Interior Painting Techniques-Let’s Get Creative

There are so many different ways to paint interior walls that it’s almost overwhelming. How you want your walls to look, it your choice. Some people like just one color of paint, while others like to mix it up a bit. Interior painting techniques can be a way to express yourself and your style. Let’s go over some really creative ways to paint your walls to spruce up any room in your home.

Before You Begin

Before you actually begin painting anything, make sure you have properly prepared your room. It’s easier if you have all furniture removed, or at least covered with some type of plastic or covering. Drop cloths are good for covering the floor so you will not drip paint on them. You will also need painter’s tape or masking tape to tape of anything you will not be painting, such as baseboards, or crown molding-if you don’t remove those items.

Be sure when purchasing your paint, you look at the specific guidelines on the container to see how much you will need. As always, it’s better to have too much than not enough when it comes to painting- especially if you have the paint mixed to achieve a specific color. Rough or porous surfaces tend to need more paint while smooth, shiny surfaces will not require as much paint.

Latex paint is the most commonly used for interior walls. There are three different sheens to choose from, each with it’s own properties. Here’s a brief summary of each.

High-gloss
has a very shiny finished look. It is also the easiest to clean as well. Use
high-gloss paint for areas that are used most in your home such as the kitchen
or the children’s rooms. This type of paint wipes easily with a sponge or cloth
for cleaning. The downside, it shows imperfections more easily.

Semi-gloss
has a slightly shiny finish. As with the high-gloss, it is also easy to clean
and can be used in high traffic areas. Often times, it is also less expensive
than the high-gloss finish paint. It actually doesn’t show imperfections as
much as the high-gloss.

Satin
finish has even less of a shiny look than semi-gloss. It is very forgiving of
imperfections also. It actually draws light in instead of reflecting light as
with glossier paints. If you have small dings or dents in your walls, you may
want this choice. Satin can also be used in bathrooms, hallways, and kitchens. Satin
finish paints also clean easily. This paint is also slightly cheaper than
semi-gloss or high-gloss paints. If it has more gloss, it will cost
more.

Flat
paint has basically no shine. It can be used on walls that have many
imperfections. It is very cost efficient in the fact that it usually covers
with one coat. The downside is that is does not clean well, therefor; should
not be used in high traffic areas.

Now that you’ve got your room ready and your paint, it’s time for the fun part.

Sponging

The first step in the sponging technique is to paint a base coat of latex on the wall. This can be whatever color you choose. Typically, use a lighter base color and a darker color for the effect/top coat. When this is dry, pour some of your topcoat color into a roller tray and dip in your chosen tool-in this case, a sponge. Remove the excess paint by rolling it in the tray, then on some newspaper. It should produce a mottled mark and not a solid block of color.

Now, apply it to the wall in a random pattern using all areas of the sponge. You should start with light touching of the sponge at first until you get the desired look you are happy with. You may have to go over the wall a second time-that will depend on what you like.

Main point, don’t be afraid of messing up! If there is an area that has too much top coat color, just wait until it all dries, then go back over the area with the base coat and re-do just that area. It’s just that easy!

 

 

Ragging

The ragging technique begins similar to the sponge technique in that you first apply the base coat and let it dry. Only instead of using a sponge, you use a cloth rag to create the effect you want.

Next step is to press a dampened, crumpled cloth in the topcoat. Then randomly press the rag across the wall surface. Be sure if the rag becomes to saturated with the topcoat, rinse it regularly or have some extra ones handy to swap out if you need to. You can vary the effect by crumpling the rag into a cylinder type shape and rolling it onto the wall.

Again, don’t be afraid of messing up! As stated earlier, you can always go over the area with again with the base coat and repeat the technique.

 

 

 

 

 

Color-meshing Technique

This is by far the most interesting and fun painting technique I have tried. It also happens to be my favorite. In this technique, two colors are used at the same time! Who ever hear of such a thing, right?

The color-meshing technique is unique in that fact that it uses two colors being applied at the same time. The really cool part is how easy it is to apply. How is this possible?

The color-meshing is achieved by using a split paint tray. This has a divider built into the actual paint tray, so that two different colors can be used-one on each side. You will also need to purchase a split paint roller to accompany your split paint tray.

Of course, you will need to choose your paint colors. Basically, choose two colors that you want in your room, but not too close together in tone. The two colors should at least be 3 shades apart on a color chart. But don’t be afraid to try different colors, really light and a dark, bold color can have an amazing finished look. Pour a generous amount of each color in your split tray, then roll the split roller in the paint tray as you would a normal roller.

Now, here’s the key: roll the two paint colors in a “V” pattern. Do not roll it on straight up and down like you would normally do with only a single color. Work with an area on the wall that is about 4 to 5 feet area. Stand back and look at the area to see if you like the affect. If you like it, continue with another section until you have completed the entire wall.

Remember with this technique, the more you roll the “V” pattern in one area, the more blended it will become. Hence, the less you roll it, the more mottled look it will have. Whichever look you choose, be sure to work in one area or section at a time to compare and make sure the areas have the same amount of blended or mottled look.

Conclusion

There are many ways to paint an interior wall to make it unique to you and your home. I have only shared a few to help you get started. Choose something that speaks to you personally. Do some research, look at before and after pictures. There are tons of resources to choose from. Interior painting techniques can be a fun and inexpensive way to change the look of any room any your home. Happy painting! Come back to visit soon.

 

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