If you’ve ever moved out of an apartment, you know what a nail-biter it can be waiting on your security deposit refund. This is especially true if you’ve already paid a security deposit and the first month’s rent on a new place and your budget is tight. Apartment painting is one of the ways you can improve your chances of getting your deposit back. But, before you paint, there’s some important information to consider.

For Security Deposit Refunds, First, Know Thy Lease

Before you reach for a paintbrush, dig back through your files for your lease. There, you’ll find the list of all the things you can lose your security deposit over. While rental laws differ from state to state, most leases distinguish between “damage” and “wear and tear.” Usually, it’s the stuff on the “damage” column you have to look out for. That can include:

Big holes in the wall (including excessive holes from picture hangers)Fixtures and appliances broken due to negligence, like a dented fridge door or cracked bathroom tilesPoor cleaning habits – dirty stovetops, mold and mildew, water spots on the floorsUrine stains from petsStained or scuffed paint

If you want to get every penny back, download an apartment cleaning checklist. That will help you ensure you hit everywhere a landlord will look, including places you may not have thought of, like the top of the range hood and bifold door tracks.

Cleaning and Repair Tips

Regular wear and tear on walls, like minor dings or a normal number of holes from picture hangers, won’t trigger your landlord to keep your security deposit. But if there’s actual damage — like big scuff marks or holes in the wall — before you hand over the keys, you’ll need to repair it.

Use melamine foam to get rid of scuff marks on the walls and trim. Repair small drywall dings with painter’s putty and sandpaper. Larger holes in the wall may require more effort.

Don’t Paint, Yet

Before you break out the paintbrush to cover the spackling, ask your landlord about the paint policy (and be sure to get all answers in writing). Many landlords don’t require you to paint over patched drywall. Plus, it can be hard to match existing paint color – and you don’t want to repaint the whole place and have it turn out to be the wrong hue. (Your landlord will charge you to repaint then, for sure.) If your landlord will allow you to touch up paint, ask them to share the name of the paint color and the preferred sheen. Some landlords will provide the paint to make sure it will match.

If you painted any room in the apartment a non-approved color during your lease, repaint in the original color (again, ask the landlord for the paint, itself, or the right color). That way, you’ll save your security deposit.

And once you get to your new place, whether it’s a house or apartment, reach out for a free paint quote. Whether you want a new coat of paint to hide wear and tear or you want to explore different paint colors and embrace new design trends, painting your walls can dramatically improve your space.

The post Apartment Painting Tips to Help You Get Back Your Security Deposit appeared first on Paintzen.

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Any astrologer worth her charts knows the placement of her sun sign. But did you know that every sign also has its own color? Put your horoscope to work for you. Paint your house your zodiac sign colors, and your life could become as harmonious as a Grand Trine.

ries – Red

Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is driven to succeed. This motivated sign is represented by an equally powerful color – red. Try Blaze on an accent wall and bring the power of Aries to life.

Taurus – Pink

Taurus is associated with Venus, known as the goddess of love. So, it’s no surprise that Taurus’s horoscope color is pink. Try Ballet Slipper in a master bedroom for some zodiac-approved romance.

Gemini – Yellow

Gemini aligns itself with vibrant yellow, thanks to its lively, ever-changing energy. Be as energetic as your sign and paint your dining room a chrome-yellow, like Flirtatious.

Cancer – Silver

Watery Cancer is a nurturing, emotional sign associated with the moon and its silvery tones. Draw on your horoscope to bring a sense of calm to your home with soft, cool Peregrine.

Leo – Gold

Leo the lion goes for the gusto. This limelight-loving sign struts its stuff in regal gold. Embrace your inner Leo by painting a powder room Gilded Gold.

Virgo – Green

Grounded Virgos do their best work when helping people optimize systems and processes. Green, the color of new growth, personifies this sign of service. Try a muted peacock green, Pinehurst, for a man cave or game room.

