Getting Painting Ideas From Your Painter
You are about to have the entire inside of your home painted and you are a bit nervous about it. It is going to cost you quite a bit of your hard earned money and you want to make the right choices when it comes to the type of paint as well as paint color. But is it really OK to get painting ideas from your painter? You may not think so at first, but because of their years of experience in many other homes, they have the knowledge and expertise to answer your questions.
Yes, your painting contractor gets paid to paint. That is their basic job description. And hopefully they do the job well, leaving your home neat and clean after they are done. Anything else they offer is free and they do it just to be nice (in general, painters are usually very nice people). You can feel totally safe in the knowledge that you are not the first person to ask for help, you can believe it happens all the time and they will help if the can.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
• It doesn’t hurt to ask. As the old adage goes, if you don’t ask the answer is no. It is not going to hurt to ask your painter for their ideas and opinion. He (or she) has done this a few times and they have seen a few tricks. It’s those little things that make them professional painters. They know by shifting shades (not color) one can define a room and its space. They know that going darker will make a room feel more intimate while a lighter shade will open the room up. It is tips like that that can be the difference between a good and great painting professional.
• Take the time to listen. Painters are very much like waiters in a nice restaurant. They work cleanly, quietly, and prefer to go unnoticed unless needed. But when your server (or sommelier) does make a suggestion on the best wine to have with the duck, it is a good idea to listen. You don’t have to go with their choice, but they suggested it because they thought you might like it. Painters are the same way, they are there to make you happy. Remember, you are just asking for an opinion, not giving them a blank check. In the end all choices will be made by you.
• A new point of view. Try looking at your painters as part of your team. They don’t just work for you, they work with you. They won’t be happy unless you are happy and they strive to do that. Listen to their ideas, take what you like and leave what you don’t. Painters will also be familiar with paint trends and different paint colors that will go well with your décor.
• Don’t hit them with questions as they leave. It is best to schedule, ahead of time, a few minutes to speak with the painter at their convenience. Following them to their truck and hitting them with questions at the end of a busy work day, will also probably give you rushed answers to your questions. And calling them at random times during their work day, while they may be dealing with other clients is not very fair either. So be considerate of their time.
When it comes down to it, you don’t need to be afraid to ask for painting ideas from your painter. Be sure to listen to their ideas. And always schedule a time to talk with them. They may not mind at all helping you at the end of their work day, but some might rather schedule time on a day that is not so busy for them.
And if you are still stuck on what painting contractor or painting company to hire in your local area, be sure to check out our online directory of painters. Just input your zipcode into the yellow search box at the top of this page and you will be directed to a list of qualified professionals within a certain radius of your home.
Yes, your painting contractor gets paid to paint. That is their basic job description. And hopefully they do the job well, leaving your home neat and clean after they are done. Anything else they offer is free and they do it just to be nice (in general, painters are usually very nice people). You can feel totally safe in the knowledge that you are not the first person to ask for help, you can believe it happens all the time and they will help if the can.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
• It doesn’t hurt to ask. As the old adage goes, if you don’t ask the answer is no. It is not going to hurt to ask your painter for their ideas and opinion. He (or she) has done this a few times and they have seen a few tricks. It’s those little things that make them professional painters. They know by shifting shades (not color) one can define a room and its space. They know that going darker will make a room feel more intimate while a lighter shade will open the room up. It is tips like that that can be the difference between a good and great painting professional.
• Take the time to listen. Painters are very much like waiters in a nice restaurant. They work cleanly, quietly, and prefer to go unnoticed unless needed. But when your server (or sommelier) does make a suggestion on the best wine to have with the duck, it is a good idea to listen. You don’t have to go with their choice, but they suggested it because they thought you might like it. Painters are the same way, they are there to make you happy. Remember, you are just asking for an opinion, not giving them a blank check. In the end all choices will be made by you.
• A new point of view. Try looking at your painters as part of your team. They don’t just work for you, they work with you. They won’t be happy unless you are happy and they strive to do that. Listen to their ideas, take what you like and leave what you don’t. Painters will also be familiar with paint trends and different paint colors that will go well with your décor.
• Don’t hit them with questions as they leave. It is best to schedule, ahead of time, a few minutes to speak with the painter at their convenience. Following them to their truck and hitting them with questions at the end of a busy work day, will also probably give you rushed answers to your questions. And calling them at random times during their work day, while they may be dealing with other clients is not very fair either. So be considerate of their time.
When it comes down to it, you don’t need to be afraid to ask for painting ideas from your painter. Be sure to listen to their ideas. And always schedule a time to talk with them. They may not mind at all helping you at the end of their work day, but some might rather schedule time on a day that is not so busy for them.
And if you are still stuck on what painting contractor or painting company to hire in your local area, be sure to check out our online directory of painters. Just input your zipcode into the yellow search box at the top of this page and you will be directed to a list of qualified professionals within a certain radius of your home.