Cool Hot Weather Painting Projects

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Jul 19, 2016, 07:57 ET

SPRING HOUSE, Pa., July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Even when the weather's too hot for exterior painting, you can still do some "outdoor" painting indoors, suggests Debbie Zimmer, design expert with the Paint Quality Institute.

"Just focus on fun items like birdhouses, mailboxes, and planters that can be colorfully painted in the comfort of your home, then moved outside later on," she says.

You can give a birdhouse more personality by painting it in bright colors.

The most straightforward approach is to give these "satellite" items the same color treatment as your home's exterior. If your house is painted green and beige, for example, you can use the same color scheme on your outdoor elements to create a totally coordinated look.

But if your taste trends more toward tutti-frutti and less to plain vanilla, you can have even more fun painting these items. They all take on even greater personality when given more whimsical treatment, the quirkier the better.

Take a birdhouse, for example. Why shouldn't your fine-feathered friends have a look all their own? And why not in showy colors as vibrant as their plumage? You can use paint to celebrate their presence with bright colors and interesting patterns that mirror their own natural beauty.

Focused instead on your mailbox? Then adopt a color scheme that sets yours apart from the crowd. If you're patriotic, why not add some stars and stripes? If you like gardening, paint some colorful blooms on your box. Like sports? Why not embellish your mailbox with your favorite team's colors?

Planters, too, can benefit from creative treatment. Choose paint color that enhances the flowers or foliage they house. For extra pizzazz, embellish your planters with appealing patterns and designs.

Every one of these items takes on even more panache when imaginatively constructed. If you're handy with a hammer, why not build a birdhouse, mailbox, or planter that resembles the house you live in? Or, create a custom piece appropriate to your locale, or one that reflects a personal passion, hobby, or interest.

Whatever form your outdoor items take, you'll want to protect all your handiwork with the most weather-resistant exterior paint. According to Zimmer, that typically means using a top quality coating made with 100% acrylic.

"Paints and coatings made with 100% acrylic are extremely durable, fade-resistant, and flexible enough to expand and contract in extreme temperatures," she says. "As a result, they can protect outdoor creations from the elements for many years to come."

Once you complete your colorful craft items and place them out of doors, you can be sure they'll bring a smile to the faces of all who see them. And, since they'll be a great reflection of your own creative talent, one of the biggest of those smiles will be yours!

To learn more about creative exterior painting, visit the Paint Quality Institute website at paintquality.com, or go to blog.paintquality.com.