If you are planning to paint a room in your home, consider using one of the many different painting techniques rather than simply applying a coat of paint to the whole room. One of the most fun techniques to apply is the sponging on technique. Sponging on is one of the easiest methods of painting out there, so anyone can do it. If you don’t want to breathe in any harsh fumes, check your local store for non-toxic glazes.

With the sponging on technique you can give your room texture and depth all while using a simple sea sponge that you can find at your local hardware store. Before you get started you should make sure to tape off all surfaces that you don’t want to get paint on them. The first step is to paint the entire room whatever color that you want the base coat to be. A great neutral base color is a light gray in a satin finish in latex paint. You will want to let this coat of paint dry overnight. The paint that you will be sponging on should be darker in color than the base coat. You could use just about any color that will go with the light gray. You could use a dark blue, sage green or even a light yellow. If you want to mix some liquid glazes in with your paint you could do that as well. This will add a slightly different effect.

Before you begin your sponging, you should definitely practice on some sort of board first. You don’t want to jump straight into this project only to find that you don’t like what you are doing. While it is only paint and you can paint right over it, you don’t want to waste your time doing extra work. Once you have practiced enough to get the hang of your technique it is time to begin. One great tip when working with a sea sponge is that you should brush the paint onto the sponge, rather than dipping the sponge into the can of paint. You can now start sponging the paint onto the wall. Don’t press too hard on the wall. Keep your touch light so that the sponge pattern still remains. While you are working with the sponge you should also keep it rotating. This way you will always be changing the pattern that is appearing on the wall. Overlapping your blotting will also keep your wall from becoming a consistent pattern. The idea with sponging is to keep the paint on the wall a completely random array of paint. If you feel the sponge is becoming overloaded with paint, wash the sponge out and start over. While this might be different from working with raku glazes, it’s really not all that different.

Working with paint on the wall is not much different from working with a canvas. To get started on any art project with non-toxic glazes or raku glazes, visit AMACO. Whatever liquid glazes you might need AMACO is the place to find them. Your room will look completely different with a visit to AMACO!

I have a question for you, just how much time have you spent at the home store trying to figure out which, (if any) of the “handy dandy” paint accessories actually will save you time and money? I’ll bet you’ve even tried a couple of them and been discouraged.

You are not alone……

This is number 2 in a series of 3 articles that I’ll explain honestly what has worked for me over the years and why it well worth the small amount of extra time and money in order to have the finished product you truly want and deserve.

Let’s talk about paint rollers and how to make them your friend and work for you, not against you!

Roller Covers:

Here’s another area where your choices are natural or synthetic.

Generally speaking the synthetics are for water based and the natural for oil based. The nap of the roller cover will vary from very short for smooth surfaces and finishes, to very long and thick for rough surfaces. Think smooth plaster and cement block or rough stucco.

The natural roller covers are lamb’s wool and mohair and they are expensive. But if you take care of them, make sure they are washed out completely and “fluffed” to dry, they will last a very long time. I use the natural wool roller cover with water based paints with excellent results, and wouldn’t change to a synthetic cover.

How to Load a Roller:

Chances are you will be using a paint tray instead of a big 5 gallon bucket, so that’s what we’ll be addressing here.

A convenient option is to buy a metal paint tray and a package of disposable paint tray liners. That way, when you are finished with a color, you simply set that tray aside and move on to the next. When the paint on the liner is dry, it can be thrown in the trash. (as long as it’s water based paint)

Here’s a Real Tip: Before you touch the paint with the roller, lightly wet the roller with water. This will help the paint evenly “stick” to the roller for better coverage, and best of all the roller cover will be WAY easier to clean!

Fill the roller tray halfway with paint, set the roller into the middle of the well, lift out and roll down the slope two or three times to work in and even out the paint. Dip the roller into the well one more time and repeat on the slope. Roller should be saturated but not dripping.

Roll On:

Apply paint in 2 to 3 foot squares. You are basically going to go over the area 3 times with one load of paint. Paint a zigzag (M or W) pattern using medium pressure, without lifting the roller from the wall, then fill in the blank areas, smoothing as you go. Now go back and forth over the same area, again medium pressure. Finally go up and down one more time.

Reload the roller and move to the next square. Remember to overlap the previous section slightly. Always work into wet areas. This will prevent seams. Work out from the first square until the whole wall is finished.