Libra – Light Blue

Balanced Libra, represented by the scales, is a natural diplomat. Light blue, the color of peace and optimism, personifies its energy. Bring this feeling to light with a zodiac sign color like Magical.

Scorpio – Black

Determined, brave and loyal Scorpio also loves dancing in the shadows. Its horoscope power color is black, a hue of strength and authority. Embrace your inner shadow with Midnight Hour.

Sagittarius – Purple

Sagittarius, the zodiac’s philosopher, loves thinking deep thoughts. Purple, the color of mystery and wisdom, represents this spiritual sign. A delicious heliotrope like Pale Plum captures Sag’s otherworldly nature.

Capricorn – Brown

Known as the Goat, Capricorn, is a grounded, strong sign. Its color, brown, symbolizes earth, maturity and intelligence. Bring your horoscope color to life with elegant Winter Cocoa.

quarius – Bright Blue

Ruled by Uranus, Aquarius is the most forward-thinking, socially minded of the signs. It’s represented by bright blue. Paint your front door Brilliant Blue and revel in your Aquarian originality.

Pisces – Green

Spiritual, watery Pisces takes for its color the green of the ocean. Try a paint color like Catalina. This calming, harmonizing hue is good for soothing the Piscean soul.

Find more options for horoscopes and zodiac sign colors at our Color Tool. Or learn about our residential painting service. Whether you need your whole house painted or just want to freshen up the living room with this year’s PPG paint color of the year, Paintzen interior house painting services are equipped for all of your painting needs.

The post Choose Your Horoscope Power Colors for an Off-the-Charts Vibe appeared first on Paintzen.

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When you hear the word “accent wall,” you probably think of a single wall painted a different color from the rest as a focal point. But accent wall ideas don’t have to stop there. For example, did you know that you can use accent walls to create space and intrigue? Read on for more focal point painting tips.

Offset Accent Wall

While this is a traditional color block accent wall, what makes it interesting is its juxtaposition to the neutral wall behind. You’re not just painting a colorful wall in a square room here – you’re creating a sophisticated visual effect by layering colors. Like a garden path, this creates a feeling of mystery, pulling your eye (and your curiosity) into the back part of the room.

Framed Nook

Got a neutral room that needs some punch? Don’t paint the room — paint the hallway. Then, add to the visual interest by using an open doorway to frame an interesting table or mirror.

Coordinating Colors

Don’t stop at one color when thinking of accent walls. Instead, think of sightlines — what you see at various points in the room. When you’re standing at one end of this room, for example, you’ll see the neutral walls highlighted by the mint green focal wall. But from another spot, the neutral, green and gold will all come into play. The graduated colors lead people through the room, as the eye naturally follows the changing hues.

Eye-Catching Shelving

Use an architectural feature like a built-in bar as a focal point by painting it a different color from the rest of the room. In this large, white space, it can be hard to know where to look. But the gray cabinets give the eye a starting point and gracefully lead it through the room.

Retro Angles

Create a vintage look by painting coordinating colors in large triangles. This is a great design tip for a small space where you want visual appeal but don’t have room for a lot of art. The shapes come alive when paired with a harmonizing pillow.

Pretty Wallpaper

Don’t stop at paint when considering an accent wall. Wallpaper is a natural for this kind of project because it gives you a range of colors and patterns to choose from. As with paint, you don’t have to do a whole wall. Just do a portion – use some behind the bed as a headboard, highlight a couch or dining table, or try an off-center installation like this one to layer in color.

Bright Niche

Like the built-in bar above, this room has a cool architectural feature in the form of the long, horizontal shelf. Create a focal point by painting it a bright hue. You’ll love the pep it brings your whole room.

For more great ideas for accent walls, contact our color consultants. We’d love to help you pick the right colors for your home and we’ll start by sending free 8” by 8” paint samples. (Psst! Did you know we also install and remove wallpaper?)

The post Accent Walls That Are So Fresh You Have To Look appeared first on Paintzen.

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