Using Metallic Paints and Glazes in Your Home
A fun way to add an unexpected and creative look to a room is to use decorative metallic paints and glazes. But these aren’t the shiny, harsh metallics we’ve seen in years past; the modern metallics used today for interior home painting offer a finish infused with subtle movement and texture, a silky shimmer. Metallics give an effect that is very different from the more traditional latex paints. Expertly applied metallic paints and glazes add glamour and sophistication to a room, adding depth and dimension in a way that isn’t easy to achieve with latex. Precise use of metallics can also brighten up a space considerably.
The effect of using a metallic paint can be quite strong, so you want to be careful. I’ve found this to work better in a smaller space. Often many coats are needed to achieve that dramatic, saturated look, so our MB Jessee painters often first coat the area with a base coat tinted to a similar color before beginning to carefully layer on the metallics. The color palette available for these metallic paints is wide and extends from warmer yellows, golds and sands all the way to cooler blues and grays. It’s easy to find the tones and colors that speak to you and work in your home.
Metallic glazes can be used to create modern-looking, luminous patinas and finishes in any room. Pairing a glaze to a complementary base coat is key to achieving a beautiful, translucent shimmer. Using copper or chocolate-y bronze gives a room a cozy and warm feel. Flickering candles or other lighting refracts off a wall with a golden glaze, giving it an almost glowing appearance. This is perfect for a dining room!
Another fun use of metallics is with stripes. Using a metallic glaze just a bit darker than the base color, creates subtle striping that will bounce light around the room and make it seem larger. I’ve seen this treatment work beautifully in a nursery in complementing shades of very light blue. Adding stripes is also a modern and unexpected way to add shimmer and texture to master bedroom or formal living room.
But these are just a few of the many ways metallics can be used in a home. If you want to infuse your home with elegance & drama, metallic glazes and paints might be just what you’re looking for!
--Matt Jessee