Simple painted walls are nice and clean, but there are many options that really give a room some unique style while expressing your own comfort or statement. Great options for adding a beautiful and inexpensive design touch to any room are paint sheens, faux finishes and decorative finishes.
- Paint Sheens
Paint sheens are available in nearly every color and can suit any room. One rule to consider with sheens is the higher the sheen, the higher the shine. Higher shines are the most durable and long lasting. But the one thing that goes with shine is the extensive preparation that is needed for your ceiling, walls or trim. When the shine is high, the surface does show all its faults.
When painting you can choose between flats, satins, semi-glosses and high glosses. High glosses are easy to clean and reflect light better than the flats or semi-glosses. If you are going with a light color such as white, or off whites, these are ideally suited for high gloss and will nicely complement this sheen effect. If you are going with rich, dark colors, it is recommended that you go with slightly less sheen or you may end up with a super shiny effect. But dark colors should not be done in a flat finish due to chalking. Eggshell or Satin paints create a pearl-like luster and are ideally suited for high traffic areas as they are also easy to clean. Semi-glosses are sleek and radiant and also easy to clean. Flats are non-reflective and are ideal for ceilings or an understated look in any room, and they are harder to clean.
- Decorative Finishes
Faux finishes are decorative finishes that give the appearance of materials such as marble, wood or stone. Finishes can be rustic or natural, replicate the appearance of old world plaster, or give your walls a shimmering look.
Venetian plaster can be applied and create a deep rich texture with relatively flat finished walls. Artisan finishes in various shades and hues give the impression of marble or stone and changing light varies the appearance.
Metallic paints shimmer and add light. These paints can be difficult to brush and roll, so for most finishes they should be sprayed. Another option is to brush and roll areas that can then be lightly glazed with metallic wash to have a uniform finish.
- Texture
Texture can be added to a room through the use of textured wallpapers or textured paints. Textured surfaces add depth, warmth, contrast and artistic value to any room. Most textures should be done prior to painting. After textures are painted, walls can be over-glazed to create more shadowing and textured.
With so many options for the finishes in your home, the best way to narrow down your options is to see large samples of the finish you are considering. At Hester Painting & Decorating we have a showroom with over 40 full size walls with many different finishes for you to see. Feel free to contact us as [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
