A BRIEF HISTORY OF DECORATIVE INTERIOR PAINTING

Since the Stone Age, prehistoric "Picassos" have used paint as a decorative element on the walls of their homes. Bison were portrayed on cave interiors; and ancient artists painted images of a successful hunt or their visions of an afterlife. But they soon saw that painted surfaces were pleasing to the eye. And, if paint could improve the look of a cave or tomb, imagine what it could do in your home!

Over the centuries, murals were painted in Greek palaces, and frescoes adorned the homes of Rome's wealthy citizens. In the Middle Ages, many artists found religion in their work, and painted to serve the Church, while purely decorative painting flourished in European folk traditions as a means of brightening cottage walls.

More recently, decorative walls were promoted in Victorian England as an antidote to the noise and dirt of the Industrial Revolution. And, in the United States, faux techniques were used in grand mansions, like those in Newport, R.I., to replicate the look of natural materials, like marble and granite.

Quality that Lasts
Thankfully, paint manufacturing, tools, and techniques have come a long way from the mixture of animal fat and plant dyes that were dabbed onto cave walls thousands of years ago.

Twenty-first century technology used to develop the top quality acrylic latex paints sold today would be the envy of those early homeowners! According to The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, the quality, variety and economy of today’s interior paints are important factors in the growing trend of contemporary homeowners trying their hand at some of these techniques. Some popular techniques for ambitious do-it-yourself decorative painters include: rag-rolling, sponging and marbelizing.

Experts at The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute recommend top quality interior latex paint for any decorative painting project because of its superior application and performance properties. Top quality paints tend to look better and last longer than ordinary paints… which seems especially important when you’re investing time and creativity into your painting project.

To learn about decorative interior painting, consult with the salespeople where you buy paint, or visit The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute’s Web site at: www.paintquality.com.

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