When it’s time to clean the roller, (assuming water based paint) bring the whole thing to a laundry sink, work out as much paint under running water as possible then pull the cover from the handle. Then, still under running water work the rest of the paint out of the roller cover. When you can squeeze the cover and clear water runs out you’re done. Shake off the residue and fluff the roller cover.

If you are in a situation where you are unable to get to water or time is an issue, tightly cover the roller in a plastic bag till you can get it cleaned.

I know this may sound sophomoric, but honestly following these steps will give you a finished paint project you’ll be proud to show off. In fact, your friends might even ask you who did the work!

Debbie Fowler owns and operates Painted Walls, a faux finishing,decorative painting, color consulting and painting company. Debbie is dedicated to help people remove the fear and loathing from painting projects.

1. Avoid choosing paint colors first as there are so many choices. Start with a fabric, piece of art, or wallpaper sample which represents the color that you want to paint the room. Match your decorative item to a paint chip. It is much easier to match your item to the paint color than to select the paint color first.

2. Imitate the new color by taping up a piece of fabric or large paint sample in the corner of the room. From the doorway, telescope your hands so you can see the new color with no interruptions.

3. Once the color is selected, especially if it is a dark color, buy a small amount first and test it on each wall as the color may vary from wall to wall.

4. Check the paint color selections during the daylight hours and evening hours. If there appears to be a difference, base your decision on when the room is used most.

5. Keep in mind that different electric bulb types cast different results in the final hues. Always test your colors in the room(s) and under the bulb type where they will be used.. Incandescent bulbs give off a pink tinge which means that a peach tone may appear more pink; yellow will appear more orange; and blue will appear more purple. Fluorescent bulbs give off a blue tinge. They will make pinks appear more lavender; yellows appear greener; and greens look more aqua.

6. Generally, the more contrast there is in a room, the smaller it will look. When choosing colors from the same paint strip, stay within three colors on the strip. Small rooms like bathrooms can handle dark colors.

7. If you have an unusually long room, paint the shorter walls a darker shade to make the room appear more square.

8. To lower a high ceiling, paint the ceiling a darker color than the walls.

9. To raise a low ceiling, paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls and consider painting the baseboards the same color as the walls.

10. When selecting paint colors take into consideration the temperature of the room to be painted. You should paint a bedroom that has a southern exposure a cool color like blue. Painting that room a warm color such as red or yellow will give the feeling of a very hot room. Likewise, rooms with northern exposures should be painted a warm color.

Encore Home Staging and Redesign is owned by Mary Habres who is a certified home stager and interior redesigner. She is also a certified No Regrets With Color paint color consultant. Services include: decorating consultations; one-day decorating using the homeowner’s furnishings; personal shopping; assistance with flooring, countertop, window treatment, and wallpaper selections; holiday decorating; color consultations; decluttering/organizing/decorating homes for sale; move-in services; gift certificates and speaking engagements. Serving the greater Jacksonville/ St. Augustine area.

http://encorehomestagingredesign.blogspot.com

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Add Color by Dressing Up Your Table
If you’re looking for an easy way to add color to your kitchen, try dressing up your kitchen table. You might add a colorful tablecloth or placemats, as well as some colorful dishware. Add flowers in a vase or basket to the center of your wood dining table to add some instant color to the room. You want to try to find colors that complement your kitchen décor but add interest at the same time.

Add Color with a Backsplash
You don’t have to have a boring kitchen backsplash. Although you can always keep it simple with a neutral-colored tile or laminate, why not choose a colorful backsplash instead? You should be able to find tile and laminates for your backsplash in a variety of different colors. If you want a totally unique look, try arranging colored glass that’s been broken up in a random pattern on the wall. In this way, you can work some color into the décor and end up with a personalized, one-of-a-kind backsplash.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color
If your kitchen is painted a neutral color, then paint an accent wall to incorporate some color into the décor. You’ll want to choose a wall that’s not completely covered with cabinets or appliances. You’ll want the accent color to work well with the décor of your kitchen. For a more subtle look, go with a matching color. But if you want the wall to really stand out, pick a color that’s complementary.

Take the Doors Off the Cabinets
When you take the doors off your kitchen cabinets, you can display all your colorful dishes and other tableware. If you have neutral dishes, add some pop by painting the insides of the cabinets a contrasting color. This doesn’t mean you need to take every cabinet door off. But choose a couple of prominent cabinets about the countertops to be your “color cabinets.”

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest
Another great option is to utilize the window area in your kitchen to add color. For your valance or drapes, choose a color that will really stand out in the décor. A black-and-white kitchen, for instance, would benefit greatly from some red or purple window treatments.

