How to Paint a Wall With a Dust Brush

Create a dragged faux finish with a dust brush.

A dust brush has soft bristles that are all the same length. Although it is typically used for cleaning, it can also be used for something much more creative -- applying a faux wall finish known as dragging. This faux finish is ideal for creating the illusion of fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Glaze
• Paint roller with pan
• Dry cloths for cleaning paint

Instructions

1. Paint the wall with a base coat, and allow it to dry completely.

2. Pour a small amount of glaze into a roller pan. Load a roller brush with paint. Roll a 3-foot-wide horizontal strip on the wall from floor to ceiling, starting in one corner -- as close as you can get with the roller. Leave some extra glaze along the outside edge of your 3-foot section. For example if you start in the left corner. leave extra glaze on the right edge. This will allow you to blend the glaze into the next section.

3. Drag the dust brush from floor to ceiling through the wet glaze, starting in the corner and working out. Clean the brush on a dry rag between every stroke. Each stroke should be from floor to ceiling in one motion.

4. Apply glaze to the next 3-foot section, starting with the wet edge of the first section and evening it out. Repeat the dragging finish with the dust brush. Continue across the entire wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not stop in the middle of the wall. If you have to stop, wait until you get to a corner.

• If the glaze is drying too quickly for you to work with it, add some water or thinner, depending on the base of your glaze, a little at a time until it stays wet long enough for you to work.

• Wait for the glaze to dry completely, and you can apply another layer in a perpendicular direction to create a woven fabric effect.

References

• Faux Painting Techniques: Materials and Tools
• Faux Painting Techniques: Faux Dragging
• Do It Yourself Help: Faux Painting Tutorials
• Repair Home: Dragging Finish