PAINT EFFECTS BUT NOT LIKE THE 80s
How to get sophisticated effects like ombre, colour blocks, mega-stripes or diamonds
WE ALL KNOW THE breathtaking effect a beautiful paint colour has on a home. Walls coated in a beautiful hue take us somewhere emotionally, bringing personality to our dwellings.
The beauty of decorating a home with paint is that there’s more to experiment with than just colour; there’s also the magical effects with which you can use them.
To work out which paint effect you want to use, grab some Resene testpots and try one or two patterns out on a temporary surface to get a sense of whether you like its look or not. That way, you can decide which colours work best together too.
Ombre is one way you can transform a room and is when a paint colour gradually fades into another, the line between the two meeting in a rippled effect. Versatile to use in any room, let two bold colours meet or add a bright colour from the bottom up to jazz up a neutral wall.
Stylist Annick Larkin recommends a textured painted wall for its sense of movement. “I love a textured wall and have always dreamed of having a Venetian plaster bathroom but it is cost-prohibitive, so here’s my budget-friendly version that still looks stunning,” Annick says.
“Simply apply your paint using a flat, plaster paddle, rather than a roller or brush, as it will give your walls a gorgeous threedimensional finish. This technique can be used inside or out. Try it in a neutral tone – such as Resene Sea Fog or Resene Bison Hide for a stylised textured statement.”
Horizontal, zig-zag or diagonal – stripes bring a truly eye-catching effect even if they’re in muted colours. Just make sure you have plenty of washi tape — a useful tool to have in your painting arsenal, Annick says.
“Washi tape It is great for blocking off sections to paint and for creating beautiful designs and patterns,” Annick says. “Stripes of any shape or size – thick, thin, horizontal, vertical or diagonal — are an easy way to add interest to a room, but the trick to ensure the space feels elegant and sophisticated is to use a monochrome palette such as Resene Silver Chalice paired with Resene Wan White. Or use different paint finishes, such as Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta stripes in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen with areas in Resene FX Pearl Shimmer to create subtle contrast.
“Stripes can be used to dress up floors, furniture and ceilings too,” she says. This is a simple, easy to achieve effect — one thin horizontal stripe of bright colour can extend around a room, varying in direction at any stage, bringing interest to an interior.
You can also use washi tape and multiple paint colours to achieve geometric shapes.
Go for a neutral and two complementary bold hues painted in an eye-catching pattern. A work of art in itself, you can also tie in a metallic finish to one colour for a hint of shimmer that will beautifully catch the light.
Colour blocking allows you to draw the eye to certain parts of a room, with randomly placed zones of colour. Your colour block can be any shape, ranging from a square to a circle or even just a strip across or down a wall.
“Colour blocking is a trend that has periodically come back into fashion since the 1970s,” Annick says. “This simple and easy-to-achieve paint technique is done by selecting zones on a wall and painting them a different colour from the main wall colour.”
“This method is an easy way to highlight a feature or simply dress up an empty wall. Try blurring the lines between the two tones for a more sophisticated feel, such as Resene Napa and Resene Thumbs Up. For that finishing touch in a bedroom try using the colour blocking technique to create a headboard.
Use colour blocking to zone areas of storage on your walls for the children or highlight a desk space in your office or a dressing table area in a bedroom. It’s a perfect way to bring in two or three colours, layering them on one surface.
Murals are a way to draw out your inner artist in a colour you’ve always loved. Don’t feel daunted by the idea of creating this image yourself; even the most simple line drawing can create a stunning visual impact. Pick a neutral background and paint a mural in a rich hue. Or paint a bright colour onto a dark, dramatic background for effect.
“With murals, paint can be changed out with relatively ease and without huge expense,” Annick says. “Use paint to design a unique feature mural in your home using stripes, polka dots or geometric shapes — the possibilities are endless. Use contrasting tones such as Resene Nocturnal and Resene Triple Alabaster or colour clash with bold hues such as Resene Merlot, Resene Soothe, Resene Safehaven and Resene Jailbreak for the ultimate style statement.”
The beauty of paint effects is that they evoke an element of fun into an interior with their playful pattern. “I have concrete floors at home that always felt cold and uninviting. Painting them with a diamondshaped pattern in warm greys makes the space feel much more chic. This is another simple technique using washi tape and a muted palette. Simply tape off the harlequin pattern and paint with a roller, using Resene Black White and Resene Triple Black White.”
Spruce up a plain wall with a large diamond pattern, bringing in one colour onto a light base wall colour or alternating your colours amongst your diamonds. Using this dynamic pattern, you can go as large or small as you wish for stunning statement.
Using one way of these techniques is a way to bring a sense of celebration or colour and pattern into your home. Start off by using it on one wall first to see how it feels or apply it to the side of a bookshelf or cabinet to add a fun dimension to a plain room.
For more ideas and inspiration for decorating your home, visit your Resene ColorShop, www.resene.co.nz/colorshops, or see the latest looks online, www.resene. co.nz/latestlooks.