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| Paint Effects |
| Tara demonstrates how to achieve specialist painted finishes such as rag-rolling, sponging and more. |
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Changing the colour of your walls is a great way to give a room a whole new look and applying a paint effect can make it extra special. Painting effects can give character to any room, and best of all you can do-it-yourself. But, just like traditional painting, the key to a good job is using the right tools and techniques. And the most important thing of all is to properly prepare the walls before starting the job. A poorly prepared surface can spoil the effect.
Before you start, don't forget to put a drop sheet on the floor and cover any furnishings you don't want covered in dust or paint.
PREPARING THE SURFACE
If you are painting a new room, newly repaired, patched or stained areas, you will need to apply a primer. This will seal the surface and make application of your paint easier and more effective. If the surface has been painted before, you only need to paint the patched or repaired areas.
High-gloss surfaces must be cleaned and sanded in order for the paint to bond. Semi-gloss surfaces also need cleaning and sanding if you are applying a semi-gloss, satin or high-gloss paint. As a general rule of thumb, whatever has a shiny surface needs to be dulled before applying a new coat of paint.
If you are creating the effect using the current colour on the wall as your background, all you will need to do is give the surface a good clean with sugar soap. You will only be able to do this if the wall's are in good condition and you are using a suitable paint to create the effect (that is one that will bond to the existing surface).
BROKEN COLOUR
The key to most paint effects is broken colour. This means one (or more) colours are applied over a different background. The contrast can be subtle or extreme, depending on the desired effect.
The use of broken colour dates back to the Ancient Egyptians and many of the same techniques are still in use. Some effects will require professional painters, however there are some simple broken colour techniques that can create a wonderful effect for the wall and can be done by the keen DIY-er.
Basically, there are two types of broken colour effects – negative and positive. This simply means the paint is either added or removed to create the two-toned effect. Positive effects are the simplest because adding paint is easier than removing it.
These paint effects look great and can add charm and character to even the blandest room. However, they have a much more practical use – they can be used to hide imperfections on the wall.
SPONGING
Of all the broken colour effects, sponging is probably the simplest, especially if you use the positive approach (adding the paint to the surface, rather then removing it) Sponging with two colours looks best if the top colour is the lighter (paler) of the two. Using pastel or fresh, bright colours over a white background works well, or for a more subtle approach, use colours from the same "family".
Tools:
- This effect works best using marine sponge. However, you can use a massage sponge by cutting it in half to get a straight edge, then twisting it between applications to vary the pattern and create the effect. It is also possible to sponge using a scrunched up rag, however it must be lint free.
- A roller tray is best to hold the paint. You don't want too much paint on the sponge, so pour the paint into the deep end of the tray, occasionally tilting it to coat the shallow end with a thin layer of paint.
Application:
- If you are using marine sponge, soften it with mineral spirits or water so it expands. Wring it out thoroughly before use.
- Lightly dab the sponge into a thin layer of paint and test on a sheet of clean paper. If the paint is too thick, it will leave a wet, messy imprint. If there is too much paint on the sponge, squeeze out the excess or continue to dab the paper until you get a soft impression.
- Start working across the wall, refilling (and re-testing the imprint on paper) as the paint sponge runs out of paint. If sponging on one colour only, overlap the prints for an even finish. If using more than one colour, keep the prints well spaced and when dry, overlap the next colour/s.
- So the pattern isn't repetitive, like wallpaper, stenciling or fabric, change the angle/position of the sponge periodically.
- For a softer effect, it is possible to apply the sponged effect onto a wet background. If you do this, you will need to work quickly and in small areas. If you do use this technique, it is probably best to work with a friend – one can apply the background colour and the other quickly follow with the sponging.
RAG ROLLING
Rag rolling is a dramatic effect and gives the impression of crushed velvet or silk. The finished pattern depends on the rag used. Cheesecloth, netting, lace, linen, damask and chamois all give good results, but it's worth doing some tests first to make sure the ragging effect is what you want.
The effect is quite distinctive, so it works best with gentle colours rolled over a white background. It is even possible to roll one shade of white over another. Of course, it is possible to rag with bolder colours, just make sure you test the print before starting on the walls.
Tools:
Rags. Only use one type of rag for the job, otherwise you will have an uneven pattern. Have plenty of pieces of the rag on hand, so if one gets too wet, you can replace it with another.
Application:
- Rag rolling can be applied using the negative or the positive technique. If using the positive method, the application is similar to that of sponging.
- If using the negative method, brush your contrasting colour over the background in a thin layer, avoiding brush marks if possible. We are using a Dulux Colour Effects paint, which is specifically made for this type of application.
- If you have too much paint on the surface or visible brush marks, roughly stipple the surface by dabbing with a cloth.
- Twist the rag into a sausage and roll across the surface. This will remove some of the paint and reveal the background colour. Continue until you get the desired effect. Remember, the more paint you roll of the wall the more you have on the rag. If you continue for too long, you will end up transferring the paint back onto the surface.
- Dab the rag directly onto the surface to fill any gaps.
- If you want to apply another colour over the top, wait until the first is dry then repeat the process above. As a general rule, the additional colour should be lighter than the one beneath it.
ROTA COTA DECO ROLLERS
If you're nervous about trying one of these effects yourself, but would like to decorate a room or create a feature wall, there are a range of decorative rollers on the market. Like the effects above, these use the negative or positive techniques, depending on the effect you want and the construction of the tool.
The deco rollers are only suitable for water based paints, and are best used with any of the Dulux Colour Effects Paint. The instructions are clearly listed on the back of the packets and the labels include a picture of the effect/finish.
Deco rollers available:
Flock Sponge Effect
Honeycomb Effect
Marble Effect
Spatula Effect
Rough Grain Effect
Natural Sponge Effect
Bagging Effect
Effects Brush |
More Info
For more information on Dulux paints call their Customer Service Hotline.
Ph: 13 25 25
For more on Rota Cota and Selleys products call their Customer Service Hotline.
Ph: 1300 555 205
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