- Use stencils and sponges for quick, artistic paint jobs.paint roller image by Ana de Sousa from Fotolia.com
Painting a room can be tiring work, especially if you want to create a striking or unusual design and are low on time. Try to find a painting idea that you can tackle in stages and that will take a minimal amount of paint to achieve the desired effect. Darker colors, for instance, often need fewer coats to achieve the same effect as lighter colors. - Stencils are a type of simple pattern-making tool that allow you to easily create a running pattern of designs. Stencils are one of the easiest ways to add painting effects to a room: you simply position the stencil, paint, and move onto the next section. Use stencils if you want a border effect but are short on time.
- Sponging paint on walls produces a blurred or splotched pattern that can be very useful for creating certain color combinations. With sponges, you do not need to worry about staying inside the lines as you do with stencils. Sponging can create unlimited variations and effects. If you like the way a sponging pattern is turning out, you can easily continue it up the wall.
- Tape is a lifesaver when it comes to quick painting work. Make sure you tape all fixtures and edges with an easy-strip masking tape before you start painting. This will allow you to paint quickly without streaking other surfaces. Use tape across the walls themselves for a striking pattern that keeps some of the original color present.
- Solid colors can be applied with rollers and are one of the simplest ways to quickly paint a room. If you have trouble deciding what color you like, test a large area of the wall. This will help you see how the paint reacts to natural light and how it matches the rest of the room's colors. Best of all, if you like it, you already have part of the project finished.
Stencils
Sponging
Tape
Solid Color Tests
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