Paint
Tips for Paint Effects
It's never been easier to stamp your own style on your walls, especially with today's ready-mixed special effect paints. Read on to brush up on your painting practises.
Making a start
The secret of successful paint effects is to use them subtly, with complementary rather than contrasting tones for the base and topcoat. The effects work best on walls painted with a silk-finish emulsion.
Stamping off
This is a quicker and freer version of the traditional stencil. Paint the walls with a silk emulsion basecoat, using a roller and brush for the edges. When dry, add a second layer of slower-drying special effects paint. This may be sold as a 'glaze' or 'effects' paint - check the manufacturer's instructions. Now use a stamp to remove areas of the topcoat. Press the stamp firmly onto the wall, lift off and wipe the excess paint onto kitchen towel. Continue over the whole wall or make a decorative border.
Dragging
This is a popular paint effect used to create a fine wood grain or linen effect, and is subtle enough to use in almost any sized room. Paint on a silk emulsion basecoat and allow to dry. Apply a coat of effects paint with a roller or brush. While this coat is still wet, pull a long-bristled dragging brush from the top to the bottom of the surface. Try to keep the pattern even. Wipe off the excess paint with a cloth at the end of each drag.
Sponging
Break up a wall with a subtle, random pattern made by dabbing a sponge on the wall's surface. You can add a textured look by using more than two tints of paint. Prepare the wall by coating it with silk emulsion. Dampen a piece of natural sponge and dip it in the effects paint. Dab off most of the paint on a kitchen towel, then dab the wall. Keep turning the sponge to reveal a new surface to avoid repeat patterns. It's important to lift the sponge away from the wall cleanly to avoid smudging.
Colour washing
Colour washing can instantly make stark walls feel warmer and works well with Mediterranean colours. Apply a basecoat of silk emulsion and allow to dry. Next, use a 75 or 100mm wide brush to apply the effects paint. Work in a quick crisscross pattern. Work randomly over the wall, leaving some areas unpainted. When this coat is dry, apply a second coat in the same way, working the paint in angled strokes.
The secret of successful paint effects is to use them subtly, with complementary rather than contrasting tones for the base and topcoat. The effects work best on walls painted with a silk-finish emulsion.
Stamping off
This is a quicker and freer version of the traditional stencil. Paint the walls with a silk emulsion basecoat, using a roller and brush for the edges. When dry, add a second layer of slower-drying special effects paint. This may be sold as a 'glaze' or 'effects' paint - check the manufacturer's instructions. Now use a stamp to remove areas of the topcoat. Press the stamp firmly onto the wall, lift off and wipe the excess paint onto kitchen towel. Continue over the whole wall or make a decorative border.
Dragging
This is a popular paint effect used to create a fine wood grain or linen effect, and is subtle enough to use in almost any sized room. Paint on a silk emulsion basecoat and allow to dry. Apply a coat of effects paint with a roller or brush. While this coat is still wet, pull a long-bristled dragging brush from the top to the bottom of the surface. Try to keep the pattern even. Wipe off the excess paint with a cloth at the end of each drag.
Sponging
Break up a wall with a subtle, random pattern made by dabbing a sponge on the wall's surface. You can add a textured look by using more than two tints of paint. Prepare the wall by coating it with silk emulsion. Dampen a piece of natural sponge and dip it in the effects paint. Dab off most of the paint on a kitchen towel, then dab the wall. Keep turning the sponge to reveal a new surface to avoid repeat patterns. It's important to lift the sponge away from the wall cleanly to avoid smudging.
Colour washing
Colour washing can instantly make stark walls feel warmer and works well with Mediterranean colours. Apply a basecoat of silk emulsion and allow to dry. Next, use a 75 or 100mm wide brush to apply the effects paint. Work in a quick crisscross pattern. Work randomly over the wall, leaving some areas unpainted. When this coat is dry, apply a second coat in the same way, working the paint in angled strokes.
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