There are oh so many decisions to make when embarking on a decorating project. In many cases, it鈥檚 the number of options that trips us up, and confounds us until we simply put off making any decision at all.
There are the ubiquitous colour questions, then should we paint or paper? What鈥檚 on trend? Do I care?
It鈥檚 helpful to ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish. Settle on a particular mood for the space, how you are going to use it and who will be sharing it.
Keep in mind that this is your home, and how you treat it should be with personal choices, so that the environment you create makes you happy.
Check out what鈥檚 new in paint products. Eco-friendly paints are now available that have little or no VOCs.
Some paints are manufactured that are primer and paint in one. Others are designed to cover most any surface without priming or sanding.
Scroll through the latest wallpaper designs. Discover new textures, overblown designs and a mix of media that will power up your walls.
Metals are hot and their popularity continues to grow. From base to precious metals, tin, copper and bronze to silver and gold, they all find a place in styles old and new.
Gone are the days when you had to mix metal powders into paints 鈥� today鈥檚 metallic paints come ready-mixed and in a variety of colours.
If you are adventurous, then going off the grid might be a great option for you. I was asked to decorate a curved kitchen wall for a young family and came up with a paint effect that glows with youth and exuberance.
The secret to the striking finish is a base coat of silver metallic paint.
Panels do not have to be matching sizes and shapes.
Here, I wanted to mix up the pattern by placing panels randomly, and accentuating the design with contrasting colours.
I started with a base coat of acrylic silver metallic paint and let it dry overnight.
I measured and marked off panels using 3/4-inch and one-inch low tack painter鈥檚 tape, checking with a spirit level to make sure the lines and borders were straight.
I then mixed three coloured glazes 鈥� pink, blue and green 鈥� each using equal parts latex paint and water-based glazing liquid.
The coloured glazes were applied inside the taped squares and rectangles using a colourwash technique.
Dip a damp rag into a coloured glaze and rub over a taped-off section as if you were washing it. The glaze makes the paint translucent so that the metallic base coat shines through.
Remove the tape carefully, revealing the silver borders around the coloured panels.
It鈥檚 worthwhile to experiment with new paint products to see the various effects you can create. Metallic painted surfaces are shiny and reflect light for a bright finish.
Even pastel metallic shades advance off the wall, which can be dramatic, fun or cosy.
Paint is an opaque medium. When you add glazing liquid to paint, the colour becomes translucent. The more glaze you add, the more translucent the colour, and therefore the more the base coat will be visible.
Texture is created by paint and glaze layers applied with either brushes or soft cloths. Find a combination that inspires you.
Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email decorating questions to [email protected]. Follow Debbie at instagram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbietravis, debbietravis.com.
