Ready to wake up to boring white drywall? This article looks at ways to brighten your interior space through a variety of faux painting techniques.
False finishes (pronounced “foe”) in French mean to look at or imitate something else. By using various techniques, the appearance of marble, wood, stone, etc. can be created. on almost any surface. fake painting It’s all the rage in homes across the country. Faux options are like works of art for your walls, adding instant warmth, texture, and glamor to otherwise boring drywall. The most popular faux finishes are those that are created with two or more colors (or color intensities) that help create the illusion of depth.
There are numerous ways to give your walls a faux finish using techniques such as:
- antiques
- fake bellagio
- color rubbing
- colored stripes
- Crackle
- dragging
- Fresh
- Rubbed – Aged effect using paint, enamel and plastic sheets.
- Bright
- Ragging on/off
- sponge on/off
- marbled
- metallic imitation
- wood grain
- color wash texture
- Color Washing Cloud – Subtle aged effect.
- pearly
- Cast
- sand washing
- lined
- Stripling
- venetian plaster
- wall waxing
spa look
The “spa look” is another popular faux finish achieved by using Venetian plaster with a light faux coat. Fresco wall finish is another option for a light, airy, aged appeal.
wall antiques
Distressing or “aging” is the faux painting technique that simulates natural wear and tear by using paint glazes, crackle glazes, beeswax, paper, hammers, sandpaper, or chains to age and wear down an object, wall, etc. using a latex or oil colored enamel or varnish that looks like an antiqued color, brown, or bleaching and wiping off most of the white wash.
The aged crackle finish can look artificial unless done right. Distressed gives the wall a worn old-time feel, adding dimension and interest to a vintage or rustic interior. Wall waxing creates a smooth textured surface that can also be created with wax, paint and embossing powder. Antiquing creates homes and businesses with an “Old World” or “Italian Villa” aesthetic.
hand painting
Another way to add interest to your walls and ceilings is with Trompe L’Oeil murals or hand-painted ones.
wall texture
Texture your wall with tumbled stones or create the look of leather, bamboo, old world, stone and plaster to set the mood for your furniture. You can also achieve the look of stone such as granite, marble, slate or mosaic.
venetian plaster and plaster painting techniques require painting with a sheen such as eggshell or satin or on lime washed walls. Scrumble varnishes (warm colors such as: Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, and Yellow Ochre) are applied to create areas of light and dark. This technique gives an Old World or Tuscan feel.
faux metallic
You can use paint to create a metallic look of copper, bronze, brushed metal, steel, or gold and gold leaf.
Regardless of the finish you choose for the walls of your home sweet home, be sure to create a sample of the design first. The process is expensive if you hire someone to do the work, or if you do it yourself, so you want to make sure it will give the effect you want before you start the painting process.