Tips, Tricks and Techniques
Paint Products, Tools & Equipment
Colour Palettes
Stumbled upon this wonderful copper wall effect and thought you might like to see how it's done.
Paint Techniques
 |
How to age or distress furniture without sandingMy original decorative side table was simply painted and then waxed with Woodoc Antique wax to protect. But if you want to age and distress the piece, here's how my version of the table came out. |
 |
Faux stone columnsAlmost any room can benefit from a few large, impressive accent pieces, but home accessories like these tend to be expensive. These inexpensive columns are made from building forms - or carpet tubes - plus terracotta flowerpots and saucers. You can use a jigsaw to cut the tubes shorter if desired. |
 |
How to create a faux rust effectFor a quick and easy faux rust effect you don't always need expensive paint kits - some acrylic colour, a scruffed up paintbrush or old seasponge, a clean cloth and some spare time are all you need. |
 |
Stacked stone wall paint techniqueEasily transform a plain wall into a feature wall with a faux-stone technique. By applying the paint in rectangles of varying sizes you can reproduce a stacked-stone effect. |
 |
How to do relief stencillingHere's an easy way to create a raised effect - relief design - by using a stencil and paste. You can use this technique on furniture, walls and even on doors, to apply a textured design |
 |
Metallic effect for furnitureWith painted furniture being hot, hot, hot at the moment, I have begun to see another trend appearing - painting furniture in a metallic finish. I think it looks absolutely glam. |
 |
How to paint a hardwood floorWhile hardwood floors are beautiful, where floors are no longer looking good are cannot take any more sanding, painting offers you an opportunity to add a new look without the expense of replacing the entire floor. |
 |
How to paint a rug or carpetI recently came across a post where a rug was painted with a stencil design. Having used my Rust-Oleum spray paints on fabric and furniture, there's no reason why you can't use it on rugs and mats as well. |
 |
How to apply glaze to furnitureUse a glaze technique to create wonderful textures and depth to painted furniture. Glaze is normally a mixture of paint and scumble glaze combined at varying ratios to extend the drying time of paint, thereby allowing you more time to work on the effect that you want to create. |
 |
How to paint clouds on walls and ceilingsThere's something so magical about clouds on walls and ceilings - they make you feel that you are floating on air. I remember as a young girl that my mom painted clouds on the ceiling and I spent so much time lying on my bed daydreaming! |
 |
Instant feature wallStenciling with a foam roller is by far the fastest stencilling technique, and also the easiest. However, there are couple things to keep in mind to make sure the results are perfect. In this project we'll show you how to add an instant feature to a wall using a stencil, paint and foam roller. |
 |
How to add guilding or silver leaf to furnitureGilding is fun, a little messy and quite time consuming on bigger pieces but the end result is fantastic! Decide on your piece to gild - perhaps start off with something small till you get used to it ....or jump in the deep end! |
 |
How to paint over tilesContrary to popular belief, bathroom makeovers will not break the bank. Painting over old and dated ceramic tiles will immediately transform a bathroom. |
 |
Table makeover with distressed techniqueSometimes older pieces cry out for a bit of TLC to restore them to stunning collectibles. Here's how to create a rustic finish on a wooden side table using paint and a distressing technique. |
 |
Damask wall with pearlescent paintThe effect I wanted was a subtle backdrop to my bed on a feature wall, for that reason I didn't choose a strongly contrasting paint but rather a pealescent paint. |
 |
Art decor stencilled wall designStencils are great for using to add detail to walls. In this project we show how to add an art deco themed stencil design to a hallway to dress up a plain wall. |
 |
Add a gingham pattern to wallsWith just a little old fashioned elbow grease and know-how, you can create beautiful striped walls and stencilled patterns. Striped walls help give smaller rooms a sense of height and ordinary rooms some visual interest. |
 |
What is limewashUsed in the past as a paint treatment for furniture, lime wash how more recently been replaced with the easily applied white washing technique due to the caustic properties of lime. |
 |
How to paint furnitureIf you're in the market for new furniture or looking for a way to spice up one or two pieces you already have, paint may just be the answer you're looking for. When applied correctly, paint can alter the very nature of a piece. |
 |
How to faux bois - wood grain effectThanks to Woodoc Gel Stain, it is now possible to create a faux wood finish on supawood. The gel formula of Woodoc Gel Stain is not quickly absorbed into the wood and means that it does not run and seep into the surrounding area, making it perfect for using with a Wood Grain Rocker to create the look of faux wood. Now you can have the look of wood for the price of supawood! |
