If you plan to paint this year, here are some tips to help prepare you for success.

Choose colors with confidence
A fresh coat of paint in the right color can quickly transform the look and feel of any space. To help choose the perfect color for your space, take advantage of the easy-to-use color selection tools available to help you find and try colors before you paint. Homeowners can use the online Color Visualizer, for example, to virtually paint a space and try on different color combinations, making it easy to choose colors with confidence.

Find color inspiration
Choosing the perfect paint color is key to creating the look you want, but how do most people find the right color? More than half of DIYers (56 percent) say they look to nature for color inspiration, while more than a third (36 percent) take their color cues from Pinterest images.

For added color inspiration, consider the 2015 Sherwin-Williams color of the year: Coral Reef, described by the survey respondents as “cheerful,” “upbeat” and “energizing.”

“A mix of pink, orange and red, Sherwin-Williams Coral Reef embodies the approach to design that we’re seeing for the coming year,” says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “Its unexpected versatility brings life to a range of design aesthetics, whether traditional, vintage, cottage or contemporary. For a more relaxed look, it can also be paired with earthy neutral colors such as slate grays, medium-brown wood tones such as driftwood, and metallic finishes to complement its garden hue.”

Select the right finish
Once you’ve decided on the perfect color, make sure you’re getting the best finish for the space you are painting. For durability and washability, choose a semi-gloss paint. Semi-gloss is a good option for areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, as well as trim. For high-traffic areas, like a hallway or a kid’s bedroom, satin and egg-shell paints are preferred as the finish is easy to clean and maintain. High gloss paints are also extremely durable and easy to clean, making them perfect for windows, doors and trim. For spaces that have something to hide, a flat finish will work to your advantage.

Paint your space in the correct order
When planning your painting project, also consider the order in which you paint your space. Start with the ceiling, followed by the walls. If two coats of paint are needed, finish both coats before moving to the next step. Then, paint the windows from top to bottom. After the windows, paint the baseboards, trim and doorframe. Finally, paint the door. Following this order will help ensure a smoother painting process and will require fewer cleanups.

For more help in planning your next painting project, visit your local Sherwin-Williams store or www.sherwin-williams.com.

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“Patterns are hot, hot, hot,” says Cathie Pliess, program coordinator of design for The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and a certified interior designer. “Look for oversized patterns in bold colors on a white background.”

Spring design is trending to naturals – florals, ethnic patterns, textures. “We are all so tied to the digital world that we crave spaces reminding us of the organic physical world,” says Juli Sproules, an interior designer and faculty member at The Art Institute of Washington, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta.

Here are some tips on this year’s spring trends and how to use them to update your home easily and without spending a fortune.

Big florals
This year, florals are big and bright – think tropical blooms, not delicate wildflowers. Go to your local botanical garden, or visit a florist for inspiration. “Floral patterns can bring color and life into a room,” says Sproules.

Ethnic pizzazz
Patterns are also becoming more inspired by global design. This includes motifs with influences from all walks of life, often in oversized translation.

Mix, not match
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and textures. “Patterns used in a room – stripes, florals, hand-painted designs or geometric prints – shouldn’t be too ‘matchy-matchy,'” Pliess says. “Instead, juxtapose old and new, soft and rough, various textures and patterns, like it’s been collected over time.”

Sparkle it up
Bring in this season’s metallics trend with warm bronzy colors. “You can mix metallics now too – perhaps a soft rubbed bronze with highly polished silver or nickel,” says Sproules.

Blue is the hue
The cool calmness of blue makes it the hot color for spring. From navy to turquoise, set off blue with natural brights – unexpected colors inspired by nature, like the rich purple of a cut gemstone, the orange-red of tropical fruit or watermelon pink.

Trend easy
To bring together disparate elements and create a holistic, curated space, select a pattern that picks up elements of colors, textures, and shapes already in the room. Then use it in easy, inexpensive accents like these:

* Use a dramatically patterned wall covering on one wall with the other walls painted in one color pulled from the wall covering.

