Ideas For Quick And Easy Paint Spruce-Ups (NAPSA)—Millions of ambi- tious Americans will take advantage of warmer weather to tackle inside and outside fix-up projects. Consequently, many homeowners are looking for cost-effective ways to improve their living spaces. “Paint is one of the most affordable ways to rejuvenate a home,” says Barbara Richardson, director of color marketing for ICI Paints, makerof the Glidden paint brand. “And color is an easy way to make improvements that add fun and visual punch throughout a home.” Richardson suggests renewing the look and feel of your home by trying one or more of these quick andeasy paint projects: Smart Storage Create a personalized home office by revamping inexpensive office furniture. Lightly rub the surface of a steel file cabinet with sandpaper. Paint alternating drawers in complementary colors to freshen the look and aid with organization. Transform old hatboxes into perfect places to stash photos, craft supplies or trinkets uncovered during house cleaning. Apply a coat of paint in a distinctive shade, and then cut patterned wrapping paper in shapes that match the contents of the boxes. Glue the paper patterns carefully to the surface and finish with a light coat of varnish. Motivate kids to keep their spaces tidy by building a “clutter cubby” for toys, books and games. Start with four wooden storage cubes joined to form a quadshaped design, and then attach ti a Me _ | Biz | paint projects. casters for easy mobility. Paint each cube a different color to correspond with its contents—blue for books, green for games and so on. Initials, favorite animals and shapes can be stenciled for extra personalization. Dramatic Dcor Design creatively themed frames to showcase vacation mementoes and photographs. For a beach trip souvenir, transform a wooden frame with seaside colors such as turquoise, aqua and sunshine yellow. Then, glue on tiny seashells collected from the beach. For indoor or outdoor entertaining, make a stylish lazy Susan tabletop centerpiece. Decorate this server with colors and patterns that complement the kitchen dcor and dinnerware. Paint a game board for checkers or chess on top to entertain guests before meals. Outstanding Outdoors Make a splash by decking out wooden deck chairs and patio furniture with cool, vivid colors. Use pastels and citrus-toned racing stripes on the seats and backs. Be sure to weatherproof any painted outdoor items. * Create a potted garden from painted clay pots. Paint each floral container a different color, such as shades of pastels or a combination of primaries. Add multihued flowers, such as daisies or tulips, and then nestle the pots throughout the landscaping, or along the edge of a sidewalk or patio, for surprise hintsofcolor. These fun, fast and affordable paint projects are great for those with “do-it-yourself” ambitions. Discover other creative ideas for home spruce-up paint projects at www.glidden.com.
