The addition of patterns and textures make regular painted walls spring to life. They catch your eye the second you walk into a room and add character to your home. Additionally, patterned or textured wall paints are decorative in nature, making them an excellent choice for homes with minimalist designs.
Now, you’re probably dreaming of incorporating fresh paint ideas into your home but are put off by the idea of calling (and paying for) a professional painter. Well, that won’t be necessary because we are going to share some awesome and incredibly innovative do-it-yourself tricks to create beautiful textures and patterns on your walls.
Cute polka dots
Using bubble wrap, double-sided tape and a paint roller, you can create a wall of cute polka dots. It’s fairly simple and best of all, looks great. Keep in mind that when using bubble wrap the colour of the dots will not be solid but rather textured.
To help you do this, here’s a quick step-by-step guide to follow.
- Place the paint roller over the bubble wrap and use a pen to mark the width of the brush. Cut the piece out making sure that the bubble wrap isn’t longer than the width of the roller. The length needs to be long enough to overlap so that no part of the roller brush is exposed.
- Stick two strips of double-sided tape at the back of the bubble wrap (along the top and bottom).
- (With the tape facing upwards) place the roller at the bottom of the bubble wrap and slowly roll it upward to wrap the piece around the brush. Make sure that the bubble wrap is rolled snuggly around the brush for an even finish.
- Roll the bubble-wrapped brush over wet paint in the tray and go about painting your wall one small section at a time.
TIPS:
- Get enough paint on the bubble wrap for a more solid finish
- For even polka dots, carefully roll the brush up and down without shifting the position
- Avoid painting large sections at a time as you cannot re-dip the roller and align it accurately to paint over the dots
- Take your time as you begin each new section to avoid overlapping as far as possible
- Use a fresh piece of bubble wrap if/when needed
Lovely lines
You won’t know how much you love a wall of unorganised lines until you see how good they look when created with just rope and a roller brush.
Here’s what you need to do to create this awesome pattern:
- Cut a piece of jute rope measured at 1-1.2m(depending on how wide or big the roller is).
- Use glue to stick one end of the rope to the brush and start wrapping it around the roller in a disorderly manner. Feel free to make multiple criss-cross patterns with the rope before sticking down the other end.
- Spread some paint over the tray and roll the DIY brush over it for the rope to catch colour. Avoid dipping the entire brush in paint.
- Start rolling on the paint to create a pattern of random short lines with complete freedom as far as overlapping is concerned.
TIPS:
- Jute or linen rope is advised for best results
- Use thick rope in order to create visible lines
- Avoid wetting the rest of the brush as it may cause patches on the wall when rolling
- Choose a paint colour that will stand out from the base colour
Colour crazy
This one is best suited for kids’ bedrooms or playrooms, however you can also make it work in other parts of your home if you’re looking to add a little playfulness. It involves multiple colours in mostly triangular or sharp-edged shapes, and looks great on a white paint base.
Here’s how to create your own wall of abstract art:
- Pick a scotch tape that will be used on the wall. The thickness depends on how big of a gap you want between colours.
- Begin sticking large pieces of tape on the wall to create or 'draw' random shapes (imagine that the tape is your pencil and the wall, a page in a drawing book).
- Once you’ve made the shapes on your wall, get your paint colours ready.
- Just like a colouring book, fill in the shapes with random colours of your choice using a paint brush. The tape will help you ‘stay inside the lines.
- Remove the tape after the paint has dried and you will have your very own wall of abstract art.
TIPS:
- Remove excess paint from the brush before you paint inside the shapes to prevent colour from seeping into any bubbles/lifts in the tape
- If the finish of your base paint is likely to come off with tape, remove some of the adhesiveness by sticking the tape onto a fabric before putting it on the wall
- Avoid picking too many colours and/or shades that clash
- Limit this application to a single wall (or one section of it) as it is a loud design and will overwhelm the room if used on multiple walls
If you’re up for a fun, creative DIY project, try out one of these innovative ideas and ‘paint’ your walls to life.
Check out our residential painting services page for more helpful handy tips and information.
