Did you know that many different faux painting techniques require less paint to cover an area than regular painting generally does? In other words, faux finishes can also help save decorating dollars while adding charm and interest to your home decor.
As noted in previous articles, it is a good idea to practice a faux finish before trying it on walls or furniture. A piece of scrap wood is perfect. Just paint it the same color as the background color of the walls you want to treat and let it dry before practicing the faux finish.
Color Washing
When your background color is thoroughly dry, thin your secondary color. Use water based paint, and thin it out by mixing two parts paint with one part water (mix equal parts paint and water for an extra subtle effect). Tape off areas that you don’t want painted. Dip a clean rag into the thinned paint mixture. Blot on your practice board or other material to remove excess. “Wash” the thinned paint mixture onto the walls in a swirling motion. You may need to stand back and look when a large section is complete. Touch up as needed. You can also tape off vertical stripes, color washing some and alternating with solid colored stripes.
Antique Technique
To create an antique or aged look, mix one quart of glaze medium with ¼ cup to ½ cup of Raw Umber (or buy ready to use Raw Umber Glaze at Lowes). Be sure to tape off any trim. Lightly apply the medium to a clean rag, and blot to remove excess glaze before applying to the wall. Wipe it on and then blend with another clean rag. To enhance this effect, try making corners and any imperfections in the wall darker than the rest of the surface.