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NEW
DECORATIVE PAINTING TRENDS ADD SPICE TO HOME INTERIORS
This
year, do-it-yourself decorative painting goes high style
with two exciting new interior painting projects: color
blocking and sheen striping. Here’s what you need to
know about these cutting-edge techniques, courtesy of the
experts at The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute.
Color
Blocking
Color
blocking involves painting several colors (usually at least
three) in various-sized “blocks” on the wall.
Because of its visual interest, this technique is usually
done on one wall in a room, and often takes the place of
artwork -- behind a sofa, for example.
The
key is to draw the blocks in different dimensions -- varied
sizes of squares and rectangles -- and map them out in a
geometric, visually balanced arrangement on the wall. These
blocks should be sketched on paper, then transferred to
the wall and outlined lightly in pencil, then filled in
with paint. Make several copies of the final design on paper
for practice. Use these to play with the arrangement of
colors in the design, then pick your favorite and start
painting!
Choosing
colors for this technique can be fun, but there are some
things to keep in mind to help achieve the look you’re
after:
Colors
from the same color card, but in varying intensities, will
give your room a sophisticated, monochromatic appeal. If
you’re looking for subtlety, choose colors that are
next to each other on the card.
-
Two
or three harmonious colors and a third accent hue of either
black or white creates a dramatic look.
-
For
a fun, playful look, choose complementary colors (those
that are opposite one another on the color wheel) such
as yellow and violet.
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It
is helpful to use colors of the same value, or intensity,
by choosing ones that are in the same position on several
color cards --- the second up from the bottom, for example.
This helps achieve a feeling of balance in the finished
job.
-
If
you decide to use colors of varying intensities, you may
want to experiment with several practice designs. Using
more of the brighter hue will give you a bold look, while
using more of the lighter one will be more soothing. Remember
that the practice design is much smaller than the final
product, and any color you use will intensify once it’s
on a wall.
Sheen
Striping
Sheen
striping is a technique that involves painting vertical
stripes of the same color, but differing sheens, for a subtle,
sophisticated look. It is often used in dining rooms, above
the chair rail, or in areas that need some visual “height”
due to a low ceiling.
The
first thing to do is to choose the sheen levels you want
to work with. In order of glossiness from lowest to highest,
the sheen levels are: flat, eggshell, satin, semigloss,
and gloss (or high gloss). For this technique, you might
choose an eggshell and a semigloss product, which will create
visual interest without being overwhelming. The sheen difference
should be somewhat subtle, so a flat and a high gloss may
not be the best combination.
In
terms of color choice, let your personal preference be your
guide. If you need some direction, though, here is some
advice from The Rohm and Haas Paint
Quality
Institute:
-
For
dining rooms, red is often the color of choice. Red stimulates
the appetite -- which is why you see it on so many restaurant
walls. Green is also a good color for this room, as green
is the color of many foods.
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Hallways
and foyers can benefit from the a “welcoming”
color, like yellow, or a shade of orange, like peach or
terra-cotta.
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Bedrooms
can become serene havens or romantic escapes by using
colors like pale blue, green, or lavender.
Other
Tips
Decorative
painting projects involve more than just putting paint on
the wall. To ensure that your time and creativity have been
worth the effort, make sure you do thorough surface preparation.
This includes: washing away any dust, dirt and mildew; filling
cracks and holes; and priming where necessary.
Also,
choose a durable, top quality interior latex paint. These
paints go on smoothly and evenly, cover well, resist stains
and cleaning, and hold their color over time. In short,
they will continue to look the way you want them to for
a long time.
Accompanying
Photograph
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