There are many ways that you can use paint to decorate, refresh and personalise your home. It can be so much more than adding a coloured feature wall and it starts with opening up your mind to the myriad of possibilities for hand painted décor that you may have never known or considered.
We’ve gathered some tips and thoughts to give you an idea of the different ways that you can use hand painted décor in your home.
Doesn’t have to be expensive
Perhaps the first thing to note is that using paint in your home doesn’t have to be an extensive, or expensive, process. It can be as simple as choosing a piece of old furniture to freshen up. Once you have dipped your paintbrush in the tin, broaden your horizons to explore where you can introduce hand painted décor next.
Create a colour palette
If you are going to take things to the next level and experiment further with hand painted décor in your home, you might like to create a colour palette. This will help with establishing a central theme to be applied throughout. That doesn’t mean that each room needs to be the same but rather helps to give a feel of continuity as you move from room to room. Let the palette play out differently in each space.
Don’t be scared of the dark
when considering and developing your colour palette don’t discount the use of dark colours. Contrary to common belief, when used properly, hand painted décor in dark colours doesn’t make space feel smaller but can actually recede and allow the lighter colours to contrast and pull focus.
Light it up
For spaces that are lacking in some light, use bright coloured paint to lighten up space.
Combine different textures and finishes
If a neutral palette is more to your liking, create interest by using different textures and finishes. Experiment with a combination of matte and gloss paint finishes as well as using different textiles and materials such as linen, taffeta, cotton, and velvet.
Experiment with faux paint
No, that doesn’t mean using fake or pretend paint! Faux paint refers to the practice of using paint to replicate the textures of other materials such as wallpaper, marble, wood or stone in your hand painted décor. Paint is not just for colour blocking, stripes, and murals.
Be brave but trust your intuition
Using hand-painted décor in your home isn’t just about choosing colours, although that is a big part of it. It’s also just as much about being brave to step out of your comfort zone and creating a space that is uniquely yours. Make some daring choices and create amazing results. Don’t be afraid to collect unusual pieces that you are instinctively drawn to. At the same time though, it is also important to remember that if you have to talk yourself into liking something, chances are that you don’t really love it and so you should probably steer clear of that one for now. Just because it’s in a trendy magazine or designer store, doesn’t always mean it’s a good idea for you.
A dash of old and a sprinkle of new
Feel confident to use a combination of gorgeous antique items with modern pieces to create a truly personalised space.
Use all your beautiful things
You know what I am talking about! Everyone has at least one “special” thing that they have safely tucked away, or maybe it’s made it out of the packaging but no-one is allowed to use, or even breath on, them. Ask yourself what you are saving them for or protecting them from. Or maybe you have your eye on something that you think is a little too extravagant. They might be precious, but aren’t these beautiful pieces meant to be celebrated and enjoyed? Get them out, dust them off and give all your beautiful things the attention they deserve. Maybe they are a gorgeous piece of hand painted décor themselves or consider how you can use paint to create a feature area to show off your beautiful pieces.
Edit, edit, edit
Once you’ve started the hand painted décor journey in your home, continue the ride. It doesn’t need to be a regular complete overhaul by any means, but keep things interesting by always making small changes. Whether it’s seasonal re-decorating, working on little pieces here and there, or making a concerted effort to make one big change each year, it’s all part of the bigger picture to decorating your beautiful home.
Have fun
The most important thing about any home decorating project, no matter how large or small, is that it has to be fun. If the process becomes a drag or a chore, you will inevitably feel underwhelmed with the outcome and that certainly is not the intention at all. If you find yourself uninspired, stop what you are doing and re-assess to direct it towards something that you are excited about.
As you can see, there are so many amazing ways to enhance your home with hand painted décor, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The biggest problem you will have is deciding where to start!
The amazing team of painters at Highlands Hand Painting has a wealth of experience creating hand painted décor features for a diverse range of rooms and homes. Contact Highlands Hand Painting on 1300 662 112, submit an online enquiry, or visit us at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW to discuss how we can help with your next hand painted décor project.