Painting Tops Spring Home Improvement Wish Lists

CLEVELAND, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring brings many new beginnings, especially around the home, as people look to freshen up their living spaces this season.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120416/CG87358)

In fact, seven out of 10 homeowners are planning home improvement projects, with nearly half (49 percent) citing painting as the most-desired need, followed by landscaping at 47 percent and remodeling a room at 29 percent, according to the 2012 Spring Home Improvement Survey conducted by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and Sherwin-Williams.

"We know people are looking for more cost-effective ways to enhance their space," said Paul Zuch, certified remodeler and NARI chairman. "Some of the most impactful transformations for a room are economical projects like painting, resurfacing cabinets or changing kitchen or bathroom hardware. But it is important for consumers to use quality materials to make it worth the investment. While it's tempting to go easy on the wallet, spending a little more on quality products saves money in the long run."

Spring into color during National Painting Week
To help consumers jump start their spring endeavors with low-cost project ideas and tips, NARI and Sherwin-Williams are launching National Painting Week, April 16-23, 2012.

"Painting can add energy and liven up any home — whether it is revamping the bedroom, giving new life to an old piece of furniture or staining the deck," said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing, Sherwin-Williams.

The Spring Home Improvement Survey also showed that seven out of 10 homeowners believe a room or area of their home is currently in need of painting. The top vote for a new coat of paint goes to bedrooms and bathrooms (both at 29 percent), and living or family rooms are next in line (28 percent).

"There are more tools than ever before to help consumers gain color confidence before they ever pick up a brush," said Jordan. "We have created a range of color selection tools to give people more confidence in their color choices, from our color visualizer, where you can digitally repaint your space, to the newly launched Chip It! which turns any online image into a Sherwin-Williams color palette." For more information on Sherwin-Williams digital color tools, visit www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color.

To celebrate National Painting Week and inspire consumers to complete their home improvement wish lists, Sherwin-Williams is sharing expert tips, design ideas and one-of-a-kind painting projects developed by top design bloggers. For more information, visit www.NationalPaintingWeek.com.

About the Survey
The Spring Home Improvement Survey was commissioned by Sherwin-Williams and NARI, and conducted through telephone interviews by independent research firm Yankelovich, a part of The Futures Company, between February 24 and March 4, 2012. The survey polled a representative sample of 1,594 homeowners and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percent.

Ask Sherwin-Williams™
As the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint, stains, coatings, wall coverings and sundry items, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting do-it-yourselfers with exceptional products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service that's focused on unique project needs. Sherwin-Williams is committed to environmental responsibility in both manufacturing processes and finished products, and in 2011, earned the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Sherwin-Williams products can only be found at its more than 3,400 neighborhood stores across North America. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com or join the color conversation at facebook.com/sherwinwilliamsforyourhome.

About NARI
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. The Association, which represents 7,000 member companies nationwide—comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors—is "The Voice of the Remodeling Industry."™ To learn more about membership, visit www.NARI.org or contact national headquarters, based in Des Plaines, Ill., at (847) 298-9200.

Contact:
[email protected]
Rachel McLennan
Carmichael Lynch Spong
(212) 653-0657
[email protected]

SOURCE Sherwin-Williams