Can I varnish an indoor wall?

slbhill

I realise this may be a rather odd question!

I would like to decorate my bathroom in a penguins theme (bit of a fetish, let's not go there :rotfl: ). I have found some very cool decor items such as wall sticker - but they're all really expensive.

I had this thought that I could paint the walls some kind of blue or white, stick pictures I have already onto the painted walls and then varnish over the lot - cheap and not too technical :beer: I know you can do this with a plant pot but my DIY knowledge is pretty poor (along with my artistic skills) - maybe a room is a bit different?! Especially a room like the bathroom which has a lot of humidity.

Is this a practical idea, or can anyone make a better suggestion?

ormus

http://www.coloring.ws/penguins1.htm

just print off some penguins off tinternet, copy them (black lines) onto the walls, and color them in yourself.
i doubt youll need any varnish/sealer on top.

muckybutt

My mother did something similar once with magazine cuttings and pictures, pasted them onto the wall, sealed them first with hair spray then used clear laquer spray to make them waterproof.

Id go the spray route as varnish might be too wet thus making the ink run or smudge.

Al1x

I can't see any reason why you shouldn't use varnish.

slbhill

ormus wrote: »

http://www.coloring.ws/penguins1.htm

just print off some penguins off tinternet, copy them (black lines) onto the walls, and color them in yourself.
i doubt youll need any varnish/sealer on top.

It's a good suggestion - but I think even colouring in may be beyond my talents combined with my perfectionism for the results! Thanks for the other suggestions too, I hadn't thought of spray varnish or hairspray, that is also a good idea :T

imaginarynumber

You'll need an acrylic (water based) varnish- the oil based stuff will yellow unevenly.and then

test the colour fastness of the prints first- if they bleed use a spray can of charcoal sealer (from an artist store).

Apply the varnish with foam roller (or short nap), hoover the walls first other wise you will end up with carpet fibres in the finish. recoat time will be about 4 hours.

Only down side is that if the room gets very steamy the varnish will soften when the steam is hot and will not be "fingernail proof". Otherwise it should be fine.

The sealing spray on its own might suffice- spraying the protectant on and then using spray mount to stick it to the wall.

Russe11

Water based might make the ink/colouration leech/distort/run.

Best to do a test bit first.