 |
Clever bedroom makeoverI just had to share this bedroom makeover with you. Not only do I think that the back wall gives a lovely dramatic effect, but the cabling from the two hanging bedside lamps has been cleverly camoflaged. |
 |
No wallpaper decorating solutionWallpaper is definitely in, and you can shop around for designs that range in price from R199 (Builders Warehouse) up to R2000 (Interior Designer) per roll. The only problem with wallpaper is that it's lovely to look at, but awful to remove once it's up. |
 |
Decorate with wall muralsIf you have just a little bit of artistic talent, decorating with murals is a fun and affordable way to spice up a room, and especially a children's bedroom. |
 |
Create a focal point or feature wallIntroduce a dramatic focal wall into a living room by stencilling a wall with a creative pattern and using paint colours to add impact. |
 |
Cherry blossom wall stencilRandom stencilling involves applying stencil designs to portions of the wall to suggest a hand painted design. The cherry blossom desing featured below consists of a sheet of component parts that you can arrange and combine to create designs that mimic the natural growth of cherry tree branches. |
 |
Use paint on upholstered furnitureHaving done something similar in the past, I was quite surprised to come across an article in which an interior designer actually uses paint on fabric. |
 |
How to paint designs on textured wallsPainting textured walls can be a challenge. Every time we paint, we think that we have the walls perfectly covered, until a few days later when we find tiny little dots that we missed due to the “knock down” texture. It’s become such a routine with our painting that touching up a few days later is one of our expected steps. |
 |
How to apply wood grain effect to walls and moreYou can use faux bois - or wood graining - to apply a decorative effect to a feature wall in any room. It's easier and far more affordable than wallpaper and you get to choose the colours that you would like to use to match your room decor. |
 |
Opulent damask tapestry wallsThis lovely stencilled wall effect adds a touch of drama to any room in a home. Use Prominent Paints Ultramatt or Ultrasatin and silver craft acrylic to create a dramatic and elegant effect. |
 |
Textured paint effect for tilesGive outdated ceramic tile walls a new look by decoratively painting them in colours you love. Use non-drip enamel paint, as this works well on most matt tiles, but to be certain it will work on yours, brush a small amount on a spare tile or in a discreet spot and allow it to dry before completing this painting project. |
 |
How to distress furnitureI love the look of distressed furniture, even though I don't have a single piece in my home. My personal style is more modern with a touch of eclecticism. There is something that appeals to the inner me - a desire to make but not to own. |
 |
Colour blocking effect for wallsColour blocks allow you to play around with colour in a small way. It's also an inexpensive way to introduce colour into a home by using tester pots to create colour blocks. There are endless possibilities for creating a focal point, highlighting a particular area, or simply adding extra colour to a bland space. |
 |
Add drama with large patterned wallsFor a one-of-a-kind look that is more personal than wallpaper, grab some blackboard chalk and start sketching. In the dining room shown here, a swirly floral wallpaper pattern design was adopted as a larger, looser drawing for a fresh, whimsical effect. |
 |
Paint two-tone wallsTo create the effect of patinaed plaster you need to apply two different colours of glaze over a base coat of paint. The technique works well with colours from the same family, but can also work with unrelated colours. |
 |
Twig design for walls and panelsDecorative moulding can help make a large room feel more intimate, but those rectangles can also be a challenge to work with. The solution came in the form of gentle tree branches, a natural motif for a room with a garden view. The design lets the branches grow up naturally, as if rooted in the dark oak floor, their leaves bumping up against the wall mouldings as if they were framed by windows. |
 |
Lace design for painted floorsConcrete has become today's eco-friendly choice for modern homes. Whether polished, etched, tinted or painted, there are many options available for decorating a concrete floor and other types of flooring as well. |
 |
Faux stone or painted brick wallPainting a surface to look like it is made of stone blocks or bricks is a versatile technique because you can customise the size, shape, arrangement, and colour of the blocks or bricks in the finished treatment. |
 |
Have fun with paintWe all know by now that paint is one of the most affordable ways to add colour to a home, but more than that, paint offers an opportunity to design and create unique interiors. There are several ways to apply various paint techniques and paint effects to walls. |
 |
