How to Decorate by Painting Faux River Rocks

River rock fireplaces, walls and trim can be very attractive elements in the home. However, even imitation river rock can be expensive and somewhat difficult to install. One solution is to paint faux river rocks wherever you want them. This eliminates heavy lifting and grouting, and they can be painted over if you make a mistake. To add realism to painted river rocks, buy paint that has sand or small beads in the mix for texture. Purchase several colors of brown and gray to blend.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One-inch brush
• Three- inch brush
• Plastic shopping bags
• Two or three colors river rock paint
• Light gray flat paint
• Measuring square
• Pencil
• Drop cloth
• Stir sticks
• Paint key

1. Spread out the drop cloth on the floor under the area to be painted. Draw straight rows across the wall, each about four inches thick. Draw as many as needed to cover desired area.

2. Split each row into individual rectangles with pencil lines. Vary sizes from small to large.

3. Shake the light gray paint can lightly and open it with the paint key. Stir thoroughly. Use the one-inch brush to paint over the pencil lines. Don't worry about keeping the lines perfectly straight; this is meant to mimic grout for rocks of various shapes.

4. Shake, open and stir the darkest color of rock paint. With the three-inch brush, fill in random rectangles with two or three strokes. Make sure the paint covers completely.

5. Repeat step four with one or two more colors until all of the rectangles are filled in.

6. Crumple up one of the plastic bags like a sponge and dip it in the lightest rock paint. Blot it gently on the drop cloth, then sponge the light paint around two edges of each dark rectangle. This should make the blocks mottled, more like real stone.

7. Repeat step six, sponging contrasting colors on each brick. Allow everything to dry overnight.

References

• Pittsburgh Painting Finishes
• Ralph Lauren Paint
• Faux painting techniques defined