How to Apply a Tissue Paper Finish to a Wall

Creating different finishes on your walls can give your room personality and originality. One finish that can be applied to walls is called tissue paper finish. The finish is actually created by crumpled pieces of tissue paper that are applied to the walls. This gives the walls texture and creates a washed effect on the walls.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White tissue paper
• Primer paint
• Foam roller
• Base coat paint
• Glaze top coat paint
• Paintbrush or blending brush

1. Apply one coat of primer to the wall. This can be any color that you pick for your room. Using a foam roller to apply the primer paint to the wall is the best choice if you are going to be finishing the whole wall. Let your primer dry for several hours before you start the next steps.

2. Tear white tissue paper into large pieces and then crumple them into balls. Take the crumpled tissue paper and smooth it back out. You will need enough tissue paper to cover the whole wall with the pieces.

3. Using a foam roller, apply a layer of base coat paint to the wall. This can be any color that you pick for your walls.

4. Position the tissue paper on the wall, over the wet paint. Then, take the roller and roll over the tissue paper to get it to adhere to the wall. Repeat this whole process on the entire wall or the section of the wall that you choose to finish. The tissue paper can be overlapped on the wall.

5. Let the finish dry on the wall overnight or longer, as the finish will take longer to dry than just paint on the walls.

6. When the finish is completely dry on the wall, apply a glaze top coat paint over the finish on the wall using a paintbrush or blending brush. This glaze color should be complimentary to what base color you painted the wall. When applying the glaze, use a brush to apply the glaze so that the finish creates an overall washed effect on the wall. Allow the glaze to dry on the wall for another night before hanging anything on the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't worry about rushing through the wall when applying the tissue paper. If the paint dries on the wall before you can get to that part of the wall, add a little more paint to make the tissue paper stick. You will notice these spots once the whole wall dries.