Texture Guide for Faux Painting Projects

Faux painting has risen in popularity as interior design has become a cultural phenomenon with television shows and magazines dedicated solely on home design and huge home-improvement stores to get it all done. But paint and color are not the only area that you should look at when starting a faux painting project; the texture is as important as any other design element.

Subtle Texture

Subtle texture creates a look that is inviting yet understated; it does not overpower a room. Subtle texture adds a flavor to compliment the overall feeling of a room.

• Strie Painting. Also called dragging, this technique involves using a dry paint brush to add vertical and horizontal lines in the wet paint. It gives the wall the look of fabric, creating a refined, upscale look.

• Crosshatch Painting. Similar to strie painting, a dry paint brush is used to create lines in wet paint. With the crosshatch technique, some lines run vertical while others run horizontal, and a checkerboard effect is created with texture. This technique works well with metallic paints that add another layer of dimension to the checkered effect, adding an industrial look.

• Texture Paint and Roller. Any home improvement store sells paint that is already loaded with a special texture medium. Using a roller specifically designed for texture paint, you put the paint on the wall as you would normal paint. The texture can be small and understated, or deep and bold, depending on the texture paint you buy and how many applications you add to the wall. It creates an effect similar to textured ceilings.

Obvious Texture

Deep texture creates a bold statement that makes a wall a focal point for the room. It creates a feel of drama and excitement that will enliven the design of any area.

• Crinkle Paper Painting. This technique uses wrinkled tissue paper to add a bold texture to a wall. The crinkled tissue paper is applied to the wall, painted over and glazed with a tint. It creates a European, Old Country feel as it looks like the patina over plaster.

• Notched Trowel Technique. A notched trowel is used to create deep furrows in drywall mud in this technique. Usually a design, such as arcs or swirls, is repeated over the entire wall, and then it is painted. This technique is great for walls that do not have a smooth surface to begin with, and it creates a dramatic effect that gives a very modern look to a room.

• Sponging Technique. A sponge is used, either with paint or paint and an added texture medium, to create a mottled texture over a wall. It is a good choice for uneven walls, and it creates a bold texture that creates interest and movement on any wall.