Faux Painting How To

From LoveToKnow Interior Design

Faux painting how to instructions are easy to follow. The key to a successful project is to have all of the right tools and equipment before you start.

Types of Faux Finishes

When you think of faux finishes, you might think only of walls being painted in a faux finish. There are several faux finishes that if done correctly will appear like an authentic marble column or a wood floor.

Some of these finishes include:

Marble
Brick, Rock or Stone
Old World Plaster or Concrete
Fabric: Silk or Linen
Wood Grain
Leather

Faux Painting: How To

Regardless of the technique you use, the general wall or floor preparation for a faux painting project is the same. The look you achieve will depend on the technique you use.

Prepare The Surface To Be Painted

Clean and prime the walls, floors, furniture, or object you’re going to paint. Follow this with your base color of paint. In some faux finishes this color may be brilliant and very different from the finished look you want. Be sure to choose from paint samples and when in doubt seek the paint store specialist’s advice. Don’t panic if the red leather wall you’re tackling has a bright pink base coat. Trust that the finished wall will be as the instructions describe.

It’s All About Layering

In many techniques, the paint is layer to give depth and texture. You’ll need to let each coat dry before applying another one.

You’ll add a contrasting color made of acrylic paint to tint the glaze. This is applied to the base paint using the technique required for the faux finish you selected. If you have an irregular wall surface, try a sponge or rag wall technique to hide the blemishes.

Glazes and Glaze Extender

A glaze is what allows you to bring texture and contrast to the wall while sealing the paint. You may need a glaze extender to prevent the paint from drying too soon and allow you to use it as a wash.

Specialty Brushes

It’s better to invest in a high quality natural fiber brush than to purchase a cheap synthetic one with bristles that fall out to become embedded in the paint.

There are literally hundreds of brushes from which to choose for your project. You can purchase brushes for stippling, creating color washing, softening brushstroke lines, and detailing.

Badger and Stippling Brushes

Out of this entire arsenal there’s one brush that’s versatile enough to use to create several faux finishes. The brush you’ll use for softening lines is referred to as a badger brush. It can buff or smooth out the harsh lines left behind when you apply the glaze.

A stipple brush is made of soft bristles and is a blocky shape. You will tap it onto the wall in a quick motion on top of the wet glaze to produce a random stippled effect.

Veining Brushes

These are fine-bristled brushes you’ll use to create the veins in marble, stones and even faux wood grains.

Other Techniques and Tools

You can create unique effects with a little imagination and the right kind of tool.

Ragged Wall Effect

A ragged wall effect is achieved by using lint-free rags. With this technique you scrunch the rag filled with paint over the wall in order to leave impressions on the wall. A rolled rag wall is achieved by rolling the rag about the wall.

An alternative to a cloth rag is to use plastic bags for a similar effect. A cloth rag will create softer lines whereas a plastic bag is less pliable and leaves harsh lines where the material is folded or wadded up. Both mediums create a great textured wall effect.

Color Washing

You’ll use a soft bristle brush for this technique. Natural bristles are a must in order to reduce the amount of brushstrokes you leave in the wake of painting. Depending on the kind of look you desire, you can use a badger brush over the wet glaze to soften those brushstroke lines.

Sponges

Sponges are used to dab the glaze, blend, soften and blur. You can choose between natural sea sponges which are the most popular or cellulose sponges.

Sponge Rollers

If you don’t feel confident enough to use a rag or brush, you can opt for a sponge roller with a textured surface. Using this kind of tool will give you a more uniform finish that might not be as desirable as a random pattern.

Techniques For Painting a Faux Finish

Painting a faux (false) finish can be done using one of several techniques or a combination of two or more.

Dragging

This is achieved with a rag, sponge or brush. You drag the rag across the wall in various directions to create a random pattern of marks.

Rag Rolling

Lint-free cloth is dipped into paint and partially wrung so the paint doesn’t drip from it. The rag is twisted and stretched out then rolled over the wall. The material will shift and bunch up during the rolling process and leave imprints on the wall’s surface. You’ll need to roll the rag in opposite directions moving it diagonally across the wall.

Sponge Effect

Dabbing the tinted glaze over the base-color wall is another technique for your faux pattern.

Wood Graining

Wood graining is created by using a metal or plastic comb and various geometric shapes, especially rectangle or triangle forms. You’ll comb the tool through the paint to create a wood grain effect. This is achieved by using it with a wet glaze.