Faux for More
Faux finishing a wall can be a fantastic way to create a one-of-a-kind look in a room, and the good news is faux finishing is the type of project any relatively competent do-it-yourselfer can tackle. However, any task can be smoother if you learn a few tricks of the trade, so here are a few of my favorites to add to your own repertoire before you begin.
When laying down your base coat, use an eggshell latex paint that has a slight sheen to it. Latex paint dries more quickly than oil-based paint and the eggshell finish will allow you more options as to what you want to do with your top coats. Clean up is also much easier. If you use an eggshell base coat, use an eggshell top coat, too. It will give a more uniform texture to the overall wall.
Another good idea is to experiment on a practice board first. If you can get a spare piece of material that’s exactly like the wall you'll be working on, so much the better. If you'll be working on drywall, for instance, try to practice on a piece of drywall so you can see how your proposed faux finish will look before you begin on the wall itself. If the wall you'll be working on has already been primed and painted, you'll want to do the same to your practice piece. This can be very useful--especially if the colors or technique don't turn out to be what you were hoping for.
It may sound strange, but one of the best tips I can give you is to practice, practice, practice before you begin your wall. I know it’s human nature to just want to plunge in and get started, but you'll get better results and save possible frustration if you have a good handle on what you're doing==well before you start your wall project. If you're going to be doing a sponge project, I don't recommend using artificial sponges. Use natural sponges because they aren't uniform like the manmade kind. If you're hoping to create a random look, you'll have a much more difficult time if you try to use manmade sponges. They're just not irregular enough. As you begin dabbing on your sponge paint, be careful about overlapping areas you've previously done. You want continuity, but you don't want new sponge prints over old ones.
Overlapping risks the possibility of getting too much paint on the wall. As you work your way across the wall, move quickly, reloading your sponge as often as necessary, but don't overfill it. Again, that can result in too much paint on the wall, which is generally not the effect you're hoping to achieve. Twist your sponge slightly in your hand between dabs. That will create a more random look and avoid having your sponge pattern look like printed wallpaper. Moving quickly also helps keep you from working too long in any given area.
Faux Finish by Kari Barron
See more faux and designs for making more at Flip That House with Faux
Copyright © 2007 Jeanette
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