How to Faux Paint Spatter a Horizontal Surface

Spatter paint on any object for an artfully messy look.

Paint spatter is a decorative painting technique that spreads drops of paint randomly on a surface. It is sometimes also called paint splatter, due to the fact that the paint appears to have been splattered on the surface. There are many methods that can be used to create paint spatter, and several of them should be used in combination to create the best spatter effects. Paint spatter can be done using as many colors are you'd like, although using between three and five typically gives the best results.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic sheeting
• Masking tape
• Paint, 3 to 5 hues
• Towel
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Remove all furniture and other items from the area surrounding the surface to be painted. Hang plastic sheeting on any nearby walls, and secure it with masking tape. Also cover any other items in the area that you do not want covered in spatter.

2. Paint the surface with a base color and allow it to fully dry.

3. Open the darkest color of paint and dip the towel into the paint. Stand over the surface, and whip the towel toward it. Repeat several times, and with the other colors, until you are happy with the result.

4. Dip a paint brush in the darkest color of paint. Hold it parallel to the surface, and run your hand across the end of the bristles, pulling them toward you. This will spatter the surface with paint. Repeat in different areas of the surface. Dip a clean brush into another color of paint, and continue to spatter the surface in this manner until you are happy with the results.

References

• Duncan Crafts: Quick and Easy Paint Spatter
• Onekama Consolidated Schools: Splatter Painting