Decorate on a Budget with One Can of Paint!
Keeping your home looking fresh is easy but it isn't cheap, so try one of these instant decorating fixes with a single can of paint.
22/01/2023
Like everything else these days, paint has gone up in price, but it is still one of the most affordable ways to give any room in the home a fresh, new look. A single can of paint will cost you less than a decorative throw pillow and will do far more for a room if you use a bit of creativity.
Paint is not just for walls, nowadays there is paint for almost any surface you want to paint on. If you home is in need of freshening up, think about popping into your nearest Builders store, or popping onto the Builder's website, to check out any paint promotions. Builders regularly have paint promotions going on and at the moment you can buy a 5 litre can of Dulux Gentle Moods interior paint for R349.
1. Add stripes to a wall
Adding colour to a wall works wonders to give a room a new look, but it is even better if you add a decorative effect such as horizontal or vertical stripes. A striped wall has a wonderful way of fooling the eye and can do so much more for a room than simply add colour. Horizontal strips make a narrow room appear wider while vertical strips make the wall appear higher, which is great if you have low ceilings.
HOW TO:
- Make sure that the wall is clean and dry.
- Mark the wall where you want the stripes to be, using a spirit level or laser level to ensure the lines or straight or vertical.
- Mask off the stripes with painter's tape, making sure that all the edges are pressed down.
- Apply 2 coats of paint with a foam roller, allowing drying time between each coat.
- Carefully peel away the painter's tape.
2. Cover ugly or dark bricks
If you are stuck with a brick wall that is not appealing in any way; perhaps it is too dark or an ugly colour, you can use paint to cover this up to create an instant feature wall. Bricks adds texture and character to a room and if you are lucky enough to already have this installed in your home, why not turn it into a feature?
HOW TO:
- Use a brush to clean the wall and remove all debris and dust.
- Apply a brick or plaster primer to prevent any bleeding through the paint.
- Apply your choice of paint colour - using a washable paint - using a quality paintbrush.
3. Add decorative details
If you have a large expanse of plain wall and no interesting feature in the room, adding decoration with paint is all you need for an interesting and eye-catching focal point. Select a paint colour in hues that are picked up in the room, for example, it might be a throw cushion, a painting on the wall, or even accessories that you have placed in the room.
HOW TO:
- Clean the wall before painting and ensure that it is dry.
- Outline the shape you want on the wall.
- Mask off the shape with painter's tape, making sure that all the edges are pressed down.
- Apply 2 coats of paint with a paint roller, allowing drying time between each coat.
- Carefully peel away the painter's tape.
4. Introduce a colour
Bringing colour into a space can be instantly revitalising and refreshing and, for a small splash of colour, painting a door is a quick and easy task. Purchase exterior paint for a front door and water-based enamel or washable acrylic for interior doors.
HOW TO:
- Lightly sand the door with 120-grit sandpaper and wipe clean.
- Use wood primer if you are painting over raw timber.
- Start on the sides or any detailed areas so that it is easier to clean up the edges before moving onto the solid surfaces.
- Immediately brush smooth any runs or drips.
- If you need to apply a second coat only do this when the first coat is completely dry.
4. Add a splash of colour
This last ideas is the easiest one of all but still a great way to use a can of paint to revitalise a room. All you need is a blank canvas - or make your own - a paintbrush, and a can of paint and you're good to go!