You don’t need to redecorate the entire room in order to add color to your kitchen. Use what you already have and build some color into it, adding your own touches here and there around the room.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior decorating  business for 40 years. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining furniture. Whether you’re looking for a dining table for your dining room or a love seat for your family room  then they have everything you need.

There are times when you notice that your walls seem so boring and dull. Thus, you tend to look for ways on how to make it more fresh and appealing. Well, one effective way which you can try is to paint your walls. There is actually no need to pay a particular person just to do the wall painting for you because you can simply do it by yourself. However, if you really have no time for such tedious task then, there is nothing left but to look for someone who can do the task for you. You just have to make sure to choose the best designs to paint on walls.

There are plenty of decorative techniques and designs which you can consider when it comes to making your walls look more attractive and charming. Hence, you will surely have a hard time in choosing the appropriate design to paint on your walls. You can start your thorough search for the best designs through the magazines or the worldwide web. In this day and age, there are already lots of designs to paint on walls which can surely give your room a total new look.

One technique which you can use to have the best designs to paint on walls is through the color blocking. This technique includes the use of three different colors painted in a wide variety of blocks on the walls. In addition, this technique is preferable in one area of the wall in your room because it can create some visual effects. You just have to make sure to take the blocks in various dimensions and sizes.

Another technique which you can mull over is the rag rolling and ragging. Such technique can surely give a dramatic effect on the designs on your walls. You can do this by starting with a solid color as a base. You have to crumple a cloth and dip it in a glaze to blot effectively into the wall. This method is actually known as ragging on. On the contrary, ragging off requires you to lift off some parts of the glaze coat. In doing so, you can surely expose the beauty of the under coat.

Furthermore, clouds are considered also as the coolest designs to paint on walls. Such designs can give your wall an awesome effect and make you feel like you are in the kingdom of heaven. This design requires you to have a sky blue latex paint color. After painting your walls, you can still add some touches of purple or pink to accentuate the colors of the clouds. Making these additional colors to glaze can surely give you a wonderful effect for your walls.

Indeed, you can make your walls seem so alive by way of some techniques and designs to paint on walls. However, you have to do this very carefully to achieve your desired look for your walls as well as room. Also, you have to make sure to utilize a design which is affordable but can give a great effect and results for the look of your walls.

Rooms which have ceilings that are considered too high or too low may be changed simply by painting it a pale color; hot colors to make it seem lower, cool colors to make it seem higher. Brown as a color can belong to either of the two groups of color, depending on the amount of red in the make-up of the brown.

The choice of colors must to some extent largely be based on the situation and location of the house. If the house is in a town, bright clear colors will look extremely vibrant and will serve to brighten the rooms in dull districts.

However, if bright clear colors are used for interior decorating in houses situated in the country, where they are seen against a background of nature’s own colors, they very often look harsh and cold.

The colors on the walls will also have some effect on the home décor you have scattered about. Whether you prefer metal wall décor or posters, the color of the room is going to either compliment it or be a hideous contrast.

Tenants of houses situated in seaside districts may have a problem of their own to consider as certain colors will fade to a neutral gray when exposed to sea air. These are mainly pastel shades of pale greens and blues, and this fading may also happen in some country districts in rooms which have southern aspects where sunlight is particularly strong.

The deep greens of modern paints are able to stand up both to air and to light, and many of the best known brands of different kinds of paints are guaranteed against fading.

When planning an interior color scheme it is first necessary to choose the main or basic color which should be one that will do most to help the shape of the room. Here are some simple examples:

Low Ceilings: As previously explained the effect of low ceilings can be largely offset by the use of pale colors such as the shades of ivory and light blues. If the main colors are used for ceilings and walls and it is really no bigger, floor length curtains considerably affect the appearance of the height of the room, as do plates and other wall décor like a small metal wall art piece hung up high. Metal art is better fort his than canvas because it is slender.

High Ceilings: To give the effect of decreasing the high ceiling it should be painted or distempered in a deeper shade of color than that used for the walls. Pink and beige are good examples of this when set-off by a deep colored carpet.

North Room: North rooms usually lack sun, but they have a strong light, and colors most suited for rooms that face the north are warm creams, yellows, gold, pinks, peach and shades of reddish browns, which also tend to give warmth to these rooms which have a cold light.

The type of art that best suits a room of this type would be celestial themed art designs. You can find a lot of laser cut metal wall art like this in holistic shops, or laser cut to order magazines.

