How to Faux Finish Drywall

Base coat for faux painting

When it is time to repaint your walls consider utilizing one of the many types of faux finishes to achieve a totally different look instead of the same old flat or semi gloss. Faux painting gives your walls depth and dimension by using different techniques ranging from sponging to metallic. This type of painting uses a base coat over which one to three different colors of paint mixed with glaze is applied with sponges, rags, brushes and combs.

Things You'll Need

• Painters Tape
• Drop cloths
• Roller
• Paint tray
• Brushes
• Paint (base coat)
• Sea sponge
• Glazing liquid
• Paint (first contrasting color)
• Paper towels
• Paint (second contrasting color)
• Rags
• Plastic wrap
• Burlap
• Brown paper
• Plastic bucket

Instructions

Sponge Technique Faux Painting

1. Move furniture out of the room or to the center of the room, leaving access to all the walls. Cover the floor with drop cloths. Mask trim, baseboards, and ceiling with painters tape.

2. Cut in with the base color of paint around trim, ceilings and baseboard using the brush. Apply base coat to the balance of the walls with paint roller. Allow to dry.

3. Mix one part of contrasting paint to five parts of glazing liquid. Cut sea sponge in half leaving a flat surface. Cut one of the sea sponge halves into quarters, for applying the glaze coat into corners and around trim.

4. Dip the sea sponge half section into the glazing mixture and blot on paper towels. Begin in an upper corner of the room. Dab the sponge on the wall and twist at the wrist. Overlap sections using the dab and twist motions. Do not squeeze or drag the sponge on the wall. Continue until wall is covered. Allow to dry.

5. Using the dab and twist motions apply the second contrasting paint. Allow to dry.

Ragging Technique for Faux Painting

1. Apply base coat as shown in section one. Allow to dry.

2. Mix one part of the first contrasting paint color with five parts of glazing liquid in a plastic bucket. Dip the rag into the bucket and blot the rag on paper towels. The less glazing mixture blotted out the bolder the effect will be. Dab the rag on the wall and twist from the wrist, overlapping each time. The rag can be folded or bunched into different shapes to achieve different effects on the wall.

3. A second contrasting color can be applied if desired.

Colorwashing Technique of Faux Painting

1. Apply the base coat to the wall and allow to dry.

2. Mix one part contrasting color paint to five parts glazing liquid.

3. Dip a dry paint brush into the glazing liquid and blot on paper towels. Brush on the wall using crisscross strokes in a random pattern. The more random the brushing pattern is the softer the finished appearance will be. The drier the paint brush is the more the wall will have a feathered appearance.

4. Apply a second contrasting color using the same dry brushing method if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Ragging technique can be used with plastic wrap,burlap, or wadded brown paper. Experiment on a scrap piece of drywall or board until satisfied with the result of any of the faux painting techniques. Stand away from the wall often to spot any missed areas.

References

• Additional faux finishes
• Additional tips