Homestyle Gossip

Here’s a quick ‘how to’ guide for anyone looking to paint their walls without a monotone colour. All three of these techniques are great for walls with imperfections, as the contrast in colours will hide them perfectly.

Ragging

Materials needed – Lint-free cloths, Decorator’s brush, Masking tape, Paint roller, 2 contrasting paints, one diluted with 1 part of water to 8 parts paint.

Instructions -

1. Apply a contrasting, base colour to the wall.
2. To prepare the rag:
   Saturate it in the diluted paint solution. ring out the access and form the rag into a cylinder shape between both your hands. Twist it slightly.
3. While rolling the rag across the wall, ensure you use your finger tips and that the rag touches the wall evenly. Practice on a small piece of the wall or a piece of cardboard to ensure accuracy. your technique will improve over time.
4. Experiment with colours – use two or three complimentary colours or different shades of the same colours for different results.

Sponging

Materials needed – Non-synthetic natural sea sponge, Decorator’s brush, Masking tape, Paint roller, 2 contrasting paints, one diluted with 1 part of water to 8 parts paint, bucket of water with clean rags.

Instructions -

1. Apply a contrasting, base colour to the wall.
2. To prepare the sponge:
   Dip it in the clean water and ring it out thoroughly (if you decide to use oil paints, keep the sponge dry). Dip the sponge into the diluted paint solution and dap access paint onto a clear surface of your paint try.
3. Practice dabbing the sponge on a piece of cardboard, ensuring a twist in the sponge with each dab so that the impression left is slightly altered. When you feel satisfied with how it looks, start on the wall.
4. Again, you can experiment with colours – use two or three complimentary colours or different shades of the same colours for different results.

Colour Washing

Materials needed – Specialised colourwashing brush, rounded sponge, paint tray, paint roller, bucket of water, latex paint for base coat, clean rags, dropcloths, masking tape, scrap cardboard, varnish.

Instructions -

1. Colour washing can be done with either a sponge, rag or a colour washing brush – you choose the tool.
2. Apply your basecoat and allow it to dry completely.
3. Mix the glaze in the paint tray but fill to about 1/3 full.
4. Using a circular or washing motion with a sponge or cloth, lightly dip your glazing tool in the glaze, and apply to a small section of the wall. Blend it until your sponge or cloth is dry.
5. If you’re using a brush, you can create a variety of patterns. Just move the brush along the glaze lightly in whatever direction you prefer.

Good luck to you all!

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