Sometimes, picking out paint can be uninspiring. Blue, again? Yellow, for the third time? If you have a wall to paint, but find yourself staring at paint chips uninspired, consider a high gloss finish. Going high gloss can add a dose of glamour while bringing light into small spaces.
Lacquered walls have been in style for a few seasons now, and are a great option, but they can get a bit pricey. While high gloss paint won't look entirely like lacquer, it's still a nice change from standard eggshell finishes. It's also a good idea if you've been considering a dark color, but are hesitant — the extra light that bounces off will temper some of the darkness.
- A red wall catches the light in a stairwell and seems to expand the space. Via House Beautiful.
- Black glossy walls highlight the books and art in this library from Elle Decor.
- Decorator Jennifer Bright used glossy pink and orange paint to bring a pretty, unique edge to her daughter's bed. Via Country Living.
- Designer Tommy Smythe updates a Victorian home with shiny black walls, via Canadian House & Home.
- This gorgeous lacquered hall proves that you can go bold in a small space. Via The Wall Street Journal.
- Designer Christina Murphy creates a glamorous pairing with aubergine walls and a cream-colored bench.
- A lipstick red wall cleverly and stylishly defines space in this room from Houzz.
- Navy walls create a cozy, upscale feel in a room from DecorPad
More Posts on Glossy Walls:
Images: 1. Ngoc Minh Ngo for House Beautiful 2. Simon Upton for Elle Decor. 3. Roger Davies for Country Living 4. Angus Fergusson for Canadian House & Home 5. Eric Piasecki
for The Wall Street Journal 6. Christina Murphy Interiors 7. Emily Jagoda for Houzz 7. Jan Showers via DecorPad
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I LOVE high gloss paint! I live in a little valley and the glossy walls make the house seem so much brighter!
That last shot of the shiny white ceiling is really instructive. Makes me realize I've never seen it done, and wouldn't have been sure I was visualizing it accurately. I kinda like it.
Every time I purchase and paint with high gloss paint, there never seems to be any sheen. Is there something I'm doing wrong?
I just watched "Sylvia" and though all the rooms were dark muted colors the walls were glossy and looked great. I used glossy on the wood boards of the kitchen ceiling I found under the popcorn sheetrock and am very pleased.
my friend jj's company specializes in this high gloss stuff.
nyc based and really beautiful work.
http://www.jjsnyderstudio.com/
Pawtucker already kind of mentioned this, but I think it's worth repeating. If you have old, patched, bumpy or otherwise imperfect walls (which are personally my favorite kind), be very cautious with the gloss! Every little divot or dimple or seam will suddenly stand out in high relief once any light hits it.
cmsorio:
It could be a few different things.
1) Make sure the surface is properly primed. If it's too porous (like concrete), it may absorb the sheen.
2) Make sure the paint is COMPLETELY and freshly mixed.
3) Make sure that you're applying it with a low-pile roller (5mm or 1/4"), or a good brush.
Thanks Themo. I'll remember those tips when painting my bedroom. I believe my problem is the former. Concrete-like walls.
Also CMSORIO, those pictures are not all examples of the effects of high gloss paint... Some of them have been glazed, and the ceiling picture depicts a stretched vinyl product (which does away with the need of having a perfect surface... very cool). In order to achieve many of the effects above, you would need to do more than just use high gloss paint.
Thanks MSCHATELAINE.
My in-laws recently did a few orange lacquered accent walls, and it looks VERY cool!
I'm not sure it's something I'd do in my place, but I sure like to look at it.
I wanted that high gloss effect in my living room so I bought some floor varnish and gave the walls and ceiling a coat - just be advised the varnish will darken the color by one shade - I did a test and ended up deciding on one shade lighter than what I liked at the store's swatch selection to get the result I wanted.
PLOEFFF, would the floor varnish be hard to paint over? Or would you just have to prime over it like chalkboard paint?
I love the idea of shiny surfaces, lacquered, but only paint a small zone, I think too many areas to be painted can be a bit overwhelming.