Decorate walls with tone-on-tone colourChoosing the same colour and using different tones to decorate a room has a calming and pure effect like no others will. Whether you lean towards the calming tones of green for your bedroom or would love your living room to be awash with blues that are as deep as the ocean or as light as the sky, decorating with tone-on-tone colours will evoke a connection with nature. |
 |
Faux paint techniquesThe '80s ruined faux. The decade that gave us big hair and acid-washed jeans also introduced sponge-painting and marbleising kits to the masses. Suddenly, amateurs started taking a Renaissance-era art technique and applying it to everything from stereo cabinets to kitchen walls. The result? A bad reputation! |
 |
Sophisticated stencilFor decades stencilling has been boring and uninspiring, but now it’s time to show the new, trendy way to add unique wall effects. Download our sophisticated stencil design featuring willowy leaves that drape and fall down a wall. |
 |
How to whitewash furnitureWhitewashing brings out details. Although you can whitewash almost any wood item, whitewashing really shines on projects that feature carved details, turned legs, and interesting grains. |
 |
How to do a dragging techniqueDragging produces delicately interwoven lines, rather than high-contrast stripes of colour and glaze. Although dragging looks great as a treatment on an accent wall, you can use this versatile technique for an entire room as well. |
 |
Colour blocking technique for wallsIf wallpaper isn't your thing but you're dying for a splash of colour and pattern, then colour blocking may be just the technique you're looking for. Colour blocking is done by selecting zones on a wall or ceiling and painting them a different colour from the main wall colour. |
 |
Applying paint with a trowelYou can easily create the look of old, faded adobe walls simply by applying the paint with a variety of trowels. The process of troweling paint is basically goof-proof. |
 |
Decorate with metallic paintsRust-Oleum offers a wide range of metallic spray paints, decorating kits and paint pens that you can easily use to dress up everyday accents for a touch of glitz in the home. Rust-Oleum Specialty Metallic Spray provides rich, shiny finish for decorating and accent pieces. |
 |
Decorate with strie paint techniqueStrie is similar to dragging and involves the use of two paint colours, one of which is mixed with scumble glaze, to create a two-tone brushed effect on walls. You can brush horizontally, vertically or in both directions for a linen effect. |
 |
Faux bamboo feature wallBamboo walls are a popular way to evoke the faraway cultures of Asia and painted bamboo finish can be a stylish substitute for expensive wall coverings without their potential fraying and easy soiling. |
 |
Create a faux stone wallPainting a wall to look like stones is easier than you might think. Starting off with small projects will provide you with the experience necessary to be able to tackle larger projects in your home. |
 |
How to add verdris faux effect or patinaVerdigris allows you to add another element to decor accessories and fittings, such as wrought iron, etc. Transform burglar bars with a delicate verdigris patina to create a beautiful aged effect. |
 |
How to age and distress raw pine furnitureDistressing unfinished pine furniture gives it antique charm with an aged look that allows you to buy affordable furniture and create a reproduction piece for a home. |
 |
How to wood grain on supawood or boardWood graining simulates wood grain using paints and effects finishes. Use this technique where wood might normally have been used. In the majority of cases, it is best to use tones of the same colour. Usually the basecoat is lighter than the effects finish applied to the top. |
 |
How to create a faux pewter finishFaux pewter technique works well with smaller items, particularly ones that you would typically see made with real, solid or plated pewter. Items such as picture frames, candle holders, trim and other solid objects work well, and their smaller size makes it easier to complete this finish. |
 |
How to create a tuscan wall effectTuscan accents is a two-colour paint process resembling antique Italian finishes in its unmistakable warmth and character. Bringing to mind old-world charm, it will add a sense of history to your decor. |
 |
Go faux for effectThe recent resurgence of interest in decorative paint effects shouldn’t make you think they’re new techniques: we have been using whatever has been at hand to decorate our environment for millennia. |
 |
Create an instant feature wallGive any room in your home a splash of serious style with a new, modern wallpaper. You will find a varied selection of wallpaper at your local Builders Warehouse. |
 |
Metallic design on painted wallTo add a burst of sunshine to an entryway or boring wall,, paint your walls with a base coat of warm orange or brown. Stencil on small sunburst patterns and spray with Rust-Oleum Metallic gold and silver. Repeat all over for a bright and inviting look. |
Search Home-Dzine
Features & Projects
Get in touch with us
