How to Faux Finish

Faux finish is quite popular today because it is an inexpensive way in which to add texture to your room without the aggravation that wallpaper can bring.  While this project will take you some time, it is relatively easy to do and the result will be well worth it for you.  This is why so many people are choosing to learn how to do this technique today.

1. Start preparing the room that you want to paint.  Remove all of the furniture, pictures, electrical outlet covers and switch plates from the room. Lay down drop cloths on your floor. Use your painter’s tape to cover windowsills and baseboards. 


2. Use drywall compound and a putty knife to fill in nail holes and repair small cracks.  Allow this to dry before using 120-grit sandpaper to give your walls a light sanding.  This will give your new paint something to adhere to.  Make sure to wash the walls down though before you paint, as you will want to remove any sandpaper dust.


3. Apply a base coat to your walls with a paint roller.  Allow your paint to dry so that you can work on applying your faux finish. Combine three parts of your surface color with four parts of your glazing mixture.  Make sure to mix them together well.  Your glaze, which should be darker than you base coat, will either be latex or alkyd paint.  It is easier to work with latex because there is no odor and it can be cleaned up with just soap and water.  Alkyd paint does dry slower but it is more durable once it does dry.  Consider these factors whenever deciding which paint you want to use.


4. Use a small paint roller, approximately six inches wide, to apply your glaze. 


5. Before the glaze dries, drag a dry paint or wallpaper brush over top of it in a vertical direction.  Make sure to use long, smooth strokes and apply easy pressure while doing so.  Begin at the top and work your way to the bottom.


6. Work your way around the room.  Apply the finish while slightly overlapping the adjacent sections.  This will give you a seamless look.


7. Allow the glaze to dry before putting your furniture, pictures, electrical outlet covers and switch plates back into the room.