Category: Blog

Have you been staring at your backyard wondering what could be done to give it that little bit of wow factor?

You’ve planted some of your favourite varietals, rolled up your sleeves and gotten rid of those pesky weeds, but there’s still something missing! Did you know that splashes of paint around your garden can give your garden that special look you’ve been searching for? Plus, it can be fun for the whole family.

Brightly Paint Garden Pots

To add a bright splash of colour to any size garden, hand painting pots and garden beds is a fun and easy idea. Best of all, you can get the kids involved during the school holidays to make it a fun task for the whole family!

Try using bright colours, sharpies and different sized brushes for some unique designs filled with personality.

A Coat of Paint for Your Tired Looking Fence

Fences can be one of the most overlooked parts of your garden. It’s not a complicated task, but understandably other jobs are usually put before it.

When planning on giving your fence a new coat of paint, make sure you check the weather 24 hours in advance. Only paint your fence in dry conditions, and if it has rained recently wait until your fence is dry before painting.

Paint Your Outdoor Furniture

Do you have dull looking benches, tables and chairs, deck chairs or lounges needing some extra love and attention? Just like your fence, freshly painted outdoor furniture can work wonders for the overall atmosphere of your outdoor space.

Get Creative with a Feature Wall

If you’re feeling particularly creative, why not create a feature wall? While feature walls are typically one colour, an outside feature wall can be a little more eccentric.

Popular outdoor colours include rose hues, strong greens and blues and earthy tones as this really complements the natural tone of your garden and helps the natural foliage to stand out.

Outdoor Painting Tips

At Thomas Fisher Painters, we’re all about getting the job done right, every time. Follow these simple outdoor painting tips to ensure your next project lasts:

• Always tackle outdoor painting jobs when the weather is dry and fair
• Never paint damp wood. If the wood is damp, the paint will flake and fall off.
• Avoid painting in direct sunlight or when temperatures surpass 30°C – it’s not good for the paint and it’s not good for you.
• Just like painting inside, prepare your exterior surfaces. Treat bare wood, sand painted wood, and prime.
• Always invest in quality tools and products
• If it’s a big job, don’t be scared to call the professionals for help!

Are your office walls looking dull and grey and in need of a fresh coat of paint? How about a complete renovation overhaul? If it’s time to spruce up your office or work space, it’s important to choose the right colour scheme, because what you choose could have a major effect on the productivity and creativity of your employees.

It might sound like pseudo-science to some, but colour psychology for workplaces has become pretty important in recent years. Researchers have conducted studies to learn more about the effects that different colours have on productivity and mood.

Let’s take a look at the power that different colours can have on your employees.

White Isn’t a Popular Choice

While white and beige walls might be a great option for rental properties, they are the opposite when it comes to offices. White walls are said to give off a clinical and sterile feeling, and can hinder productivity and creativity. If you want to use white in your office, consider using it as an accent or as a base for other colours.

Calming Blue

Blue is usually associated with feelings of calm and peace – and blue walls help employees focus on their work, especially when they have important deadlines looming. So, if you’re looking to increase productivity – blue walls are the way to go.

Boost Creativity with Yellow

Do you work in the creative industry? Research has shown that mellow yellow colours help trigger creativity for writers, designers, artists and developers to name a few.

Natural Green Tones

Like the colour blue, green walls help improve focus and creativity while also helping ease feelings of stress and anxiety because the colour is usually associated with nature and new growth. Green also helps people feel welcome and relaxed – always good to have in a work place!

Vibrant Red

There’s a reason that the colour red is usually only used for small accents in any space. It’s often associated with a call to action, helping draw the eye to important messages or alarms, though it can also help energise your employees.

If you’re planning an office renovation and are looking for professional commercial painters to get the job done right using your chosen colour scheme, contact the painting professionals at Thomas Fisher Painters. We’re passionate about creating stimulating and welcoming environments, in any work space.

You’ve probably seen them on interior decorating blogs, Pinterest and Instagram. Chalkboard walls are one of the home decorating trends of the past few years. Whether it’s to keep your little one’s wall art to one part of the house or for use in a home workshop or office, you can’t deny that while they might be trendy it’s also a handy decorating tool for most DIY enthusiasts.

But, with any trend, it’s important to do your research and find out everything you need to know about its lasting effects on your house, walls and floors.

Don’t Do It on a Major Focal Point

Chalkboard walls do look great as feature walls, but it’s time to be honest and think about the future. Will a chalkboard wall stand the test of time? Remember popcorn ceilings?

Painting it in a less obvious place, like under the stairs or a side room gives your children complete freedom to let their inner artist fly – without turning major rooms of your home into a graffiti filled alleyway.

Understand that Chalk Isn’t the Best for Your Floorboards

An often forgotten about part of chalkboard walls is that chalk gets everywhere! It will get all over the floor, it will coat tables and it will cover little hands and feet during the artistic process, leading to chalky footprints and handprints getting everywhere. Part of creating a chalkboard wall is understanding this and accepting that it will be messy. If you’re worried about any staining over time, try to limit the use of coloured chalks. Also, don’t forget to include a safe space to store the chalk and dusters – if there is a set space for storage then there will be less chance of it being left on the floor!

