Faux Finish Wall Painting Techniques

Eddie Shekari
January 25, 2019

When you decide to paint your walls, there is more to consider than simply paint color. The decorative wall painting techniques you use to apply color to your walls can give new life to a space and create interesting variance. We have a few examples of different faux finish wall painting techniques that may spark your creativity. These painting technique tips will explain the different materials and desired look for each tip.

Sponge Paint

Sponge Paint

Sponge painting is a technique that creates texture using a sponge. The porous nature of the sponge is utilized in order to create a unique look. Rather than using a simple paint brush that would give a smooth surface, a sponge adds dimension by creating a speckled and varied texture. Sponging is simple and involves very little supplies. You may in fact already own all of the supplies you need to complete this faux finish.

Materials you will need:
A large sponge, preferably a sea sponge for non-uniform texture
Paint
Primer
Glaze

Step 1: Apply primer to your wall
Step 2: Apply a base coat of paint
Step 3: Dampen your sponge
Step 4: Dip your sponge into a mixture of paint and glaze
Step 5: Lightly dab color onto the wall so that the base color still shows through

Works best with:
A smaller space, like the bathroom

Color Washing

Color Washing

Color washing adds both texture and translucence to a wall. It?s a great technique to liven up a room without using a bright or overly harsh color. The look that this technique achieves can best be described as classic, or ?antique?. It is a timeless look that can give a space an aura of maturity. There are no special tools used to create the perfect color washing. It all comes down to skill and technique.

Materials you will need:
Primer
Roller
Paint
A rag or sponge
Glaze

Step 1: Apply primer to your wall
Step 2: Apply a base coat of paint
Step 3: Dip a rag or sponge into a glaze/paint mixture
Step 4: Swirl onto the wall in circular motions to create that subtle texture

Works best with:
A dining room or reading room

 

Rag Rolling

With this technique that adds texture, rag rolling can create contrast between a softer or neutral space. The texture rag rolling creates is very defined and easily noticeable. This is not a subtle texture and is intended to make a statement.

 

Materials you will need:

Paint roller

Paint

A rag

Glaze

 

Step 1: Apply a base coat of paint with your roller

Step 2: Take a damp rag and soak it in glaze

Step 3: Wrap the rag around your paint roller

Step 4: Roll onto wall until desired texture is achieved

 

Works best with:

An accent wall

Painting Tips

Painting Tips

  • Protect your carpet or wood flooring by laying newspaper down near the edges of the wall that you are painting.
  • Wear clothing that you do not mind getting paint on.
  • Do not wear loose clothing that could come in contact with the wet paint on the wall.
  • Use painter?s tape to protect light switches and crown moulding.
  • Painter?s tape can be used to create stripes and other patterns. Vertical lines can be achieved easily this way.

The Perfect Application

Let the pros handle your faux finish painting projects! Simply choose your paint colors and wall painting techniques envision for your space, and Pro Painters can take it from there. Curious about costs and other logistics? Let us know your plans and we can get back to you with a free estimate.

Free Estimate

Eddie Shekari

Eddie founded Pro Painters in 1995 to meet the growing need for high-quality residential and commercial painting needs in Houston. In nearly 20 years, Pro Painters has exponentially grown our client base, serving residents across the greater Houston area. Our core principles have helped us achieve the highest standard of workmanship and customer satisfaction. Our years of experience have allowed us to become an extension to our customers as the all-in-one solution for home makeovers.