Painting your house is not an easy feat, but most of us have to go through with it at some point anyway. Some people choose to hire somebody else to do the job for them, but not everyone is particularly thrilled about the idea of spending even more money on a professional service. That’s especially true for some minor paint jobs. If that’s the case, there’s only one thing left to do – try your best to learn a new skill. As always, it can be intimidating. Painting seems like a straightforward and easy process, but don’t let the appearances fool you. It takes some practice, effort and thought – running to your nearest paint shop and grabbing a ton of different supplies is not enough. Here’s an overview of some of the most common painting techniques, you can use to rejuvenate your living space.

Antiquing

That weathered, worn aesthetics really ticks all the boxes for many. And it’s not that hard to do too – you can achieve this effect even if you’re a beginner. First of all, you need to apply the first base coat, preferably a lighter colour. Once it’s completely dry, you can move on to another layer. Your second topcoat should be a little darker to add more substance to the finish. In this case, you need to dilute it with water in a 1:1 ratio (as a rule of thumb). Then it’s time to apply it – you can either use a smaller paintbrush or even a cloth. Focus on small sections - this thinned coat doesn’t need to be everywhere. The last thing is wiping it all with a rug to mimic the natural ageing effect. That’s how you’ll add more texture. Rinse and repeat as desired.

Stripes

Otherwise known as striping, it’s one of the most commonly used techniques in the world of wall painting. It's pretty simple, really. You take two different colours and create an alternating pattern. You start with your base coat – a lighter colour – and let it dry. Then it’s time to make use of some masking tape. Make sure you’re very diligent and careful here because these lines need to be perfectly straight. That’s probably the hardest part, but once you’re done with it – it’s time to add another colour. You need to let it dry and then remove the tape. That’s it – you’re left with perfect contrasting stripes.

Patterned Rollers

This is actually a tool that was designed to make creating patterns much easier. They are typically made from rubber. It’s kind of like applying a sticker or special print but with paint. Each roller features its own design – from birds, plants, and trees to cars, various symbols and more. They work exactly like a regular roller, just make sure to pay more attention to excess paint. These are easy to coordinate, affordable and beginner-friendly. It’s still recommended to test them out on some neutral surfaces to find the right tempo and amount of paint. Otherwise, you might be left with unappealing smudges and streaks.

Sponging

This one sounds quite original, but it’s actually one of the most popular painting techniques. All you need is a sea sponge and some paint, of course. As always, we need to start with the base coat. Then things get a little more interesting. Grab the previously dampened sea sponge and apply another coating, but make sure you use a dabbing motion. This is where the whole texture comes from. You can obviously put as much or as little as you like. Colours should be a little different to really make that contrasting glaze pop but it’s completely up to you – works either way.

Step by Step

There are plenty of different ways to go about painting your house. There are also different factors to consider – from our goals and preferences to the requirements and challenges that come with various substrates and surfaces. That’s probably the most important thing if you want your project to go smoothly. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter what kind of intricate or fancy techniques you want to go for – if the preparation process is off, the whole thing is doomed. So, make sure you get it right and then pick the technique you like the most. Good luck!