Black or taupe, wine or white? "Transforming your home from ‘last year’ to ‘New Year’ with a new paint color is one of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to achieve quick design impact," said Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute. "A gallon of paint and the right painting tools are all that stand between a space that’s ‘drab and dreary’ and one that’s ‘bright and cheery.’ Or, if subtle is more your style, some of the newest neutral tones can add lots of comfort and flair."

Whatever color best suits your unique personality, Debbie adds, remember that a fresh coat of wall paint is a wonderful backdrop for furnishings or fabrics -- if not the room statement wholly on its own. Zimmer shares, "And unlike many other types of home improvement projects, painting can be completed year-round, with minimal cost and minimal time."

So, Debbie emphasizes, this weekend is the perfect time to start the year right—dramatically renewing your space, from the kitchen to living area, from bedroom to bath, with a fresh new hue for 2010!

Five Quick Tips from the Paint Quality Institute:

• Not much time? Paint an interior accent wall with a dramatic new color.
• Look up and say "Goodbye" to boring ceilings.
• Who made the rule that all trim must be white? Break the rule, and create a classic monochromatic feel by painting baseboards and moldings the same hue as the walls but with a higher sheen.
• Ready to wall-mount that new flat panel for the playoffs? Take a moment and add some bold color to the wall behind it. Your view of the games will be "picture-perfect" when it’s framed with the right color.
• Whose got paint leftover? Put it to work, and delight your overlooked closet or pantry with the "pizzazz" of a new paint job.

To read more on 2010 paint color trends and tips, visit www.paintquality.com, where a great paint job begins.

About the Paint Quality Institute

The Paint Quality Institute ^(SM) was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow")) in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute's goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles, and instructional literature. Please be sure to visit the Paint Quality Institute at www.paintquality.com

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.4 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.