Unique Wall Painting Techniques for the DIY Homeowner
Ever thought you could use the veggies in your fridge to paint designs on walls in your home? Stop dreading paint projects and get inspired with these wall painting ideas
From the editors of 'Do It Yourself' magazine
January 4, 2012
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If your kitchen walls leave you feeling blah and your bedroom could use a serious decor upgrade, consider looking into funky wall painting techniques as a new DIY home design project that won't cost you a fortune. In “100+ Paint Projects,” the editors of “Do It Yourself” magazine have collected several unique painting techniques that you can adapt to your home. Whether you’re looking for some wall-painting ideas or are trying to add a fresh life to furniture, you can save money and create a one-of-a-kind look with many of the ideas in this guidebook.
COVER: JOHN WILEY & SONS
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Painting walls isn't usually at the top of homeowners’ lists of exciting weekend activities. The wall-painting techniques in this excerpt, taken from 100+ Paint Projects (John Wiley & Sons, 2011) by the experts at Do It Yourself magazine, will inspire any DIY homeowner to reconsider painting walls as a worthwhile endeavor. This excerpt is taken from Chapter 3, “Paint Projects for Walls and Floors.”
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From the Fridge
Who knew veggies could be so much fun? In this design, you learn how to treat a section of wall with flower motifs created with heads of cabbage (see a finished application in the Image Gallery). Use a range of blues and keep things interesting by working with cabbages of various sizes. The natural moisture from the cabbage will add a watercolor look to this wall-painting technique. For a crisper image, roll with paint after each impression.
You’ll Need:
Latex paint in light and medium blue
Paint roller and tray
Painter’s tape
Sharp knife
Cabbages
Foam roller
1. Paint the wall light blue. Let dry. Use painter’s tape to section off a 3- to 4-foot vertical strip.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut cabbage heads in half, getting a good chop so you end up with a flat surface for better stamping.
3. Use a foam roller to apply medium blue paint to the cabbage (see Image Gallery). Firmly press the cabbage on the wall. Repeat with random placement, loading the cabbage with paint as desired and alternating with different-size cabbages (see the Image Gallery). For the leaf shapes, roll paint onto cabbage leaves and press on the wall. Let dry.
4. Remove the painter’s tape.
Tip: Test the stamp on a paper towel to view the impression and remove excess paint. If the cabbage “opens up” after cutting, press I on the wall and gently rotate it to get a good impression. Take a fresh cut if needed to flatten the surface.
