How to paint your kitchen walls yourself - Complete Guide

In this material we will offer you a number of options for creating original wall decoration using decorative paint. Let's talk about what tools are important to paint walls and achieve an elegant effect. We will describe all the main points of the work and consider paints with decorative and textured effects. We explore the ability to use ordinary paint to create an exclusive design. Go!

Today's paint market is large. You can choose any color, spending almost any budget, and choose exactly the paint that you need exclusively for your needs.

Decorative paints have recently gained great popularity, turning simple interiors into real works of art.

What are the advantages of using decorative paints?

1. The most important thing is the service life of the paint. It is practically unlimited, whereas wallpaper must be changed after 10 years.
2. Incredible expressiveness of interiors where decorative paint is used.
3. There are many effects that can be achieved using decorative paint.
4. The paint is not afraid of fading in the sun, it is not afraid of children's markers and much more.
5. Decorative paint is easy to wash and stains on it can be wiped off better than on wallpaper.
6. Decorative paint can be tinted, so the choice of color shades is unlimited.
7. Dust does not accumulate on the paint.

• The main disadvantage of paint is that if you do not plan to create special decorations, but just want a smooth painted surface, then you need to ideally prepare the walls for paint so that they are as smooth and free of flaws as possible.

Pros and cons of wallpaper

It is very difficult to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of trellises due to the fact that they are made from completely different materials with their own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, first we will present the general pros and cons of wallpaper as a class of finishing materials, and then we will consider each of their types separately.

The dominance of wallpaper in the building materials market in Russia and the CIS countries is explained by the fact that many buyers do not see paint as a competitor to trellises when decorating walls. And that's why:

• Advances in the development of new technologies have made it possible to apply a variety of designs to wallpaper. Their choice is truly colossal: from a relief surface with a small pattern, to optical illusions of 3D printing that visually expand the apartment, creating additional space. Such images emphasize the style of the room, creating a cozy and comfortable environment (options for using 3D images when decorating the interior of a room can be seen in the photo below).

Only a talented artist can paint walls with a similar effect, but it will cost a lot of money.

• before gluing with trellises, careful preparation of the walls is not required, unlike paints, where the slightest defect is not only visible, but also sticks out in the paint layer;
• Wallpaper fabric does not conduct thermal energy well. As a result, there are two advantages at once: although a little, the wallpaper insulates the room; the material is tactilely warm, which is pleasant to the touch, especially at night in the bedroom when your naked body accidentally touches the wall;
• despite its small thickness, the wallpaper absorbs sounds well, which is important for budget housing, where the life of neighbors can be clearly heard;
• all types and types of trellises are environmentally friendly and do not harm either humans or domestic animals;
• simple finishing technology - all work can be done independently.

In addition to advantages, trellises also have disadvantages. Among them:

• short service life: 5-8 years;
• low level of strength: easily damaged by sharp objects;
• difficult maintenance: dirt is difficult to wash off even from washable wallpaper;
• difficulties arising when joining drawings;
• high degree of damage from cats and dogs.

If we consider wallpaper based on the type of base, then they also have their own pros and cons.

Wallpaper on paper basis:

• allow the walls to breathe;
• hide wall defects well;
• environmentally friendly.

However:

• upon contact with water or its vapors, they lose their consumer properties, which precludes the use of this type of trellis in rooms with high humidity (bathroom, kitchen);
• fragile - easily torn by sharp objects and claws of pets;
• short-lived.

Non-woven wallpaper:

• They stretch easily, which allows them to be joined to the previous sheet without much effort. In addition, due to the elasticity, various folds and air pockets are smoothed out during the drying process;
• mask various surface imperfections well;
• serve as a good sound insulator;
• easy to remove.

The disadvantages include:

• transparency, which requires monochromatic, but light-colored, painting of the walls. Otherwise, the colored spots will show through;
• difficulty of care: cannot be washed.

Vinyl trellises are very durable, mask any unevenness in the wall, and are resistant to water and sunlight (do not fade). The service life, especially if they are painted, is at least 20 years (with regular painting in a different color).

Among the disadvantages, we note high toxicity in a fire and the release of harmful substances into the air when heated above 30oC.

