VNTG HOME COLOR WASHING
“Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet” – Paul Klee
Color washing, also known as paint staining or distressing, is the perfect way to blend colors you love into your home for a cottage-like feel that feels fresh and easy going. Whether it’s a front door, patio furniture or series of outdoor pots, you can easily transform any unsealed piece using this technique to create a one-of- a-kind piece.
Don’t limited yourself to just wood. Give it a go on wicker, bamboo and terra cotta. The key is to choose unsealed pieces so the watered down paint can soak into the grooves. Color washing is going to bring out those lovely grains and textures in the material.
Once you have chosen your piece, pick your color. Grays, blues and green are crazy popular right now but don’t let that limit you. Yellows, pinks and purples are fun ways to dress up furniture with color in nurseries and kids bedrooms. Red looks incredible on sofa and entry tables. Just be sure to seal each piece so you can preserve and protect the finish.
If you are feeling like you want to take color washing to the next level, consider doing it in layers. It’s as simple as applying and wiping off your first color, letting it dry and coming back over it with two or three more colors. You can choose complimentary or shades from the same color family. The depth and dimension you get with this is fantastic. I also love the how weathered yet warm each piece feels. And because there are multiple colors in the piece, you can easily shift it around to other rooms when you feel room makeover coming on.
I recently came across yet another genius idea on Pinterest. People were breaking apart pallets and even old fences to create artwork. Their favorite technique – color washing. By overlaying words or graphics on top of the color, their pieces had a personal, rustic look that reflects who they are and what they love. What will these creative geniuses come up with next?
About Erin: Erin is an untrained writer, professional marketer and always on mom of two monsters. She’s the voice behind VNTG Home content, branding and regularly contributes to the “Live Beautifully” blog. When not getting peanut butter out of clean pants or rearranging her house, you can find her on the St. Croix River sailing with the best guy in the whole wide world.
About “Live Beautifully” Blog: Our vision for the VNTG Home blog is simple: create a platform where fresh and transformative ideas can be shared and showcased in order to demonstrate how accessible luxury can really be.