You might have invested in the best furniture, have the latest electronic gadgets but that is not enough to make your house truly great. People invest lots of money in purchasing a house in an upscale locality and spare no efforts in making up their house with the best gadgets and other things, but they invariably fail as far as proper house paint is concerned. This does not mean that they are not spending money on house paint. They are investing money in it, but they are not selecting a correct color scheme. Just using any color will not make your rooms appealing.

If it did, you can very well paint all the rooms of your house with black color. Anybody who knows a bit about color knows that the black color absorbs light and does not reflect them. If you have used black color for painting the walls and ceilings of your room, god forbid, you shall incur huge charges by way of lighting bills. Spend some time on the internet and visit sites that display interiors of houses and see how carefully the house paints have been used.

Different color schemes are used for kitchens and for dining rooms. You have to select yet another scheme for the sitting room and another one for the bedroom. Yet another house paint scheme shall be required for your kid’s bedrooms. To put it in a nutshell, the house paint should reflect the mood of the room and will depend on the usage of the room. A soft and sensuous color is most suitable for bedrooms whereas bright colors should be used for the kitchen and the sitting rooms. Again the ceiling and the walls should be painted using colors that compliment each other.

Generally it is the rule of the thumb to paint the ceiling in a lighter color than the walls of the room. This way you shall ensure that all the light falling on your room’s ceiling is reflected properly and illuminates the room properly. Most people have a decent color sense and they should find no problems in selecting the proper colors for their rooms. However if you do find selecting the proper color shades for your room, you can always seek the advice of some interior decorator.

They will discuss with you and find out more about your tastes and suggest paints that suit your personality. You should also remember that there are different types of paints and each of them should be used as and when required. While general paints can be used in your bedroom, you need to assure that the paints used in your bathroom are water resistant. This is the one room where water is used throughout the day and some of these water particles are bound to splash on to the walls. Similarly you should use special anti-corrosive paints in your kitchen so that the grime and grease deposited by smoke can be removed easily from the walls.

So, you’ve just been asked to help assist your friend in painting their new apartment, or you’ve just moved into your own new place or even home. You’ve never painted before; either you’ve relied on someone else to do it, or hired professional help to take care of it. Now, you want to cut some costs and have heard about others painting for themselves. Well, you can do it, too, with a little elbow grease and a few simple instructions.

Determine Your Needs

Take a good hard look at your place and what you hope to accomplish via color and accent. If you’re planning to “lighten things up”, you may want to choose extremely light pastel paints, which almost look like white, but are tinged with color (i.e., green or pink).

What to Look For

Paint comes in cans or buckets. You are better off buying the buckets which are usually premixed and less expensive. Just let the paint person know at the store what “type” of paint you’ll need and for what purpose. Then, fine tune things and choose your favorite color. Paint “types” includes matte, semi-gloss, full-gloss and eggshell. You can also get either the water or oil based types.

Buying the Paint and Supplies

Some other supplies that are essential to painting that you should be looking for in the painting section are: primer, brushes, rollers, masking tape, paint trays and plastic paint drop cloths. Even a bunch of inexpensive rubber gloves are very helpful. You should purchase all of these things at once if you do not have them at home, as it won’t be very convenient or wise to go back and get these items later on.

From the Trenches

Make sure that there is plenty of ventilation before you begin painting a room. You should always begin a paint job in your oldest and worst clothes, because it is guaranteed that you’ll be covered with spots and blotches of paint as you go along.

1. Try to clean the room and sweep and dust as much as possible beforehand. This only makes is easier and neater to paint. Mask any areas that are delicate before hand well.
2. If there are any outstanding holes or imperfections in your walls, it makes sense to spackle them beforehand, so that things look crisp and clear later on.
3. There is some rhyme and reason to painting a room and an order should be followed. This is an example order: ceilings first, then walls, then doors, and lastly windows.
4. As for strokes, try to keep them neat and even. It is a good idea to prime, then, do your first coat, let that dry, and do a second coat. Or, if your paint is a one-coater, then you won’t have to paint the second time around. Try not to put too much or too little paint on the roller or brush. Keep it steady and light.
5. Make sure all brushes are soaked well overnight. Allow the walls to dry, preferably overnight, or with a fan blowing on them. You may preserve the paint on the rollers, by wrapping the rollers in plastic wrap and putting them in the freezer or refrigerator overnight. This way, they won’t get hard and dry.

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Painting both the interior and exterior of a house will not only refresh peeling, dirty paintwork, but will also maintain the beauty and life of the wood, render, or wall plaster.

