Paint texturing techniques

Creating amazing effects in your home can be as easy as wielding a paintbrush. But how do you make the leap from nice to stunning? Paint texturing creates whole new effects, and can be achieved in several ways. Use objects found around the home or easily and cheaply sourced from your local hardware shop to lift ordinary paint out of the ordinary. Or try out the array of special textured paints available from your hardware shop to use paint texturing to create an amazing feature out of a plain or even damaged wall.

What is paint texturing?

Gone are the days of being stuck with simply painting colour onto a surface. Textured paints have substances mixed with them that cause the paint to dry with a raised stippled finish, creating patterns and contrasts. Use brushes and other objects to create the designs you want as you paint. These paints are ideal for hiding imperfections or rough surfaces.

Textures differ from paint to paint, ranging from a course, gravely finish to a fine sand - like grain in the paint. Choose your textured paint according to how strong you want the effect to be. A fine grain will create a more subtle pattern, whereas the coarser texturing allows you to create more definite, dramatic results.

Another method of creating a textured finish with paint simply involves using different techniques to apply the paint.

Effective paint texturing

To use paint texturing most effectively, consider the colours you want, how the finished surface will interact with other aspects of your home, and what tools will help you create the effect you are after. Follow these tips to ensure a successful job:

• Use faux texture paints with different tools. Try cloths or sponges to apply the texture paint to create patterns, use special brushes, or swirl a squeegee through it in fan patterns
• Ordinary paints can create textured effects by using sponging to apply. Choose two compatible colours (you will see one through the other). Apply one as a base with a brush or roller and allow it to dry. Then apply the other over it in dabs with a damp towel or sponge. You may use more than two colours
• Run an object such as a pencil eraser through the wet paint to create marbled swirls or other designs. Use a brush in a dabbing motion rather than a painting one to create a textured look
• Texture paint is great for hiding imperfections on a wall, or for covering rough wall surfaces such as cement or old panelling
• Consider the context of your texture paint feature, and don't overdo it. Texture painting creates feature walls, so have the rest of your walls finished in a more simple and unobtrusive style, to let the feature wall really feature

Texture your paint job

Paint texturing, whether you use specially designed textured paint or simply utilise objects and brushes to create a textured appearance, will lift your home's look by creating a dramatic feature wall or ceiling. Use texturing carefully, and plan out the effect you want to create by looking at feature walls in friends' homes, or simply by experimenting before you begin. Have fun, and enjoy the creativity of this painting effect.