When it comes to painting the walls, what techniques are hot and which are not?

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer

Who remembers popcorn ceilings?

According to The Spruce, popcorn ceilings, (also called acoustic or stipple ceilings) are textured ceilings that resemble popcorn, because they’re usually white or cream.

They started sometime between the 1920s and 1930s and their original purpose was to create a sound barrier. That look was created by mixing water to expand small chips of polystyrene; they sometimes included glitter, as well. It’s something to think about if you are considering an old house: they fell out of favor in the 80s, and some of the earlier incarnations were found to have contained asbestos.

But there was another good reason behind their origin: it was a great way to camouflage flaws in drywall and other finishes, which would show up more in smooth surfaces. Wallpaper did a lot to hide, and later, a faster and easier way to create the look of wallpaper was done with sponging or stencils.

Old theatrical buffs can remember building sets: stretched fabric flats held together with strips of fabric and wheat paste, and then textured with feather dusters dipped in paint. All of these things can give remarkable effects.

So what’s the trend now? Textured paint. If you’re experienced in home design and renovation, you can buy the materials to do this yourself. If not, be prepared to pay the experts, because, Kate Richards, manager of Sherwin Williams, said “You are essentially paying for the skilled ones to do it. It needs a very thick paint for the additions, and it’s more time-consuming to apply. There are also textured rollers you can buy.”

She’s right. There are some beautiful designs available on those rollers, and they can be used on a number of different surfaces. Richards said Sherwin Williams “used to have a line of, I think, four different faux finishes that were really beautiful. We still get requests for that kind of thing.” Richards added,”Wallpaper is coming back in strong, and borders somewhat, but not as much as the old days of ‘ducks in a row!’ They’re being used more creatively than just around the top of the room.”

Tim Ellis, of Ellis Painting, is seeing a different line of requests in his business. “Flat ceilings seem to be the thing right now. I haven’t done a textured wall or ceiling in 10 years. Textured ceilings are easier to paint, but more difficult to fix. It’s hard to match the textures.”

It’s also true that they can grab dust and they’re not always easy to clean; some of us remember starting to scrub a dirty wall or ceiling and seeing all the texture melt down flat. Things are certainly improved since then!

Ellis continued, “Sponge painting, or faux painting, is something I’ve done more of recently. Overall, though, I’d say it’s less than 1% of my business.” For one thing, due to the longer period of time needed to apply, “Textures and faux finishes definitely cost more, yes. As far as what I get for requests? Mostly it’s just to repair ceilings and an occasional faux, so not very often.” Looks like maybe I should leave my faux-finished dining room alone for a while. n

Antiquing Color Washing Crackling

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer

How many movies and TV shows have you seen that feature a set filled with old furniture, an eclectic blend that usually includes mismatched chairs around a table?

Have you ever shopped with an eye for treasures you could repaint to fit your vision? I remember watching my mom refinish old chairs built by my grandfather, and she wasn’t afraid to tackle reupholstering, either – including a couch (she is far braver than I am).

Furniture stores abound, and the prices range from very affordable to way out of my league, so it’s not uncommon to see something just set out in a yard sale because it’s no longer in fashion, or the owner is just tired of it.

There’s your chance to recreate something fun and funky and wonderful. There are end-