Preparation in house-painting is the key to success. Interior walls should be washed with sugar soap to remove all traces of grease and dirt and then thoroughly rinsed with clean water. Any flaking plaster or cracks will need to be sanded down and re- filled with plaster. It is possible to buy ready made filler suitable for plaster which is really easy to use. Interior wood also needs to be cleaned with sugar soap, rinsed, and then sanded with a fine grade glass paper to give the new paint a surface on which to grip. If you just paint over existing paintwork without preparing the surface, the paint may flake and peel off!

It is personal choice on whether to paint the woodwork first or the walls. Generally, it is best to paint the emulsion on the walls first as emulsion does not always ‘take’ over gloss paint.

Once all the preparation has been completed on the walls and any filler rubbed smooth with fine glass paper – begin painting! When painting a light color over a dark existing color it is best to use an undercoat of white. Either that or be prepared to give the walls two or three coats of paint to ensure full coverage. Nothing looks worse than pale walls with the dark color showing through; it looks most unprofessional and you will not be happy with the result. Start by painting the wall from the top down, this will enable you make sure there are no paint runs in the finished wall.

After the woodwork has been prepared, begin painting from the top of the room down. Use a good quality primer on new wood, followed by the undercoat. When re-painting over existing paintwork it is best to use a ‘one coat’ gloss paint which is readily available from DIY shops and most hardware stores.

In painting windows, use masking tape to cover a small strip of the four edges of the glass. Paint from the top down to avoid drips and runs. Be mindful not to put too much paint on the brush as this will produce drips and runs. Also do not try to spread the paint too thinly as this will leave unsightly brush marks. Do not be tempted to pull off the masking tape for at least 24 hours; otherwise it will be a waste of time using it!

When you paint doors it is advisable to also begin painting at the top and work downwards; use a final up and down stroke of the brush to blend the paint in the same direction to help remove brush lines.

Don’t forget to paint the baseboards! Use the same approach of preparation then painting.

When painting the exterior of the house, all old and flaking paint or rendering needs to be dealt with first. Once this has been removed begin painting either by hand, which is an arduous task or by using a paint sprayer. Which ever method is chosen it is advisable to cover the ground below and any features on the house with old newspaper or sheeting. Begin at the top and systematically work downwards.

Exterior woodwork should also be rubbed down with glass paper before attempting to paint. Work with a systematic approach from the top down. Try not to chose a windy day for painting outside woodwork otherwise you will end up with dust particles sticking to the wet paint!

Faux finishes often require a little bit of skill and some pre-application learning and practice in order to achieve the desired finish. Paint manufacturers have addressed the faux painted finish market by developing some finishes that require very little of the usual faux finish skills. These finishes don’t require any “glaze” and the tools are often just the usual roller and brush. This approach has opened up the world of faux painting to the average homeowner who doesn’t have the time to attend a workshop on faux finishing in order to decorate their living room walls. One of these “faux finishes in a can” is the “Suede” paint finish.

Suede paint is basically a mottled flat paint. Almost all of these paints require a base coat and a final coat which gives the desired “look” to the finish.

Base coating

The base coat is a coat of the suede paint rolled on the normal brush and roll manner. Cut in the ceiling with a brush and roll out the walls as you would any other paint. This coat of suede does not have to look perfect or have perfect hiding as you will be going over the top of this with the final coat.

Finish coating

The finish coat is what makes the suede paint look like “suede” leather. This finish coat is applied with a brush. I use a 3″ wall brush and find that I can execute the work fairly quickly with that.

The actual technique is simply a cross hatching brush technique, which basically is applying the paint to the wall in random semi-circular X’s . Each “x” should be curvy and random.

Tape off the base board and ceiling with easy release (blue) tape, and tape off the adjacent walls too with the same.

Work in small (uneven “broken edged” for better blending) sections of 4′ x 4′ and progress down the wall in that manner, joining the sections together as you go.

Inside corners require a semi-circular brush stroke that pulls away from the corner in a curvy manner. Change the directions of the curves and keep them random.

Lapping and touching up: You will see that the suede paints as a rule do not touch up very well so do it right as you go and do not back track onto a previously painted wall to correct areas that don’t meet your approval – try to get it right as you do it the first time. If you absolutely have to correct something on a already dried suede painted wall you will need to start at a breaking point and kind of “fade” it in with a uneven ending “patch” of suede paint. This is not easy to do, but it is do-able.