DIY Network

Prep Work and Ceiling From "Weekend Decorating" episode WDC-204

Do you have a hodgepodge of a guest room with absolutely nothing going for it? Then join Nancy Golden as she turns a typical throwaway room into a quirky, relaxing, feminine retreat in one short weekend. All it takes is a little creativity... and a lot of paint!

As with many small, secondary rooms (this one is 10' x 10'), this guest room has become a repository for mismatched furniture, and the result is a room with no flow, no continuity and definitely no personal style. All rooms have potential, however, and with planning, paint, stencils and elbow grease, this space will soon become a serene, fun, multipurpose space that both the homeowner and her guests will enjoy.

Before.

After.

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	The blue-and-cream color combination of this fabric acts as inspiration for the room makeover.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 having the greatest degree of difficulty, this project is a level 2. Some of the prep work was done in advance, and the remainder of the project will take nine hours to complete, spread over two days. The cost for tools, materials and accessories is $1300, and since this project takes place over a weekend, it is important to be very organized with your time.

The first -- and most important -- step when redoing a room is to figure out the floor plan. This room is very small, so space allocation becomes doubly important, and since it is a multitask room, it will require a wide range of furnishings. An interior-design computer program is used that allows the room to be designed to scale without having to physically move the furniture around. The completed design includes a daybed with small side tables, a desk for bill paying or letter writing, an armoire that will house a television, and a comfortable chair and ottoman.

Materials
Voltage tester
Wire strippers
Electrical wiring caps
Electrical tape
Fabric
Casters
Paint
Glaze
Sponges
Roller
Paint pans
Drop cloth
Chandelier
Stencil
Stencil burner
Mylar

Advance Preparation:

1. Remove old ceiling fan.

2. Remove old window treatments. Consider donating old materials to a local home charity.

3. Paint a basecoat of blue on the walls and ceiling (figure A). An eggshell finish was used to achieve the desired effect.

The walls and ceiling were painted using the same shade of blue initially, although the ceiling paint was tinted with white paint to create a softer, more subtle shade of blue. Golden wants to create a shimmery, watery look for the ceiling to match a blue-and-cream fabric that will be used as an accent in the room. Since this is a trial-and-error process in the beginning, it is important to practice on a sample board until the desired look is achieved (figure B). That way, if the look doesn't work for you, you don't have to redo an entire ceiling. Use canvas sample boards if possible, since the texture of canvas holds paint well, making it a great practice surface.

Initially, a pearlized, translucent glaze was mixed with the tinted shade of blue used for the ceiling, but it was too subtle and did not give the desired effect. Next, Golden tried a mixture of one part cream latex paint to two parts pearlized glaze and applied it to the sample board. Then, using a clean, dry rag, she blotted the wet paint until a subtle, cloud-like look was achieved (figure C). This color combination was just right for the shimmery, soft look required for the ceiling.

This is a totally forgiving process, and if you don't like the finished look, it can easily be painted over. But it is a very pretty, feminine look, and when the room is beautifully lit, the ceiling will glow with a soft luster.

Steps:

1. Create desired color shade, using paint and glaze.

2. Use sample boards to test color and ragging technique.

3. Apply color to the ceiling, working in small sections so you can rag the paint before it dries.

When painting your ceiling, don't be afraid of trying color. Even dark hues can add greater spatial dimension and work too integrate the space.