Interior Design: Decorative Paint Effects

1. Apply a coat of emulsion to the wall and allow it to dry thoroughly.
2. Create colourwash by thinning emulsion paint: 1 part paint to 4-8 parts water and then experiment on a small area until you find a mixture that is both easy to work with and which creates the soft gradations of colour you require.
3. Using a large decorative brush, apply the wash in random, bold, criss-cross strokes over an area of ~ 1 sq m.
4. Take a slightly damp paintbrush and go over the wash to soften the brush marks and wipe up any drips. Leave this coat to dry for overnight or at least 12 hours.
5. Repeat the technique, again working on 1 sq m at a time.
6. This time apply criss-cross strokes to the areas you missed the 1st time.

1. Apply an even base coat to the prepared surface.
2. Leave to dry, then rub down lightly and repeat if necessary.
3. Thin the top colour slightly with white spirit and brush over the base. NB. Once the paint starts to dry it can't be combed.
4. When using a fairly transparent paint (glaze) there may be faint brush marks in the surface. You can remove them by lightly dabbing the wet paint with a soft cloth.
5. Drag comb through the wet surface to reveal the contrasting colour beneath, keeping your strokes as even as possible. Vary the pattern by changing the direction of strokes.
6. When combing is finished it is important to leave the paint until it is completely dry. If necessary apply 2 thin coats of clear varnish to protect textured surface.

Sponging
1. Prepare the surface. Paint on the base coat. Leave to dry thoroughly.
2. Pour a little sponging colour into a shallow dish. Dip the sponge into water and squeeze it thoroughly. Then dip it into the paint and squeeze to remove excess paint.
3. Lightly dab sponge over the surface. Turn sponge as you work in order to vary the pattern.
4. Recharge sponge with paint whenever necessary, testing it on a piece of scrap paper before. Restart sponging till it finished.
5. If you want apply the 2nd sponged coat when the previous one is quite dry. Fill the gaps between prints and also overlap some to blend the colours.

1. Choose your stencil attach it to the wall with masking tape or spray adhesive.
2. Apply a colour. Whether you are using a stencil brush or a spray can, the secret is a light touch.
3. With a spray can, waft it quickly and gently over the surface, gradually building up the colour in subtle layers.
4. If using stencil brush, rub it on a piece of paper towel until almost all the paint has been removed from the head of brush, then stipple or swirl it over the stencil.
5. Remove the stencil, reposition and repeat process.

1. Trace a design onto tracing paper using pen or pencil. Draw a grid over it, numbering each square.
2. Draw a grid directly onto wall, with the same number of squares, numbered to correspond with your original grid.
3. Paint wall square by square.