How to Paint Faux Silk

Paint your walls to look like silk, and the results will be stunning. Get an exotic Far Eastern look when you use this faux finish on any wall, dresser or other large decorative item. Faux silk finishes can be achieved by even the most tentative painter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Semi-gloss base coat
• Metallic pearl finish glaze
• Blue painter's tape
• Plastic tarps
• Paint roller
• Paint pan
• Disposable paint mixing container
• Stirring stick or paint mixer and drill
• Wallpaper brush
• Lint-free cloth

1. Choose a base coat color that accentuates the furnishings and decor in your room. Look through the paint manufacturer's color palettes and ideas to choose a base coat that works well with the metallic top coat.

2. Prep the work area by taping off and covering surfaces that will not be painted. Use blue painter's tape and large plastic tarps.

3. Paint the item with two coats of the base color paint. Let the paint dry before applying the next coat of paint.

4. Mix enough paint and glaze in a container large enough to hold paint to cover the entire surface. Mix one part paint to two parts glaze. Mix the glaze and paint together with a stirring stick or a paint mixer and drill.

5. Make one large paint stripe down the wall. Run a wallpaper brush down the painted stripe immediately. Wipe the bristles off with a lint-free cloth before completing the next run with the brush. Leave about 2 inches at the far edge of the paint stripe to overlap the next roll of paint.

6. Continue to roll the paint on the wall in the same manner, working in small sections at a time. Apply the metallic glaze after each stripe of paint is applied. Wipe the wallpaper brush after each run down the wall.

7. Finish painting and glazing the surface without stopping. Paint opposing surfaces on the same day and adjacent surfaces the following day to avoid marring the glaze on adjacent walls.