Faux Painting Techniques -General Tips

There are so many faux painting techniques, it would be impossible to cover them all here. Most people are familiar with sponge painting, where layers of color are dabbed on the wall. There are tons more faux finishes to try – and many are easier than sponge painting, which can be a lengthy process and takes a lot of practice to get right.

Faux painting can make a ho-hum room really fun, and many of the finishes are quite easy to apply. Go to your local paint or home store for ideas. Most have extensive selections of applicators, specialty finishes and free how-to brochures. Simpler yet quite dramatic techniques include rag rolling, color washing and glazing. Leather and stone finishes require a bit of practice, although the end result will really impress your friends!

Whichever faux technique you decide on, your wall is the basic “canvas” and as always, preparation is key to a good job.

Carefully tape off trim, ceilings and any adjoining surfaces. Since faux painting is often a messy process, be sure to use very wide tape, or several rows of tape to be sure you don’t get dabs of paint on your ceiling. Blue masking tape will give you a clean line and is easy to remove when you are all done.
Paint the walls with your base color, making sure to fill holes and cracks. While many faux finishes camouflage imperfections, they won’t make them disappear. It is best to remove switch plate covers, drapery hardware and anything else attached to the wall rather than taping them off, if possible.

Tip: A bathroom might seem like a tempting first project because it’s a small room. Bathrooms can be very tricky! There are so many edges, angles and things attached to the walls making it hard to work around. Consider a hallway, laundry room, or bedroom.

If you have a room with a chair rail, the lower wall is ideal for a faux finish.

Generally the best base coat choice is satin finish. It is easiest to work over, and glazes are usually satin. The base coat and the faux finish coat should be the same sheen.

To get a feel for your faux technique, paint a large piece of cardboard and practice before tackling the wall. As always, have fun with it!

It is not necessary to put a protective varnish over your faux finish. Assuming you have used washable satin paint and glaze, the finished product will be quite durable. Do keep any left over paint and finish in sealed containers for later touch-ups.

To get an idea of some faux painting techniques, check out my  friend’s page http://dare-to-dream-designs.com/ She does fabulous wall art. We work together sometimes and I have learned a lot from her.

-Carina MacDonald

Carina MacDonald has been a painting contractor since
1979 and has tackled everything from large commercial buildings and Victorian homes to faux painting a child s room and wallpapering a bathroom. If it stands still long enough, she can figure out a way to paint it correctly!