Fiberglass wallpaper is the most durable of all types of trellises, which allows owners not to change them for 30 years or more. Can be washed with chemically active detergents and a stiff bristle brush. Therefore, you can glue it in places where the likelihood of contamination is highest: children's room, hallway and corridor. The material does not burn.

Experts include the following disadvantages of fiberglass:

• release only in the version for painting;
• difficulty in removing during repairs.

Preparing walls for decorative paint

• First of all, the walls need to be cleaned of dust. This should be done with an industrial vacuum cleaner.
• Next, the walls are primed.
• Then we move on to sealing all the flaws in the walls (holes, cracks, bumps).
• Next, plaster is applied.
• After the plaster has dried, the walls are primed.
• Now we begin the putty work.
• After the putty has dried, we clean (sand) the walls.
• The last step in preparing walls for painting is priming.

Are you still thinking about what to decorate your walls with instead of wallpaper? Choose SILK PLASTER quality!

SILK PLASTER is a domestic company that produces products for those who care about their health and care about the safety of their children. The fact is that there are many brands that produce analogues, but in terms of composition and ease of application they are significantly inferior to ours. With 20 years of experience behind us, we can not only offer the best purchasing conditions for both wholesale and retail consumers, but also offer bright and unusual ideas for home or professional repairs.

By purchasing Silk Plaster decorative liquid wallpaper from us, you receive guaranteed high-quality, affordable, durable and safe products and close the question of what you can use to decorate your walls instead of wallpaper!

Decorative paint application technology

Decorative paint itself can be applied with a regular roller, thereby creating a beautiful, even layer, but there are many different technologies.

For example, silk paint should be applied this way:

• apply the first layer of paint;
• after it dries with a sponge, apply a second layer of paint;
• After 20 minutes, the layer is smoothed in different directions with a spatula.

The option of applying decorative paint depends solely on what effect you want to get at the end. For the sandy effect, the second layer of paint is seemingly rubbed into the walls, but for the metal effect the technology is completely different.

If you decide to create an interesting decor in your apartment and use decorative paint for this, then read more about the technology for applying a particular effect.

Color selection

It's not easy to decide what color to paint the walls in the kitchen. The choice of colors and shades is very wide; many companies offer to tint the composition using proprietary equipment in one of the RAL colors, which is more than 200 shades. In addition, special shades can be created - metallic, glitter can be added, etc. If you consider that painting the walls in the kitchen can be non-uniform - stripes, geometric and floral designs, ornaments, painting and any other methods of decorating the walls, the number of options tends to be infinite. However, first you need to choose the main color of the walls in the kitchen. When choosing a dominant color, there are two approaches:

• Paint the kitchen walls a soft “background” color. This will create a calm atmosphere, which, if desired, can be made more dynamic with the help of a kitchen set and accessories in bright colors.

  
  Neutral painted walls for a calm atmosphere

• Make the walls bright. The color is in harmony with the color of the kitchen facade, or can be contrasting. It depends on the color of the kitchen facade and how bright you see your kitchen.

  
  Cheerful colors - for a bright mood

When choosing a color, it is worth remembering its influence on a person’s emotional state. Red is the color of danger, speeds up the functioning of all body systems. Staying in such a room for a long time is tiring. If you crave activity, you can choose this, or a softer orange. If relaxation is needed, something calmer is required. For example, green color and its shades. It creates a calm atmosphere, and to make it not so boring, you can add yellow. With it, green becomes more active.

Brown creates a feeling of stability, but you should not use too dark shades - it will be too gloomy. Black in its pure form is overwhelming, but as an “additive” to all colors it makes the interior more dynamic. It is good in small doses.

Can't decide what color to paint your kitchen walls? Choose grey, white or beige - ideal for bright kitchen fronts

White, gray, beige are ideal “background” shades that allow you to highlight brighter interior items without overloading it. That is why painting the walls in the kitchen in these tones is used where the facades are decorated in rich colors.

conclusions

Thus, if you decide to decorate your walls in an apartment or house using wallpaper that is unconventional for our countries, then welcome to the world of paints, or rather decorative paints. You can combine decorative paint with both smooth walls and decorative plaster. However, it’s up to you to decide how best your interior will look. If you are afraid to experiment on your own, we recommend using the services of professional finishers.

