AUSTIN, Texas — In homes around Austin, Texas, we’re starting to see homeowners choose walls with graphic patterns and stripes done in paint, or a big, bold color on one accent wall. AUSTIN, Texas — In homes around Austin, Texas,
AUSTIN, Texas — In homes around Austin, Texas, we’re starting to see homeowners choose walls with graphic patterns and stripes done in paint, or a big, bold color on one accent wall.
Earlier this summer, we talked with interior designer and do-it-yourself expert Kristan Cunningham about this trend. Cunningham has been on such shows as HGTV’s “Design on a Dime” and “Bang For Your Buck.” She’s also been part of the “Rachael Ray Show.” This month, she launches “Super Saver Showdown,” a DIY contest show on OWN.
Cunningham says this trend of adding graphic elements to a room really came out of the Hollywood Regency style of the 1930s, which has become popular again. Think lacquered furniture; whites, blacks and grays with pops of color; and geometric patterns.
We’re moving away from the grand faux-finish treatments of the 1990s that people had to hire someone to do in order for it to be done well.
“Now that we as a nation are a lot more DIY savvy, we take on our own projects,” she says. “We want to do things that we can actually achieve. A graphic chevron pattern that you can do with tape is going to be a lot easier for you and me to achieve than tackling some kind of mural that a fine artist can do.” When deciding what kind of design to do, think about the scale and style of the house, she says. If you have a big room with clean lines, don’t create a pattern that’s fussy with details. Also, pick paint colors wisely. If you have very contrasting colors like blue and white, don’t do an intricate plaid. Instead, opt for a larger repeating pattern that is more bold and less detailed.
“A great chevron pattern in a really subtle color is going to be room-changing, and any of us can do that because you’re relying on the tape itself. It’s exciting that with some tape and with the right brushes, we’re all actually capable of creating any treatment that’s imaginable.” Your prep work, including measuring and laying out the design, is the important thing when going graphic with paint.
“The more time you spend prepping your projects, the more successful they’re going to be and the more comfortable you’re going to feel actually executing them,” she says. It’s also the most daunting part for most people.
For those of us who have used painter’s tape and were not successful, Cunningham offers these steps:
1. After applying the tape, burnish the edges — really rub it into the wall or go over it with a spoon.
2. Seal the edges of the tape by painting over the tape using the existing paint color and letting it dry or by caulking the edges. Once the caulk or existing paint color is dry, your new paint color cannot bleed through.
Another hot trend that Cunningham sees is ombre — color that starts out dark and fades. Now there are dry brushes that specifically achieve that look.
Doing an accent wall in teal with an ombre palette could add great impact to a room. Or consider doing it on stairs.
“Paint is inexpensive, it’s not that hard to do and you don’t have to be committed to it,” she says. “If you hate it in six months, the worse thing is you buy another gallon of paint. It’s such an easy way to incorporate colors that are on-trend, to experiment a little, to change your mind here and there. Paint is always your best friend.”
