Bedroom Makeover on a Budget

Painting Tips

• Look for paint companies that sell sample jars of paint that make trying out a color easy and inexpensive. Better yet, these less-than-$5 goodies provide just enough paint for covering small items such as this mirror.
• Never buy paint on your first visit to the paint store. Pull every color strip that you think might work, and lay them out with your fabric and wallpaper samples. Look at them in the morning, at lunch, before you go to bed. Narrow them down. Obsess. Ask a friend. Only then are you ready to make a purchase.
• A sponge brush is a great tool for pushing paint into cracks and crevices. It was the perfect choice to ensure a solid coat on this carved wood frame. A coat of white primer made it even easier to see spots we missed.