Faux Painting: The Option You Didn’t Know You Had

Interior home painting is an easy way to brighten up and freshen any room. To create a truly unique and sophisticated look, many people have started leaning toward faux painting. Simply put, faux painting is the process whereby something is painted to look like something that it’s not. Typically, faux painting is made to look like expensive materials such as marble, hardwood, stone, or Venetian plaster.

Benefits of Faux Painting

While commercial wall coverings and residential wallpaper do offer tons of versatility, faux painting is perhaps even more versatile. Faux finishes can be applied to any surface as long as it’s plain and sealed, though the prepping and priming of the surface will vary depending on the type of surface that is being painted.

Additionally, faux painting lasts longer than wallpaper. Paint does not have seams, so it will never peel off as wallpaper would. Its maintenance is simple, and a professional painter can easily do touch-ups. Using faux painting, you can achieve the appearance of dimensions, and it allows homeowners to cover up any imperfections in their homes.

There are many options regarding faux finishes. We’ve described some of our favorite finishes below. Check them out.

Venetian Plaster

Venetian Plaster imparts old-world European charm to your home. With its stucco-like appearance, Venetian Plaster faux painting amplifies both dark and light tones of the same color. When applying Venetian Plaster, typically a plaster and a top coat are utilized. Our professional painters start by applying the plaster in both short and long random and irregular strokes. Patches of the original wall should still be exposed. After the first coat has thoroughly dried, our painting contractors then apply the second layer. During the second coat, irregular strokes are again utilized, only this time do they overlap the original strokes.

Color Wash

Color washing gives the appearance of a weathered exterior wall. Typically, paint and a glaze are utilized to achieve the look. For the best look, choose two or three shades of the same color. This will create a truly authentic weathered look. A second light coat is applied over a darker base coat. One benefit of color washing is that you can create various visual effects depending on which glaze you use. After your base coat is dry, a secondary color is mixed with glaze in a four-to-one ratio (four parts glaze to one part paint). How you apply your glaze determines how it will end up looking. Sponges give a more textured appearance, brushes produce noticeable lines, and cloths create a more downplayed texture.

Metals and Patinas

Metals and patinas are an excellent faux finish that creates the look of weathered metal. To create the rusted appearance of patinas, a base is first applied to the entire surface. We then apply a metal and patina glaze with a roller or paintbrush. After the surface is coated, work through the wet glaze in overlapping arcs. The sweeping motion allows the base color to shine through in certain areas.

The patinas technique is similar. A base coat is applied to the entire surface and allowed to completely dry. The next day, dip a natural sea sponge into the glaze and randomly apply the glaze, concentrating certain areas with more color. If desired, apply a second glaze.

Apart from these, there are several other types of faux painting finishes. The professionals at Lakeside Painting have years of experience and can help you achieve whatever look you’re after for your home or business. Give us a call!