Faux Finish Painting Instructions

Use faux painting techniques to decorate your home.

Faux finishes are a great way to add character to a room. With finishes ranging from leather to a sponge look, you can create a unique, luxurious room with faux painting. A feather duster faux design looks great in just about any decor. Practice the faux technique first on a piece of poster board. This will enable you to master the way the technique is done before you apply it to the wall. Most of the supplies for this project are available at your local home improvement center or paint store.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Bleach (optional)
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Clean cloths
• Dropcloths
• Painter's tape
• Screwdriver
• Primer
• Paint trays
• Base coat paint semi-gloss
• Topcoat paint
• Paint rollers
• Feather duster

Instructions

1. Fill a bucket with water and clean the walls with a clean cloth or sponge. Add about 1 cup of bleach to the water if your walls are especially dirty. Allow the walls to dry completely.

2. Place dropcloths on your floors and cover up any furniture in the room. Tape around windows, doors and baseboards with painter's tape. Remove outlet covers with a screwdriver and set aside.

3. Pour some primer paint into a paint tray. Dip the paint roller in the paint tray and get some paint on the roller. Apply one coat of primer to the walls. Let it dry completely.

4. Pour some base coat paint into a paint tray. Apply one coat of base coat semi-gloss to the walls, using a paint roller. Semi-gloss will add a slight sheen to the walls. Allow to dry thoroughly.

5. Pour some topcoat semi-gloss paint into a paint tray. Dip the tips of the feathers of a feather duster into the topcoat semi-gloss and trace the feathers on the wall over the base coat to create a random design. Use a light touch and keep tracing the feather duster painter over the walls to create a pattern. Remember to vary the direction and curvature of the design so that it doesn't look too predictable. Allow to dry completely.

6. Remove the painter's tape. Reattach all outlet covers with the screwdriver.

References

• HGTV: Faux Painting Techniques