Effect some change with paint

WE'VE all seen it on the TV home makeover shows. Owners bored with staring at the same old walls, ceilings and floors call in the experts armed with a myriad of clever paint effects, and, hey-presto, the whole place is transformed.

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Using paint effects to change or cheer up a room is a cheap option, but how easy is it to get good results and how long will it take Here The AnswerBank looks at some paint effect techniques, what you'll need and how to go about them.

• Crackleglaze and Paint�& Grain: Both these effects are popular for adding character to kitchen units or wardrobes and both can be done straight from the tin. Crackleglaze gives a shiny, cracked finish like fine enamelling on antique furniture. You will need tins of crackle base and crackle top now available at most DIY stores. Simply paint on the base and leave to dry. Then put on the topcoat to activate the crackle, leave to dry and then finish with a clear varnish. Paint and grain gives surfaces an original, rough-looking texture, it is also widely available in made-up form and can be painted on direct. Ensure you wash down surfaces thoroughly with sugar soap before applying.

• Ragging/sponging and colour washing: This method gives walls that Mediterranean villa feel and is particularly good for disguising uneven or bumpy plasterwork. You will want two light and complimentary colours�such as orange and terracotta, yellow and ochre. Paint the wall with two coats of matt in your chosen colour, say yellow. Then pour either a pre-mixed colourwash from a DIY store or a diluted mix of the second colour, lightly soak a sponge or a rag and apply to the walls with large arched strokes, blending in with a dry brush to as you go. Remember to try and do the whole thing in one go to get an even finish.

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• Painted floorboards: Naturally, you will have to have stripped floorboards before trying this. Once you're down to the bare wood it is relatively simple, although there are quite a few coats involved, and if the boards are already varnished they will have to be sanded down. Floorstain paint is now easy to come by or you can use an emulsion diluted to the required strength (trial and error). Once you're finished you will need a minimum of two coats of matt varnish on top.

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