm reddish hues on your next bedroom project instead.

Use red paint as an accent wall

Afraid to go all-in with your red paint? An accent wall in your living space can be a great way to add interest and variety without making a huge commitment. From bright, bold reds to quiet, richer hues, you really can’t go wrong with this approach.

Add some fun to your child’s space

Do you have little ones at home? Red might be the perfect color to add fun and personality to their rooms. We like this road-inspired theme for boys and this half wall paint job for boys and girls. Don’t be afraid to get creative and let your little ones get involved too!

Small room, big impact

Whether it’s a dining nook or your master bath, sometimes red paint can be used to make a big impact in your smallest rooms! Don’t rule it out next time you have a smaller paint job on your hands.

What do you think of the red paint trend? Is it something you would consider for your own space? Why or why not? Let us know!

And don’t forget, if you’re in the Nashville or Middle Tennessee area, you can always reach out to our Protek team for help on your painting projects!

The post This Is The Unexpected Paint Color Your Home Needs appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.

Looking for professional help with your wallpaper removal job? If you’re in MIddle Tennessee, our Protek Professional Painting Services team would love to help! Reach out to us right here.

Always do wallpaper removal before painting

Whenever possible, you should always try to completely remove your wallpaper before painting your space. This will give you smoother, more professional-looking results that last for longer. Wallpaper under the paint can cause it to bubble and detach from the wall. Wallpaper that has been painted over is also extremely hard to remove later on. Even if there are a lot of layers of wallpaper or you’re facing a generally tough job, it will always be worth it to remove the wallpaper completely first.

Test your wallpaper

If you’ve spent any time researching beforehand, you’ll know there are a handful of different methods for removing wallpaper. To test the initial ease of your wallpaper removal, we recommend using a great utility knife to pry the paper up in an area that’s not easily noticeable. Can you pull the paper down the surface of the wall? This is great news! You most likely will not have to soak, steam or dry-strip the walls. If you have a tough time pulling the paper off by hand, you’ll want to look into soaking, steaming or dry-stripping instead. 

Know your walls

So your wallpaper isn’t budging by hand. How do you know which method to try next? First, find out if your walls are plaster or drywall. Homes that are 50+ years old typically have plaster walls, while newer homes use drywall. Drywall is much more delicate, so keep in mind that you won’t want to soak or steam-strip it and you’ll need to consider other options. 

Make sure you have the correct tools for the job

With the right tools, a wallpaper removal job can be relatively easy, even though it is time-consuming. Once you know if your wallpaper is easily peelable and if you have plaster or drywall, you can choose the best tools to get the job done right the first time. If your wallpaper can be stripped, all you’ll need is a great utility or putty knife and your hands! If you have plaster walls and decided to use a soaking method, grab a liquid stripper concentrate from your local home improvement store and a large brush or sprayer. You can find more in-depth instructions for this method right here. For a steam removal, you’ll need a steamer, scoring tool, gloves, and goggles. You’ll also want some extra help from a friend. You can find more instructions on this method here. 

Hit a dead end? Don’t be afraid to reach out to the experts.

Sometimes in the wallpaper removal process, you may encounter damage or unexpected complications. In those cases, it’s always best to reach out to a professional for help before moving forward. Our ProTek team is licensed and insured and has expansive experience with the wallpaper removal process. If you’re in Middle Tennessee, specifically Williamson or Davidson County, we’d love to help you with your job!

Fill out a contact form right here and we’ll have a member of our team get back with you as soon as possible. 

The post What You Need To Know About Wallpaper Removal appeared first on ProTek Professional Painting Services.