Designing Your Dream Interior with Mood Boards: Paints, Fabrics & Finishes
, by Ryan Casuga, 4 min reading time
We’re thrilled to share insights from a recent workshop led by Mary Corrado, a talented designer from Portland, Oregon, and an Artisan in Residence at Amy Howard.
Mary took us through an inspiring journey on how to choose the right paints and colors for different surfaces in your home.
In this session, she explored everything from the benefits of our unique paint finishes to creating a cohesive look with mood boards. Here’s a recap of Mary’s tips, perfect for anyone ready to elevate their DIY home projects.
Understanding the Different Amy Howard Paints
When it comes to choosing the right paint, understanding the different options is crucial. Mary breaks down the features and ideal uses of each paint type, so you can decide what best suits your space:
1. Manor Borne Wall Paint
- Finish: Scrubbable matte
- Best For: Walls and trim
- Features: Highly pigmented, low VOC, UV-protected (won’t fade over time)
- Why Mary Loves It: Manor Borne Wall Paint’s curated colors are easy to match with high-end fabrics, creating seamless harmony in any room.
2. One Step Paint
- Finish: Dead flat chalky
- Best For: Furniture, outdoor pieces, and metal surfaces
- Features: Water-based, easy cleanup, no prep required beyond cleaning
- Pro Tip: While it doesn’t require a sealant, you can add waxes for extra durability and layers to create unique finishes.
3. Miracle Paint
- Finish: Satin with a subtle sheen
- Best For: Furniture, trim, doors, and floors (indoors and outdoors)
- Features: Chip-resistant and long-lasting, perfect for high-traffic areas
- Pro Tip: Great for those who want a glossy look without going full high-gloss.
4. Toscana Milk Paint
- Finish: Old World matte
- Best For: Antique and distressed furniture finishes
- Features: Comes as a powder; needs to be mixed with water for each use
- Pro Tip: Milk paint is excellent for creating an aged look on furniture, but it must be sealed if used on surfaces like tabletops or cabinets.
5. Luxe Lacquer
- Finish: Ultra high-gloss
- Best For: High-impact statement pieces, such as doors, furniture, and decorative items
- Features: Provides a sleek, contemporary look with a luxurious finish
- Pro Tip: This lacquer can be thinned and sprayed for a smooth, professional application.
Creating a Cohesive Look with Mood Boards
Mary shared her approach to creating mood boards to visualize and plan a room. Here’s a quick step-by-step based on her demo:
- Choose a Statement Fabric - Start with a fabric that embodies the ambiance you want to create. For a bedroom, Mary selected a soft, elegant English fabric as the focal point.
- Coordinate Wall and Trim Colors - Using the Manor Borne color guide, Mary matched colors that complement the main fabric, creating a harmonious palette.
- Layer in Patterns and Textures - Add variety with fabrics in similar colorways but different patterns and scales, like smaller prints or textures for pillows and drapes.
- Select Complementary Furniture Finishes - For furniture, consider finishes like the Swedish finish with milk paint for a timeless look, or the Luxe Lacquer for a bold, contemporary statement.
Furniture Finishes that Add Character
Mary showcased some of her favorite furniture finishes to add character and charm to any space. Here are a few techniques she highlighted:
- Swedish Finish with Milk Paint: A gorgeous, layered look achieved by staining raw wood and using milk paint with antiquing techniques.
- Antique Oak Finish with Cire Wax: This rich finish gives pieces a classic, old-world appearance.
- High-Gloss Luxe Lacquer: For those who want a touch of sophistication, Luxe Lacquer offers a striking, high-sheen finish that’s perfect for accent furniture.
Helpful Tips for DIY Enthusiasts
- Sample Your Colors: Mary recommends creating paint samples to help visualize how colors will look in your space. Amy Howard offers sample booklets for various paint types, making it easy to experiment before committing.
- Refer to Tutorials: For those new to DIY, check out Amy Howard’s YouTube channel for tutorials. Mary emphasized that these videos are a fantastic resource for learning new techniques and gaining confidence in using different paints.
- Try a Mix of Finishes: Each paint type has unique qualities, so don’t hesitate to mix them up! Use matte finishes for walls, satin finishes for trim, and high-gloss finishes for statement pieces to add depth to your space.
Ready to Transform Your Space?
With the right paints and a bit of guidance, transforming your home has never been easier. Whether you’re planning to refresh a single room or tackle an entire home makeover, Amy Howard at Home’s range of paints offers everything you need to bring your vision to life.
To get started, check out our Manor Borne Wall Paint for elegant, scrubbable walls, or our One Step Paint for hassle-free furniture refinishing. And don’t forget to add those unique touches with Toscana Milk Paint and Luxe Lacquer for a finish that’s uniquely yours.