Prepare and Prime the Wall Properly

Before painting, make sure you sand the chosen area lightly – even if it’s only a little bumpy. Basically, the smoother the surface the better. Chalkboard paint will catch on every bump and crevice. So, smooth the wall and then wipe it down before painting it.

Once the paint has dried, you also need to season it before you start using it. To season your new chalkboard wall, just take a piece of chalk and rub down the whole wall and then erase it. Presto! Your new chalkboard wall is ready for any aspiring artists in your home.

Although there’s plenty to consider before painting a chalkboard wall, it’s still a great option for families and DIYers alike. Plus, it helps members of the whole family let their creativity flow. Happy Painting!

Whether you’re looking to improve your investment property to appeal to renters and maximise your rental return, or you’re looking to sell your property and it’s in need of some extra care, there are a few key aspects you can focus on to ensure the maximum possible return for you.

Improving the exterior and interior of your house is a simple, yet effective, way to improve your property. A quick paint job, or a full scale renovation can help. We’ve put together some top tips to help you understand what you should focus on when looking to spruce up your home or investment property.

It’s All About Curb Appeal

First impressions really do count in the rental market, and if this is your first investment property then you’re looking to get as many prospective renters through the doors as possible. As well as having an easy to maintain garden, a good quality paint job on the outside of your house can do wonders. Give the exterior a good clean, and invest in a professional paint job for the restoration of your roof, fences and walls.

Investing in a paint job for all aspects of your property’s exterior will also help protect it from the harsh Australian climate and give your house that much sought-after curb appeal.

A Quick Update with a Lick of Paint

So, you’ve updated the exterior of your house making sure the important curb appeal factor is there, but now it’s time to turn your attention to the inside of your property. As we said before, a good first impression is crucial when it comes to your investment property. A quick paint job in a neutral colour gives your property a fresh look, and can easily help future tenants visualise their future home. Keeping your paint job to neutral tones is important, because bright colours can alienate a fair few people if it’s not to their taste. If you want to use bright colours, do it in small areas or features around the house. New paint jobs are especially useful in well-worn areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Little Extras to Consider

• Do your research. Choose paints that can stand up against the unique climate of your state.
• Think before you DIY. You might think that DIY saves you money in the long run, but you want to get people into your investment property ASAP. Investing in professional painters and renovators will get the job done quickly and to a high quality.
• Think about which areas need the most attention first and what can help attract tenants and start on those jobs first.

At Thomas Fisher Painters, we’re passionate about painting, and helping people around the Gold Coast make the most of their investment properties. For professional advice and quality service, contact the team on 0433 833 713.

So, you want to incorporate a feature wall in your home, but you’re not sure if your chosen colour will create the right atmosphere. Feature walls are a great design tool for giving your room depth, so it’s important to choose a colour that doesn’t make the space seem smaller than it already is, while also staying away from colours that will only be on trend for a short time (remember the rust red feature wall trend?).

We’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts when it comes to choosing your feature wall, and if you ever feel stuck, remember you can always call on the team at Thomas Fisher Painters!

Do – Choose a Neutral Colour Tone

Feature walls are used to create depth in a home, and are a great design tool for any DIYer. Using neutral tones, such as charcoals, silver greys and beiges, or muted earthy tones, will enhance your existing space. A well-chosen feature wall colour will give your room a certain ‘WOW’ factor! Try and stick with a subtle colour palette so you don’t create too much colourful chaos in your room.

Don’t – Choose a Wall at Random

Pick a wall in your room that will become the focal point – such as where the mantel or tv sits. The eye should be drawn to the one spot, and if you’re creating more than one focal point in your room the eye won’t have anywhere to rest.

Do – Pick a Colour That Complements the Rest of the Room

Whatever colour you decide on should complement the rest of the room. You might want to choose a bold and bright colour, but it might clash with the smaller accents in the space.

Don’t – Choose an Overcrowded Room

If your chosen room already has a lot of furniture, photos hanging on the wall or decorative accents, then painting a feature wall will add another level of chaos. Either chose a less crowded room for your feature wall, or cull the amount of clutter so the feature wall can do its job – to highlight the space.

At Thomas Fisher Painters, we love helping people bring their design dreams to life. Whether you’re interested in incorporating a fresh feature wall in your home or if you’re ready to take a step towards a full paint renovation, then our expert team are the people for the job. Get in touch with our team today.

Are you planning on a complete home overhaul soon? Have you got a renovation for a room that you’re just itching to start? With a lot of focus being on environmental care these days, we thought we’d put together a few handy tips to keep in mind for when you start on your next home improvement project.

Invest In, or Borrow, Good Quality Painting Supplies

Renovating can be expensive, so it’s tempting to cut costs wherever possible. Unfortunately, many choose the painting supplies as the area to cut costs on. If you spend a little extra on good quality painting supplies, they can last you for many years – so long as you take care of them. If you buy better quality brushes and rollers, you’ll end up with a better-quality paint job and you won’t have excess materials that you’ll have to throw out after every time you paint a room. Reusing is a very important tip to keep in mind to avoid unnecessary waste.

