WHAT IS FAUX PAINTING?

This is a decorative painting technique where the finish mimics another material, like granite, fabric or wood. You may also hear this decorating technique referred to as faux finishing.

When you create a faux finish, you add texture or dimension to your home. This is often done on walls and ceilings, but you can also experiment with these techniques on doors and furniture too.

This type of painting is often trickier than traditional paint jobs, but there are some methods, such as sponging, that are easy enough for beginners. You can hire an artist or home improvement company for important projects, but you may feel comfortable enough to tackle this technique on your own after reading our guide.

 

Preparation for Stone Faux Painting

Start the process by preparing and priming the surface as described in the list below. It’s best to tint your primer to the same color you will be using for the base coat to make coverage easier. For the base coat, an eggshell paint finish will most closely simulate a real stone look. Either latex or oil-based paint can be used for base coating, but latex will be easier to work with. For shiny stone like polished granite, a clear coat of shellac or varnish can be applied after the faux painting is done to complete the effect.

1. Ceramics and Glass: prepare these surfaces using denatured alcohol to wipe the surface clean, Use an alkyd based primer and an alkyd base coat. Or to save time the primer can be used as the base coat. Tint the paint following the instructions in the next section before application. Allow each coat to dry for 12 to 24 hours.
2. Wood: remove any peeling paint from wood surfaces, sand the finish, and apply a latex or alkyd primer to any bare wood. Allow the primer to dry and apply a latex base coat tinted following the instructions in the next section.
3. Metal: remove any rust from the surface using a wire brush, sandpaper, or steel wool and then prime the rust spots with a rust inhibiting primer. When the rust inhibitor is dry apply a coat of white alkyd-based or metal primer tinted following the directions in the next section. Allow 24 hours for drying.
4. Plaster and Drywall: remove any peeling paint and repair any water damage or other major wall damage. Prime any new drywall or plaster repairs with flat latex paint. Base coat the wall with two coats of latex paint tinted following the instructions in the next section. See Drywall and Plaster Repair for more about wall prep.
5. Plastic: plastic doesn’t typically hold a painted finish well but for plastic objects that won’t see high traffic, like vases or picture frames, a faux finish can be applied. Prime plastic with a general purpose spray paint and use it as the base coat as well. A gray paint will do for most of these finishes otherwise use a light brown spray paint.

 

 

Painting Stone

1) Sketch your design on the wall in pencil. For freeform stones, just draw them in. For bricks or angular designs, you can use a ruler and/or painter’s tape. Make the grout about 1/2 inch wide.

2) Paint the base color of all the stones. Don’t worry about perfection. You’ll make the lines neater when you paint the grout. Let dry.

3) Dab some of the highlight color on your bricks with the sea sponge. Work in small sections.

4) When the highlight paint is nearly dry take a damp regular sponge and wipe gently in small circles. This will spread some of the highlight color and make the stone more realistic.

 

 

The Most Popular Faux Painting Trends

If you thought faux painting was passé, think again. Faux decorative finishes are making a resurgence in the world of high-end interior design, and it’s easy to see why.

Faux finishes break the limits of ordinary wall paint, offering a wide range of gorgeous, custom surfaces that achieve a new level of luxury. Professionally-applied decorative finishes can add rich texture and striking detail to amplify your home’s elegance.

Looking to update your home’s style with rich textures and patterns? Take a closer look at the most popular faux painting trends

Marble

Marble is a timeless architectural material characterized by its harmonious patterns of pure white calcite with delicate grey mottles and streaks. Marbleizing walls with a faux finish allows homeowners to enjoy a palatial appearance without worrying about the extensive upkeep of authentic marble.

Leather Wallpaper

Take luxury to the next level with leather wallpaper, a faux finish that replicates the stunning visual texture of authentic leather. Perfect for a living room, home study, or master bedroom, the supple finish of faux leather is an excellent way to add an element of sophistication to your home at a fraction of the cost of genuine leather.

Intricate Woodwork

A refined and timeless look, faux wood finish is an excellent way to enhance the warmth and elegance of your home’s aesthetic. Faux woodwork and wood graining replicate the rich tones of wood with a stunning high-gloss finish. Professionally-crafted faux wood imitates the luxe finish of popular woods, including mahogany, walnut, birds-eye maple, vertical-grain oak, and many others.

Textured Brick

Exposed brick is a huge interior design trend for modern luxury homes. Textured brick is the perfect faux finish for homeowners looking to achieve a refined farmhouse aesthetic. Faux brick finishes are an excellent way for homeowners to add a rustic charm to their homes. Many homes use faux brick to add an extra element of sophistication and style their home’s wine cellar, master bedroom, study, studio, or kitchen.

 

FAUX TECHNIQUES

Faux finish painting is a technique that creates texture and nuance by replicating the look or feel of other surfaces, such as striped wallpaper, suede or marble. While it takes some patience and creativity to successfully complete a faux finish project, the results will convince you that the work and amount of time spent were worth it. Here are a few of the most common faux techniques.

Sponging:

Sponging is perhaps the easiest decorative technique to learn. All it takes is a natural sea sponge, glaze and two or three colors of paint to add dimension, color and texture to any room, whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom.

Color Washing:

Color washing, or “broken finish” technique, can bring authentic old world charm to any room, making it feel as if it’s weathered by time.

Marbleizing:

The rich color variations, veining and intricate patterns of natural marble are the inspiration for this technique. Marbleizing is a process of layering tinted glazes over a base coat to produce the appearance of real marble. It can enhance fireplace surrounds, tabletops, picture frames and, of course, walls. It does take some time and effort, but with a little practice, you can achieve effects that a stonemason might envy.

Faux Granite:

Granite is a popular stone today because of its sophisticated style. There is virtually no limit to the colors and pattern variations of granite, so you can really express yourself with the faux granite painting technique. The process combines sponging and speckling a glaze mixture onto the surface to replicate the patterns of granite. It works well on countertops, furniture, floors and walls.