Good luck with your renovation!

How to choose wall covering for an apartment?

Comparing the parameters of each type will help you choose the right finishing option.

What is more expensive

The minimum price for paper wallpaper is within 40 rubles. for every m2. Paints – 10-18 rubles/m2. Of course, everything will depend on the type of paint (or wallpaper). Reliable, washable and safe options and will cost accordingly.

Cost of work

If you plan to do the work yourself, this factor can be ignored. However, not all homeowners are capable of such a “feat”. Often the participation of specialists is required. This will cost more than independent efforts, but results are guaranteed. You won’t have to redo damaged work or buy new materials.

Complexity of technology

Gluing roll coverings for painting or without a pattern does not present any problems. Patterns make the job much more difficult. Painting surfaces is easier to deal with.

Surface Requirements

The positive qualities of wallpaper include the ability to hide minor errors. You will have to prepare a smooth base for painting. This will require a lot of effort and additional costs.

Practicality

Paper wallpaper quickly wears off and gets dirty. Vinyl or non-woven ones are difficult to care for. The paint gets dirty quickly and is easy to clean. From a practical point of view, this option is more profitable.

Important!

In the manufacture of both types of material, environmentally friendly raw materials are used. This does not apply to vinyl coating, which emits harmful components when burned.

Do you need repairs?

We have already renovated more than 500 apartments, we will be happy to help you too

Find out the cost of repairs

Which is cheaper: painting the walls or hanging wallpaper?

It is impossible to give a definite answer as to whether it is cheaper to paint the walls or hang wallpaper. The variety of funds creates a wide range of pricing policies. There are expensive types among wallpapers and paints. If we talk about the services of professionals, then gluing wallpaper will cost less.

The variety of funds creates a wide range of pricing policies.

The article addressed the question of whether it is better to paint the walls or hang wallpaper. The choice is made taking into account the characteristics of the premises, budgetary possibilities and the requests of the owners. Each type has its pros and cons.

Venetian plaster

The material looks noble, expensive - and incredibly beautiful. Venetian plaster has pearlescent, smoky tints, soft lines and resembles marble. In certain lighting conditions, a muted glow is noticeable on the wall. There are many types of Venetian plaster: Trevignano, Veneto, Imperiale, Encausto, Marbello and others.

Photo: assets.vogue.com

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Photo: cocokelley.com

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Useful recommendations from experts

The choice of paint for the kitchen should be based not only on personal beliefs, but also on the preferences of all family members. After all, it is in the kitchen that family lunches, breakfasts and dinners take place. And the atmosphere of family communication can largely depend on the color of the walls.

• It's worth considering price because it matters. A cheap company will definitely be worse in some respect.
• It is necessary to determine the type of coverage. It can be gloss, semi-gloss or matte. The gloss is very shiny, difficult to clean and all the irregularities are visible on it.
• The color of the paint may be lighter or darker than indicated on the can; this should be taken care of in advance. For an additional fee, the manufacturer can custom mix the desired shade for you in the required volume.
• Paints must be selected from the same batch so that the shade does not differ.
• You need to choose the right roller and brushes. They should not leave bubbles or hairs.
• You also need to calculate the correct amount of paint, the store will help you with this.

Flexible slate finish

Flexible slate is an ultra-thin layer of natural slate, which is applied to a polymer base using glue. Sheets of this material have unique patterns and textures, because in nature you cannot find two identical stones. Slate for walls, for all its flexibility, is highly durable.

Flexible slate in the interior

Advantages of wall finishing with flexible slate:

• slate is not afraid of exposure to high temperatures and changes in humidity;
• slate sheets are easy to cut and mount on the wall;
• environmental friendliness;
• excellent appearance;
• durability;
• Wide range of applications: flexible slate is suitable not only for walls, but also for cladding various surfaces, countertops, and kitchen aprons.

Disadvantages of wall finishing with flexible slate:

• high price;
• due to the nature of the natural pattern of the stone, it is impossible to lay it without seams;
• limited flexibility.