How to Choose Various Textures for Faux Painting Walls

Faux painting dresses up walls by recreating the look of other finishes like stone and marble. Faux painting techniques are easy enough for do-it-yourselfers. Faux painting hides flaws and costs less than wallpaper. Start with a dry base coat of paint then sponge-paint, rag-roll, color-wash or trowel drag on smooth or textured walls.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Achieve a two-tone mottled effect by applying a second coat of paint with
   a sea sponge. The paint color can be completely different than the base coat or a slightly different shade. Repeat with other paint colors for added dimension.

2. Produce a "colorwash" texture by applying a tinted glaze to a painted wall in a circular motion with a sponge or crumpled rag. Substitute a brush to make linear patterns.

3. Replicate the look of cloth or material by "ragging" walls with large, twisted rags saturated with paint or glaze. Wring out rags then roll from top to bottom, overlapping edges.

4. Create an "Old World" look over a smooth surface by applying texture paint with a trowel. Apply a tinted glaze with a brush over the base coat. Rub a thick rag over the wall in a circular motion to remove most of the glaze. There should be imperfections in the texture to create the feeling of age.

5. Use a Venetian Plaster technique to recreate the look of crumbling stones. Mark stone lines with pencil then glaze the wall with a rag. Paint grout lines, cracks and crevices with foam brush. Texturize by applying glaze and drywall compound with knife.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice techniques on test panels sold at hardware stores to see which one gives you the effect you are looking for.
• Experiment with different types of rags, including plastic bags, T-shirts, cheesecloth, netting, terry cloth, burlap and linen.
• Experiment with different types of trowels when preparing textured walls.
• Finish faux painting techniques without stopping so patterns will match.
• Wear goggles and gloves while you work.

Resources

• Rag rolling and ragging
• Color washing