Liven up a wall of plain white tiles with a coat of paint. Here, home-improvement expert Chris DeJulio brightens up a kitchen by painting every other tile of the backsplash navy blue for a checkerboard effect. Materials: Mixture of ammonia and water for cleanup
Rags
Shellac-based primer
Alkyd paint in desired color
Small paint roller and paint tray
Small plastic straightedge
- Clean the tile thoroughly with a solution of ammonia and water (figure A) and let dry.
- Use a small paint roller to apply shellac-based primer to the tiles that will be painted (figure B).
- When the primer is dry, paint each primed tile with the desired color. If you have trouble getting a clean painted edge, hold a plastic straightedge along the grout line, and roll the roller along it.
Tip: - If you want to use your hand-painted tiles in a high-moisture area, such as a bathroom or near a stove, DIY Decorating & Design host Nancy Golden suggests painting on unfinished tiles and then baking them. Here's how:
- Choose tiles with a matte finish, and clean them with plain household vinegar.
- Select your design. If you wish to use a design from wallpaper or fabric, trace it and use wax-free transfer paper to transfer it to the tiles.
- Paint the design with epoxy paints and let dry for 24 hours.
- Bake the tiles in a 325-degree oven for the length of time recommended by the tile manufacturer. Then apply them to the wall as you would any ceramic tiles.
- You can also use rub-on transfers or stencils. Pre-painted tiles are available in stores, or you can let your children paint their own designs for a wall of memories.
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