Wall Painting Techniques

From LoveToKnow Interior Design

Use wall painting techniques to add some color and flair to a drab room. Painting is an easy way to bring a room back to life, and by using a few special techniques, you can make your DIY paint job look like an expensive, professionally done project. Here's how.

First Things First: Wall Painting Basics

Before you can get fancy, you've got to get basic. If you've never painted your walls before, here are some tips on getting the job done and choosing colors:

Before you can paint your walls, they need to be prepped. This means you have to clean them thoroughly – check your local home improvement store or paint stores for special detergents or just use some gentle soap, water and a soft cloth. You'll also need to fill in any cracks and holes by using filler to close them and then sand the filled portion down until it is flush with the wall. Remove any old wallpaper.

If you are painting a kitchen or bathroom, where heat and moisture are common, go for a paint that is specially made for those rooms.

Measure the area to be painted before you go to the store so you can be sure to get the right amount of paint. Running out of paint mid wall is not only frustrating but damaging to the job because you will be able to see a seam where you stopped for a paint run.

When choosing colors, remember that dark colors make a room look and feel smaller while light colors make a room feel larger. Color can significantly influence the mood of a room, so choose carefully. Also, be careful when making bold color choices. That shockingly bright green wall might not seem like such a good idea a few months from now when your tastes change. For more on colors and how they work together, read this info about the basics of color design.

For most paint jobs, you will need:

Ladder
Tape
Brushes and rollers
Paint tray and tray liners
Paint/glaze

For specialty work, you may need other things, like rags or sponges, but these basics will always be required.

Wall Painting Techniques

Once you've got a base coat in place, try some wall painting techniques to add a little extra pinch of pizzazz to your work:

Sponging

Sponging involves using a sponge to create a random pattern on the wall. It gives your room a little depth and texture. You can experiment with colors and glaze to create a subtle or dramatic effect. Sponging is a good way to hide some imperfections in your walls, as the random pattern will help them blend in.

To sponge your walls, simply dip a natural sea sponge into your chosen color of paint mixed with four parts faux glaze and gently press on the wall over your base coat until you're happy with the coverage of the pattern. Start at the outside of the walls and work your way in.

Rag Painting

In rag painting, rags are used to apply paint to create a marbled effect. Dip a rag into your chosen color, shake off the excess, and use the rag to dab on the paint. The pattern can be random but your dabs should not be widely scattered to create a good marbled look. Traditionally, the base coat should be a few shades lighter than the color used for the rag work, but you can experiment with the style of your choosing.

Stenciling

Stencils allow you to create intricate patterns, pictures and designs on your walls. Stencils have many uses in painting, from creating borders to creating murals.

Using the stencil of your chosen design, sketch out the stencil on your wall using pencil over your base coat. Repeat as necessary until your design is complete. Then, simply paint in your sketches. Start with the larger parts of the design and work your way down to the small details using small brushes for precision.