* Add pillows in a variety of patterns and textures that complement and contrast.

* Add drapery panels in an exciting floral or ethnic print. “Solid walls with wildly patterned draperies make a bold statement,” says Pliess.

* Paint a large canvas from an art supply store in a vibrant blue or purple or use tape to block out a pattern and paint in several colors. Alternatively, cover the canvas in a wildly patterned fabric.

* Display a small group of whatever you collect – teacups, books, brass or carved wood pieces, vases, pottery, photos, even gloves or shoes. If you don’t have a collection, start one by visiting flea markets or tag sales. “Pick three or five items and arrange on a shelf, on top of a nightstand or console table, in an unused fireplace, or in the middle of the coffee table,” recommends Sproules.

* Bring in a subtle metallic element by covering the inside of a dark lampshade with glitter or metallic spray paint. Or both – spray paint first, then add glitter.

For more information about The Art Institutes and its interior design programs, visit http://new.artinstitutes.edu/areasofstudy/Interior-Design/detail/44.

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Know the Facts
Before buying anything, shoppers are taking time to learn more about the products they put in their homes. For one in four consumers, knowing and understanding what makes up general household products is important. As options continue to increase, this attention to research is key to finding efficient products that offer maximum value. For instance, homeowners will find that a few newer home insulation products that help provide greater energy efficiency also boast new sustainable formulations. Owens Corning EcoTouch insulation is made from 99 percent natural materials, contains a minimum of 58 percent recycled content and is verified formaldehyde free.

Energy-efficient Essentials
According to the 2010 Home Improvement Research Institute Trends Program Report, reducing household energy usage and bills through energy-efficient improvements continues to be the No. 1 reason homeowners make home improvements. That same report also indicated six out of 10 consumers need help identifying what they can do to be more environmentally conscious.

“Now is the right time to make efficiency improvements around the home because homeowners will see an immediate impact on their monthly utility bills, and will reap even greater benefits in the long term,” says Frank O’Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer at Owens Corning. “According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use more energy in the United States than either transportation or industry, accounting for the consumption of 40 percent of our nation’s energy resources. On a more granular level, the primary use of energy in a home is for heating and cooling. In many homes, excessive energy is wasted through poorly sealed and insulated attics, walls and ductwork – all problems that can be solved by handy do-it-yourselfers or through experienced contractors.”

The Home Improvement Research Institute reports roughly one in three homeowners plans to purchase more energy-efficient doors, windows or HVAC systems in the coming year. Sealing all openings around doors and windows can help homeowners make the most of their investment. Air ducts should also be inspected to ensure they are clean, are free of leaks and holes and direct air to the right spaces.

Recycling 101
While recycled content is commonly focused on, recyclable materials are also important. Often with home improvement projects, old materials are thrown out and replaced with the new. What many homeowners may not know is that many building materials and appliances are recyclable. Recycling is a better solution for the environment, and may be less costly than taking material to a landfill.

“There are more recyclable materials on and in a home than you might first assume. Millions of tons of shingles torn off from roofs end up in our country’s landfills each year. Fortunately, the technology now exists for all those shingles to be recycled instead,” says O’Brien-Bernini. “In 2009, Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC formed an alliance with Heritage Environmental Services to create a Shingle Recycling Program with roofing contractors to make recycling convenient, cost-competitive and differentiating and have since recycled more than 90,000 tons of asphalt shingles.”

Homeowners looking for more information about shingle recycling and other types of recycling can turn to Earth911.com, with whom Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC recently also formed an alliance. The site hosts the largest and most accurate recycling directory in North America and provides information about what materials can be recycled as well as lists of recyclers in local markets.

For more tips on efficient home improvements, visit www.OwensCorning.com.

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Appeal-adding updates could be as simple as the quick installation of two pairs of shutters and window headers for a smaller home, or a door surround and five or six pairs of shutters and sunbursts for a larger home.

