PAYMENT METHODS
How to get the perfect paint effect
A good paint job can really brighten your house and make your home feel brand new. With the right theme and the perfect set of colours to go with it, a well-executed paint effect can breathe new life into any space. Mind you, it isn’t always a walk in the park. Getting it all right requires careful planning and attention to detail, but with the right guidance it’s within anyone’s reach.
So how does one achieve the perfect paint effect? Here are a few things you could try.
Colour washing
This is a relatively easy technique that can add a noticeable glow while helping to cover up surfaces with minor imperfections. To start off, you would first need to choose your colour palette. Next, you need to mix a blend of acrylic paint with wallpaper paste, ideally at a 1:1 ratio.
Using a sponge or a broad brush apply your colourwash mixture. The first coat of application is the base layer. Once the first layer has dried up, apply for a second time to get the complete effect. The result is spectacular, adding depth and layers to your wall – perfect for open spaces that look a little bare.
Dragging
This technique creates a striped/washboard wall pattern with paint. This effect is achieved by spreading a finish and dragging a brush (preferably a specially designed dragging brush) over a freshly applied surface while it’s still wet. This creates a textured wall pattern, often with a striped or washboard effect.
Sponging
As the term suggests, this method involves painting with sponges, ideally a sea sponge or a synthetic sponge. The sea sponge will give off smaller and finer marks when painting while the synthetic sponge will leave larger and heavier marks. Furthermore, using smaller sponges may help you get through corners and edges easily.
In sponging you only have to dip the sponge in your paint and dab on the walls. Ideally, the paints should be thinned and diluted before use.
Ragging
This works similar to sponging with the notable difference being using rags instead of sponges. Just dip a rag in the paint and dab onto the surface. If you’re looking for a defined pattern effect you can try something like a chamois cloth. Regardless of what cloth you use, it’s important to regularly squeeze out excess paint to avoid blobs and drips.
Additionally, you could follow the same process with a plastic bag or paper bag as well. In this case, the technique is dubbed “distressing”.
Roller Fidgeting
This is another easy technique that can leave a stunning effect. Start with two acrylic paints with varying colours. Pour them side-by-side to a roller tray. Roll a long-nap roller over the surface until you get a thick coat of paint. Next, roll it onto the wall while varying the angle with each stroke. You will notice the two colours start to mix together into a final colour and effect.
Distressing
This paint effect uses exactly the same technique as ragging but with a plastic or paper bag.
