Paint Resource Library Articles: New Decorative Painting Trends (The Paint Quality Institute)

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.

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.

Hallways and foyers can benefit from the a “welcoming” color, like yellow, or a shade of orange, like peach or terra-cotta.

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.