Accessories like these make a significant difference and help transform the facade and complete feel of a home. Other products include dentil trim, specialty siding shapes and decorative gable vents.

“If your siding is 10 or 12 years old and still in good shape, one way to really give yourself a quick transformation is by simply adding color and dimension with some siding decor,” says Jonathan Wierengo, vice president of marketing for The Tapco Group, maker of Mid-America Siding Components.

“We’ve had a number of contractors tell us about curb appeal makeovers that people are doing for $1,000 or $1,200, where you can have five or six pairs of shutters and something like a door surround,” says Wierengo.

While installing these exterior accents is accomplished in a matter of hours, their
beauty benefits last for decades. With Mid-America’s SolidThru color technology and limited lifetime warranty, no painting, staining or sealing are ever required.

The vinyl shutters from Mid-America offer virtually limitless ways to bring excitement, and make a colorful starting point for one of these affordable multi-faceted makeovers. Whether shutters are for two windows or a set of five, the difference with charismatic color and depth is dramatic. Standard shutter styles include Cathedral Open Louver, Williamsburg Raised Panel, and spaced or joined Board-N-Batten Shutters. Customizable louvered shutters allow offset mullions, extra panels and optional shutter tops for added elegance. Available decorative S-hooks can further distinguish with a romantic touch.

Shutters can combine with sunbursts or window headers to frame a window with robust style. Elliptical and half-round sunbursts bring a brighter feel, while sunburst kits pair half-round designs with either flat-panel or classic-dentil headers for added flair.

The timeless style of window headers projects a refined look. For a front door, a header is combined with twin pilasters to create a door surround conveying subtle strength. The pilasters’ crisp vertical lines deliver a grander entryway. The eye-pleasing dimension of a door surround can also be used to uniquely frame a garage door.

For an expressive combination, a door surround can be paired with the lively contrast of specialty siding shapes. Mid-America’s popular Round specialty shapes provide textured accents for gables and contrasting color around a home’s second story. Five other shapes are offered in white, including Half Cove and Mitered Corner profiles, lending contrast to shingle-style siding or combining with colorful Round shapes for uniquely elaborate exteriors.

Dentil trim is another accent available for upper exteriors, delivering timeless elegance and immediate architectural distinction. Square Tooth and Scalloped Tooth Dentil Trim create substance all the way around a home with harmonious interplays of light and shadow.

Decorative Gable Vents (non-functional) are simple yet impactful. Combining with shutters, window headers or other accents, they help unify a home’s appearance. Available in Round, Octagon, Square and Rectangle profiles, these ornaments can complement or contrast existing trim or siding.

Smaller details also do their part to generate serenity and a more finished look. Cost-effective, color-coordinated mount blocks and vents deliver crisper, cleaner appearances for light fixtures, electrical outlets, exhaust vents and more. Blocks and vents come in the industry’s widest color spectrum, matching vinyl and fiber cement siding makers’ color availability. With innovative trim rings that snap on in a flash, they hide imperfections like heavy caulking and unseemly cut ends.

Mid-America Siding Components enhance various architecture styles and can be directly installed on exteriors ranging from brick, fiber cement and vinyl to wood, stone veneer and stucco. From modest homes to those in luxurious neighborhoods, a selection of these decorative accents can reinvent a home’s exterior with captivating new appeal.

SturdiMount fiber cement mounts are the pre-flashed, pre-assembled mounts that are manufactured of fiber cement with an ABS flange. Easily installed, they offer the versatility to mount everything from dryer vents and coach lights to hose bibs and receptacle outlets. SturdiMount products are the first fiber cement mount blocks and the only ones to carry the “Recommended by James Hardie” logo.

Mid-America Siding Components is a division of The Tapco Group, a U.S. Green Building Council member. For more information, visit www.MidAmericaComponents.com or call 800-521-8486.

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