Reuse What You Can!

If you have paint leftover from any of your painting jobs, it’s important to try to reuse it before you dispose of it. Do you have any other jobs around the house that need to be done? Any pieces of furniture that need a bit of love? There’s always something that can be done with leftover paint! If you can’t find anything, you can always consider donating paint or paint thinner to a furniture refinishing store or a community group nearby.

Store the paint properly

If you don’t have any jobs that need doing around the house but think you might in the future, storing the paint correctly after use is important. How many of us have gone into the garage and found endless tins of old half-used paint? Not anymore! Keeping paint at the right temperature is essential to making sure you can use it in the future. Like a cupboard or a basement where there’s no chance of moisture getting into it.

Properly Dispose of Your Leftovers

If by chance you do have any leftovers and you can’t keep it, you should dispose of it straight away. If there is a small amount of paint left, leave it to dry out in a well-ventilated area before throwing the tin away. Never pour any old paint down the drain or the gutter as this is only harmful to our waterways and animals.

Of course, if this is too much to keep in mind, it’s always a good idea to call a professional painter who’ll think of all this for you! Call the team at Thomas Fisher Painters for a quote today!

You child’s room is an important sanctuary for them. It will be where they learn, create, play, dream, imagine and grow. The environment you create for them here will be something that they remember for years to come and provide so many treasured memories of their childhood. The atmosphere that is fostered here is crucial, and the décor should be conducive to all the activities that a busy young person gets up to. One way to provide them this perfect setting is to decorate accordingly. Here are a few ideas for decorating your child’s bedroom walls that will inspire them to be the best they can be.

A Stencil Border

If you’re feeling a little bit creative and have some time on your hands, doing a stencilled border for the top of your child’s bedroom wall is a great way to add a bit of character. Whether they love dinosaurs, trains, butterflies or anything else, you can choose a stencil to suit.

Chalk Paint for Creative Play

Painting one wall in your child’s bedroom with blackboard paint is one of those things you wish your parents had done when you were young. Teach them the alphabet or any other lesson with the board. Provide them with hours of entertainment and encourage their creativity in drawing with colourful chalk.

Brilliant Bunting

There’s so much quaint and cute bunting out there to decorate your child’s bedroom with. Find something handmade at your local makers market, on Etsy, or get crafty and make some yourself!

A Feature Wall

Simple but effective, a feature wall is something that will brighten up their room and their life. Choose their favourite colour, be it yellow for happiness, blue or green for tranquillity, red for creativity, or any other vibrant colour to match their unique personality. Plus you can get them involved with the painting so they can be proud of the work, too!

Colourful Prints and Pictures

It doesn’t matter where their interests lie, there’s a colourful print to match. If you have some photos or pictures they’ve drawn that are especially fun, get them framed and hang them in the bedroom.

Shelves with Knick Knacks

Install some shelves or wall boxes to store and display their favourite toys, knick knacks or photos for a wonderful aesthetic and practical idea.

At Thomas Fisher Painters, we’re professional painters who can help when you want to paint your child’s walls. Give us a call for a quote today!

Painting a room is a great project, especially to freshen up a space, and there are so many creative ways to do it. Whether it be a feature wall or a mural, if you have the skills for it you can achieve it. There are some murals and frescos around the world that are truly works of painted art, modern and classic.

Here, we take the chance to appreciate a few of them.

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, by Michelangelo

Perhaps the most famous fresco in the world, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City was painted with biblical scenes by Michelangelo in 1508, and has survived hundreds of years to be appreciated by people to this very day. The most famous panel is the Creation of Adam, depicting the creation of man by God.

Banksy’s Spy Booth

Cleverly painted around a telephone booth, Spy Booth by Banksy portrayed three trench-coated spies surrounding the booth and staking it out, complete with their spy equipment. The mural was destroyed in 2016, but existed in Cheltenham in the UK.

Everyone is Searching for It, by Millo

Located on two opposite buildings in Milan and encompassing a whole side of both, the impressively-scaled mural shows Millo’s signature red, black and white. The two figures of a male and female on the separate buildings tell the tale of love, loneliness and hope in a vast sprawling city.

Ceiling Fresco in the Stift Melk Monastery in Austria

This heavenly biblical scene was painted in 1736 by Paul Troge, and exists in the library of the UNESCO heritage listed Benedictine Stift Melk Monastery in Austria.

Murals in Belfast, Northern Ireland

These murals depict the turbulent political and social past of the country, with colourful messages from various historical events. There have been almost 3000 murals documented, some being replaced by others over the years.

The Golden Age of Grotesque by Sepe

This surreal and bizarre mural by Polish artist Sepe represents the greed of modern capitalist society. Sepe is a well-renowned artist in the legitimate, as well as the underground, art world – with exhibitions in galleries across the globe.

Although we can’t help you create the next Sistine Chapel-esque masterpiece in your home, at Thomas Fisher Painters we can paint your walls with style and flair. Get in touch with us if you need your house or building painted, and we’ll create a paint job that you can enjoy for years to come.