Exploring Decorative Paint: Types and Techniques to Try

There’s more than one way to use paint in both residential and commercial properties.

Paints or architectural coatings are versatile tools that can transform a house into a personalized haven. They also serve a variety of practical purposes, including protecting surfaces from wear and tear.

Different types of decorative paints can be applied creatively to accentuate architectural features or establish a specific mood in each room. They also allow for easy updates, allowing you to adapt your spaces to evolving tastes.

In commercial properties, paint is used for branding and creating a professional ambiance. Well-chosen colors can convey corporate identity, enhance brand recognition, and influence customer perceptions. They also protect surfaces, ensuring a polished appearance that reflects positively on the business.

Whether it’s creating accent walls, refreshing floors, or revitalizing furniture, the possibilities with paint are endless.

What Is Decorative Paint?

If you’re thinking of sprucing up your home or commercial space using paint, decorative paints are the ideal products for this purpose.

But what is decorative paint? Decorative paints are products that enhance surfaces, adding flair and personality to spaces.

Unlike traditional paints, decorative options cover a wide array of textures, finishes and effects. They can also be used on different types of surfaces and materials, including wood, cement and concrete.

 

What Are the Popular Types of Decorative Paints?

Below are the most popular and widely used types of decorative paints:

1. Acrylic

Acrylic is the most common type of architectural coating used for both residential and commercial properties since it is fast-drying, water-resistant and long-lasting. It also gives surfaces a more vibrant color.

Acrylic latex and acrylic craft paints are often used in designing and sprucing up walls and ceilings.

Acrylic enamel paint is another popular product used in artistic decoration since it gives surfaces a shiny appearance and works well on metal and wood.

 

2. Latex

Latex paint is another popular paint product since it is water-based, which means it doesn’t come with unpleasant odors. It is also water-resistant, quick-drying and low-maintenance.

There are three types of latex paint used for decorative purposes. These are:

• Matte, which gives surfaces a more opaque and dull finish.
• Gloss, which has a more reflective finish that brightens surfaces and rooms.  
• Satin, which combines both matte and gloss finishes and is often used to enhance the brightness and intensity of an already painted surface.

 

3. Metallic

Metallic paints are typically used to give surfaces a rich accent. They come in a broad range of colors, textures and finishes, with satin as the most popular option.

This product can brighten up walls, furniture, baseboard trims and other fixtures in different rooms.

 

 

4. Stone

This type of decorative paint gives surfaces a stone effect finish. It is often used to rejuvenate or enhance the look of weathered stone or concrete, windowsills, sidewalks, garden ornaments and other architectural stonework.

High-quality stone paints can also give surfaces a durable, weather-resistant stone effect finish.

 

 

5. Suede

This type of paint gives surfaces a rich, velvety finish, giving them the luxurious look and feel of suede. Its unique texture helps absorb light, making it the ideal option for high-traffic spaces that need additional brightness.  

The soft, rich and velvet appearance of this particular wall texture paint gives spaces a touch of sophistication and warmth, making them more appealing yet inviting.

 

 

What Are the Most Common Decorative Painting Techniques?

Now that you know what is meant by decorative paint and which types are best for this application, you can choose the right one to enhance your residential or commercial spaces using one or a combination of the following techniques:

1. Stencils

Wall stenciling is an easy way to add charm and intrigue to any space while giving it a touch of elegance. It is a great alternative to wallpaper if you want to showcase elaborate patterns on your walls.

With this technique, you only need a stencil, your choice of paint, a foam roller, and other typical painting essentials, such as paintbrushes and painter’s tape.

 

2. Stripes

Painting stripes is one of the decorative painting ideas that never goes out of style. This design always looks fresh and makes any room instantly appealing.

Another great thing about this painting technique is that there are various ways to apply it. You can go for thin stripes if you want to add a subtle visual intrigue to your walls. Opt for big, bold and contrasting lines if you’re aiming for a more eye-catching design.

 

3. Harlequin

Harlequin patterns add charm and make spaces look more vibrant. They work great in nearly all rooms, including kitchens and bedrooms.

To get the best result from this design, select colors with subtle contrasts for a classy look. If you want to give the room a lively, contemporary feel, choose contrasting bold hues.

 

4. Color Wash

This painting technique involves applying several layers and colors of tinted glazes to create a subtle wash of color on the surface. The effect gives walls eye-catching depth and texture that makes the space more interesting.

To get this effect, use a softening brush to apply the paint over the base layer then use sweeping strokes to blend the colors.

 

5. Metallics

This decorative painting technique involves using metallic paint in hues of gold, silver and bronze to create designs on surfaces.

As a result, you add the fascinating looks of luxurious gold, sparkling silver or polished bronze to your surfaces.

With this technique, you can have the entire room painted in a metallic hue to make a chic, grand statement. Another option is to apply only metallic accents to give walls a more layered look.

 

Decorative paint is a transformative medium that elevates a surface’s functionality while adding flair and personality to spaces at the same time.

As such, keep the different types of decorative paint and painting techniques in mind when you want to beautify your residential or commercial property.

Explore our Products page to discover more decorative paint options for your projects.