The three families on Our First Home learned and put to the test a number of paint techniques, and if you liked what you saw we've got everything you'll need to add your own personal touches to items around the home!

Tips:

A myriad of effects are possible simply by changing your technique, application tool and colours. 

Always try out a test area first to get the hang of the effect.  Then use this as a sample panel for the rest of the project.

Many hands make light work but be aware that every person will do even the same paint effect technique slightly differently.  If you have help with your project, allocate each person a separate part of the effect – e.g. one might paint on, the other might comb.  That will help you get a consistent finish.

When using Resene Crackle Effect, experiment with your brushstrokes and the thickness of the Crackle.  You can get quite varying effects the thicker you apply the Crackle.  Work evenly and quickly and don’t overbrush the Crackle or topcoat or you will tend to drag the coating.  Resene Crackle is best used on a small area – such as a piece of furniture, frame, handrails and similar as it is hard to get an even effect on a wall.  Consider your contrasts – a metallic basecoat colour can look fabulous showing through the cracks in the Resene Crackle Effect contrasted by a dark topcoat.

When doing woodgraining, make sure you wipe the comb regularly so you don’t get too much paint caught in the comb.  Create ‘knots’ in the timber by swerving the comb as you move it along.

When colourwashing, contrast is the key.  For a limewashed or aged look, apply a colourwashing topcoat of white or a light colour as this will help to make the original colour seem older.  To recreate a Mexican look choose more of s burnt red and a darker but similar colour for the contrast.

When colourblocking, low tack masking tape is your friend.  Simply mask out the various areas you want to have paint and no paint on.  Then paint in between the spaces using Resene testpots or for larger areas small cans of Resene paint.  The current trend is to geometric patterns for colourblocking, but the only limit is your imagination.  Colourblocking also works well on feature walls and on drawers and cabinetries where each drawer or cabinet crates a natural block that you can paint.

An aged look can be achieved in a number of ways – whitewashing with Resene Colorwood Whitewash, then sanding edges to give an ages effect, colourwashing using antiqued tones or a Resene Crackle Effect can also give an aged look.  Remember to always make sure if you are sanding back that the surface is still protected – you may find you need a coat of Resene Aquaclear clear urethane just to make sure the surface is fully sealed.

Resene testpots are idea to colour the Resene Paint Effects Medium.  Simply choose your favourite colours then tip in some of the testpot until you get your desired wash colour.  We recommend you note down the recipe you have used so you can recreate the look later if you need to.

Paint effects are designed to recreate the handcrafted and authentic look.  You’re not aiming for 100% perfection!

Remember if all else fails, you can always paint over it and start again.

Crackle finish:

This finish creates the effect of crazed and weathered paint. It is achieved by a layer of crackle medium between two coats of waterborne paint. The medium absorbs moisture from the topcoat causing it to shrink and crack to reveal the basecoat.

Wood graining:

Graining simulates wood grain using paints and effects finishes. Use this technique where wood might normally have been used. In the majority of cases, it is best to use tones of the same colour. Usually the basecoat is lighter than the effects finish applied to the top. The table in this project has a laminate top in sound condition but it will need to be primed before graining. 

Colour washing:

Colourwashing is a decorative way of applying paint to break up the colour. A lighter colour base usually works best as it glows through the topcoat. Generally the best colour combinations are those that are close to each other in the colour spectrum. For example, creams through to yellow oxides, oxide based pinks through to oxide reds or greyed blues through to purple blues. Colourwashing may be done over a smooth wall or over a textured finish, depending on the finish you are trying to achieve.

Ageing:

Antiquing is a finishing technique that darkens the paint colour and gives the surface an instant aged look. There are a number of ways to achieve this look depending on whether you prefer to use waterborne or solventborne products, waxes or simply thinned paint or an effects finish.

Resene have plenty of other tricks and techniques to add all kinds of effects to items around the home. Find more here.