Do-It-Yourself Faux Finishing Techniques

Punch up any room with unique wall treatments that are quick, easy and inexpensive.

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Do-It-Yourself Faux Finishing Techniques #1
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Faux finishes have been sprucing up our living spaces almost as long as humans have been living indoors. Evidence of faux painting -- the practice of painting and finishing one surface to resemble another, like marble or sandstone -- dates as far back as the days of the ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians.

A good faux finish can transform even the most mundane room into a unique, dramatic-looking space relatively quickly, easily and inexpensively. Plus, if you make a mistake or don’t like the results, fixing it is as easy as repainting. What you can accomplish is only limited by your imagination. Here’s an overview of the techniques, tools and shortcuts you can use to create striking wall designs of your own.

What you’ll need
The recent surge in popularity of faux finishing has resulted in a glut of new glazes, brushes and gizmos coming onto the market, all promising to make the process easier than ever for the average do-it-yourselfer. But you really only need a few special tools outside of the usual interior painting standbys to create a good faux finish. In addition to brushes, rollers, rags and painter’s tape, some useful items include:

• Natural sea sponges. Most professional decorators prefer natural sea sponges to synthetic sponges because of their unique texture and durability. Buy the largest sizes available and cut them down into smaller pieces when working in tight spots and corners.

• Cheesecloth rags. A wise choice when working with glazes, cheesecloth’s mesh texture adds a distinctive textured pattern to a wall. Its high absorbency also makes it easier to apply runny glazes.

• Softening brushes. Soft, natural bristle brushes are useful for buffing out visible brushstrokes left behind from some techniques to help create smooth, natural-looking surfaces.

• Stippling brushes. These blocky, soft-bristled brushes can be used to create random textured effects. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different effects.

• Artists’ brushes. Fine artists’ brushes help create detailed effects such as marble-like veins. You can usually find a good set containing a number of different sizes in art stores and home-decorating centers.

Looks you can create
Since just about any surface or texture can be mimicked as a faux finish, the possibilities are endless. Some of the most popular methods and techniques include:

• Antiquing/distressing. An antiqued or distressed look (sometimes called “crackle painting”) lends a room or piece of furniture an esthetically pleasing aged feel. To create this effect, start by painting your surface with a flat paint and let it dry fully. Next, create a glaze by mixing 1 cup of neutral base with a quarter cup of paint, stirring in water until the mixture is runny, yet still sticks to your brush. A light base color requires a dark glaze, and vice versa. Apply the glaze, letting it collect in the grooves and cracks, but don’t let it dry completely. Then, wipe off the glaze with a damp cloth, removing as much or as little as you want. Finally, let the surface dry and apply a water-based sealant.

• Color washing. Color washing is perfect for creating a rustic, country-style look. In fact, with the right color choices it can fit well with just about any design esthetic. It’s also one of the easiest finishes to create. The effect is created by applying one or two different colored glazes over a base coat. First, apply your base coat and let it dry overnight. Next, brush on the glaze in all directions (as opposed to uniform up-and-down strokes) to create a textured effect. Wait for the first layer to dry before applying another glaze.

• Stippling and Ragging. These two similar techniques add depth and texture to a wall. Both are created by adding a layer of darker glaze (or multiple layers) to a surface painted with two coats of a lighter eggshell base. For a stippled effect, apply an even coat of glaze and then go over it with a dry stippling brush to create a rich, textured look. Ragging is accomplished by using a wadded-up cloth in place of the stippling brush, dabbing at the glaze and turning your hand as you go in order to avoid creating a repeating pattern. For an even more textured effect, apply a second layer of glaze and repeat.

• Marbling. To create a marbled effect, clean the surface thoroughly, prime it and apply two coats of eggshell white. Prepare four different glazes, one for each of the marble vein colors you want to create. Next, apply the marble veins, one color at a time, with a stippling brush. Before each glaze dries, swirl it with an artist’s brush to give the veins an irregular shape (for each successive color, use a smaller brush). When you’ve finished the veins, go over them with a large soft-bristled brush to eliminate any obvious brushstrokes. Let the surface dry overnight. Then, apply a coat of clear oil glaze with a rag and use a small artist’s brush to add definition. Go over the surface again with the soft-bristled brush while the glaze is still wet and let it dry. Finally, coat the surface with urethane. First-timers are encouraged to practice this technique often before trying it on the wall or surface they want to marbleize.

• Sponging. Sponging is another quick and easy technique that adds depth to a room. Start by painting the walls with your desired background color. Next, wet your sponge, wring it out and dip it into your secondary color. Make sure the paint is equally distributed throughout the sponge, then start gently tapping it on the wall. Working in three-foot-wide spaces at a time can help ensure an even application of paint. Twist your wrists to break up the uniformity of your pattern. More layers may be applied using different colors of paint.

• Strié: A popular choice for doors and wood panels, the strié effect is created by combing vertical lines through a colored glaze to reveal the base coat underneath. Start by applying your desired base coat. Then, create your glaze by mixing three parts paint with four parts glaze, adding water to thin the mixture if necessary. Next, apply the glaze with a roller in 3- or 4-inch strips, and then drag a wallpaper brush through the glaze from top to bottom. Continue until you’ve covered the entire wall.

For more faux finish ideas and detailed instructions on how to create them yourself, contact your local home-decorating center. Most offer classes, demonstrations and workshops with hands-on tutorials for a modest fee.
 
Published on May 19, 2007

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