How do I Paint an Ocean in a Child's Room?
A painted ocean scene is a fun and visually interesting decorating theme for a child's room. Creating an underwater effect with sea colors and some simple paint techniques can turn a boring room into a unique hideaway. The use of stencils and other easy-to-find items will turn a simple wall into an underwater scene that will capture the imagination of any youngster. This project takes only a few days to complete and can be accomplished by even a novice painter. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Painter's tape
- Painter's tarp
- Primer
- 3 shades of ocean blue paints (interior latex)
- Paint rollers, brushes and pads
- Paint pans
- Stencils (e.g. seaweed, coral, fish)
- Latex stenciling paints
Instructions
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Protect floors by placing a painter's tarps over the areas you will be working. Use painter's tape to carefully line all baseboards and window frames.
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Prime the walls with a good quality primer and a one-coat roller pad. This will keep any previous wall colors from bleeding through the new paint.
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Paint the top and bottom edges of the walls with paintbrushes, carefully keeping paint from touching the ceiling. Use the lightest blue at the top of the wall and the darkest at the bottom. Paint 2-inch wide strips to make it easier to roll the larger areas of paint. Paint around windows and doors and any areas that will not accommodate a paint roller.
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Fill separate paint pans with the three blue paints, and begin rolling the wall colors. Work in 3-to-4-foot sections starting in one corner and work horizontally around the room. Roll the lightest blue on the top third of the wall, the medium blue on the middle third, and the darkest color on the bottom third. Do not roll in perfectly straight lines, but rather in a gentle wave across the width of the wall.
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With a dry paintbrush, blend the colors into each other while the paint is wet, using long sweeping motions between colors. Pat the brush dry after a few strokes to keep the brush from accumulating too much paint.
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Move to the next section of wall and repeat around the perimeter of the room. When you are satisfied with the blending of colors, allow the paint to dry overnight.
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Tape stencils into place on the wall using painter's tape. Using stenciling paints and brushes, fill in stencils according to package directions. Begin by stenciling on the larger, background items such as coral reefs and large fish. When those are completely dried, add smaller items such as seaweed and small fish. Allow paints to cure for several days before adding furniture or wall hangings to the room.
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Tips & Warnings
Blending mediums can be used if paint is drying too quickly when blending the three blue tones.
Preplan the layout of furniture and wall hangings to determine placement of stencils on the walls.
Work only in a well ventilated space and follow any other manufacture's safety guidelines.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Korallen image by Tanja Mischkowski from Fotolia.com
