Use the paint on your walls to make a statement in your home.
Paint color and texture bring character and can lend architectural emphasis to your living space. When painting the interior of your entire house, focus on the rooms as individual spaces and as a group for a cohesive feel. According to Jill Connors in "This Old House" magazine, contrasting colors on adjoining rooms or walls can add pop, while complementary colors can blend subtly.
Strie Painting
Danielle Hirsch from HGTV's "Color Splash" suggests using strie painting to create the illusion of fine fabric on your walls. To do so, paint one coat of primer and one coat of your base color to the wall, allowing time to dry between coats. Use a wet paint pad to apply a glaze mixture to the walls in a continuous motion from top to bottom, before going over the wet paint with a dry brush, then repeat it horizontally. This technique results in very light streaks, like a faded plaid pattern.
Stripes
Lighter and darker versions of the same color or matte and glossy finishes of the same hue are two sophisticated combinations to use for a striped wall. To complete this look, HGTV experts advise painting the lighter color first. Measuring your wall and dividing that number by how many stripes you want gives you the measurement you need to mark off your stripes' dimensions. Using a laser level to keep the lines straight, placing painting tape along the lines and applying an acrylic gel along the edge prevents the colors from bleeding together.
Antiquing
To create an antiqued look, paint your desired base coat color on the wall, and allow that to dry. When applying your lighter color, dip the brush half-way into the paint. Wipe the excess paint off, so that your brush is almost dry, then apply in small strokes to cover your wall -- a little paint goes a long way. HGTV says to repeat these steps horizontally, too, for a more weathered look.
Accent Wall
Painting one wall a vibrant color draws focus or creates drama in a room, Connors says. The first wall you see when you walk into the room isn't always the best choice to accentuate, according to House Painting Tutorials. Instead, highlight a wall that hosts a fireplace or one you plan to use to display art. Walls without windows work best for this technique.
Sponging
To add texture to your wall, dab glaze over your base coat with a sponge or use a rag for a more dramatic effect. Pair colors for the best finish.
Cabinets
Adding color to your cabinets can add a burst of excitement to your kitchen. To do this, HGTV experts suggest removing the doors and hardware from your cabinetry before you paint. Sand the wood until smooth, then paint your desired color. Once it's dry, reassemble your revamped storage space.
Wainscot
Similar to painting an accent wall, using different colors for your wall and wainscot -- the portion of the wall covered partially by wood paneling -- adds drama to a room, according to Connors. You can create a faux wainscot by taping off a straight line using a laser level, before painting the upper and lower portions of the wall different colors.
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