Faux finishes can give the different rooms in your home a distinctive look.
Rather than the standard solid color or even two-toned walls, faux finishes give
walls some texture, leaving you with a more unique look. There are countless
faux-finishing options - many more than we could possibly cover in one article -
however, this guide will give you some of the basics as well as a few specific
techniques.
Overview
Essentially, painting with a faux finish allows you to
give a surface a more detailed look through the use of different textures,
shapes, and other designs. So, before you start painting, you'll need to choose
what type of finish you want and a color (or colors, depending on the finish you
go with). You'll find a few techniques listed below, but you can find many other
options by browsing the Internet or asking at your local home improvement store.
Once you've decided on a style and colors, you should practice your
technique on some sample boards. It's important that these sample boards are the
same material as your actual surface; if you practice on a different material
you may find your technique doesn't work quite the same way on your actual
surface. Feel free to experiment with your technique; this is the best way to
get a truly unique look.
Sponging
There are two types of sponging techniques: sponging on
and sponging off. Both involve putting a base layer of paint down first (usually
a light, neutral color), letting it dry, and applying a second, darker color
over it. In the sponging-on technique, you use a sponge to apply the second
layer of paint over the first, pressing it lightly onto the surface. You can
also try twisting the sponge as you do this for a different
effect.
Sponging off involves applying the second layer of paint with a
standard paint roller, and, as the name suggests, sponging off some of the
paint, leaving behind the desired texture. This method can sometimes be more
difficult because you have to finish sponging before the paint dries. This means
that you'll most likely need to do the job in sections (rather than painting the
whole wall at once), and it can be difficult to blend the sections together. If
done wrong, you'll be left with obvious squares of painted sections on your
wall.
Wood Graining
Wooden doors, tables, trim, etc. can all be very
pricey; faux wood graining has become a popular (and much cheaper) alternative.
The first step in the faux wood graining process is to apply a base coat of
low-luster latex enamel. There are different color options that will give the
appearance of different types of wood, so look around for a color you like. If
you want the look of a specific type of wood, ask somebody in your local home
improvement store for help finding the right color for the job.
The next
step is, after allowing the base coat to dry, to apply a gel stain over it.
While the gel stain is still wet, slide a wood-graining rocker through it,
rocking it slowly back and fourth. To further capture the wood-grain look, mix
up your pattern by sometimes rocking the wood-graining rocker and sometimes
coming through the gel stain with the notched end of the rocker. Switching
between the two patterns should give you the effect you're looking for. The gel
stain will build up on the rocker; keep a rag handy so you can wipe it clean
periodically.
Once you've completed a surface, but before the stain
dries, go over the surface again with a clean rag to soften the grain. Then,
allow it to dry. When you're done with all the surfaces (e.g., the entire table
or piece of trim) and the stain is completely dry, add a coat of polyurethane
sealer.
Ragging
Ragging is very similar to sponging, but basically, uses
a different material (a rag) to create a different texture. Again, as with
sponging, you can rag on or rag off. You may be able to find a rag-rolling cover
for a paint roller at your local home improvement store. Or, if you'd rather,
you can use a rag and your hands. To rag on, once the first layer of paint is
dry, dip the rag into your second paint glaze, being careful not to over
saturate it; just a little bit of paint at a time will do the job. Then,
carefully twist the rag into a roll. Start at the edge of the ceiling and roll
the rag on the wall. Go in different directions with each roll and start a new
angle every time. Try to maintain the same amount of pressure with each roll;
this will bring some consistency to the look. Keep going until the entire wall
is covered and you're satisfied with how it looks.
TIP : You can use multiple colors for this technique.
Just make sure the colors are complimentary and that you try them out on a
sample board before moving on to your walls or other surface.
To rag off,
apply the second glaze with a standard roller or paintbrush. Use a clean rag,
rolled onto a cylinder, to rag off (remove) some of the paint from the wall.
Having a second person can make this job a lot easier, as one of you can apply
the paint and the other can follow behind and do the ragging. This will help you
get the ragging done before the paint dries.
If you're looking for a
different style of faux painting than the ones presented here, browse around the
Internet or ask at your local home improvement store. At this point, though, you
should have plenty of tips to get you started!