The age-old art of applying faux finishes is the process of creating an imitation of a material with nothing more than paint and applicators

19 Faux Painting Techniques That Don't Suck! If "faux finish paint" brings 1980's & sponges to mind, you're not alone! But give faux painting a 2nd chance!

Ragging is a very popular faux finish. Different results through variations of techniques can have desirable effects with this type of fini...

In interior design this has become a preferred choice by DIY-ers who appreciate and love handcrafting themselves, whilst spending big sums of money in the process.

Faux finish painting, or using techniques and materials on one surface to imitate or suggest another surface, has been around for thousands of years.

HERE'S HOW TO CREATE A MODERN FAUX WOOD FINISH USING PAINT AND GLAZE ON A CEDAR CHEST | YOUTUBE VIDEO Hi creative friends and welcome or welcome back! I think I'm addicted to this Rubber Pet Hair Remover and this awesome paint and glaze technique. No joke. Today I'm sharing how I updated this cedar

There's something about aged, weathered walls that give a room instant character. But...

Hi Hometalk friends! I am excited to share a painting technique that I think I am super addicted to!I updated this gorgeous table that I painted before with Whi…

HERE'S HOW TO CREATE A MODERN FAUX WOOD FINISH USING PAINT AND GLAZE ON A CEDAR CHEST | YOUTUBE VIDEO Hi creative friends and welcome or welcome back! I think I'm addicted to this Rubber Pet Hair Remover and this awesome paint and glaze technique. No joke. Today I'm sharing how I updated this cedar

Learn this simple method to transform an ordinary piece of furniture by creating an Aged Copper Finish!

Who said Monday has to be blue? Let's get our shine on shall we! Our product line, Faux Effects, offers five different waxes with different sheens and application properties. Most are appropriate for a variety of surfaces and one, Master Finishing Wax, is specific to cabinetry. Before I get into the different waxes, let's go over why you would select a wax in the first place. Waxes in faux finishing accomplish several things. They offer a translucent to semi-opaque medium for adding a decorative layer to your finish. (Faux Color mixed with Aquawax and troweled over Brown Sapphire Venetian Gem plaster) Because of the thickness of wax compared to glaze mediums, wax will hold everything from colorants, mica powders, glitter and beads-often in a trowelable form. (Aquawax with Silver Glitter over Foil and Lusterstones) Waxes are an appropriate choice when you want to smooth a finish or fill in voids but still see the layers underneath. For example, Ashley and I completed a Lusterstone project in a loft that was long and narrow. The single natural light source was a large window at the end of the "shoebox" space. If the light was behind you or you stood in front of the finish, the walls appeared smooth. But when you entered the space with only the natural light source, the wall application appeared uneven. Our solution was to trowel a thin coat of O'Villa Wax. This "smoothed" the appearance of the surface but did not change the depth or color of the original Lusterstone technique. (Combed Softex back filled and smoothed with O'Villa Wax mixed with pearl mica powder.) Waxes may also be used as the finish medium and do not have to be layered with other products. (Layers of tinted Aquawax) Finally, many waxes are a topcoat adding a protective and decorative layer to your finishes in one step. Waxes are particularly effective in wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms or in children's rooms where scrubbing is a priority. (Custom tinted O'Villa Plaster with O'Villa Wax in a young boy's room) So what are the Faux Effects Wax options? The first wax is a Silver Label product, Aquawax. This acrylic wax is translucent in nature and may be tinted with a variety of colorants and mica powders. It dries to a shiny sheen therefore it tends to look more contemporary. (Aquawax mixed with metallics and Verdigris Colors) Aquawax is a great choice for ceilings where you often want greater light reflection. (Gold tinted Aquawax over Venetian Gem Plaster and Palette Deco) It is a good medium for holding glitters but may fog if you are trying to create a build thick enough to hold glass beads. (Aquawax and silver glitter over a Wallovers Stencil) It will also fog (white areas) if troweled thickly over a dark surface. Building your finish with thin layers is a better approach. Aquawax dries quickly so multiple layers in a single day are easily accomplished. Because it is thin in nature, it is a nice choice when you don't want to bury your previous layers. (Aquawax mixed with MetalGlow over Sandstone) Aquawax is considered a troweled product. Because it dries fast, it is difficult to brush over a large surface. I have thinned tinted Aquawax with So-Slow for a contemporary furniture finish that I am developing for a metallic cabinetry class. (Aquawax mixed with colorants and So-Slow over a metallic base coat) Faux Effects does have a wax specific to furniture, Master Finishing Wax. This is a Gold Label product and does have some application nuances. It is best applied by soaking cheesecloth or a terry towel in the wax and spreading on the surface in one direction following the grain. It dries fast and may be extended with So-Slow. MFW should set at least 30 minutes before applying additional coats. It may be hand rubbed or lightly sanded with 600 grit wet paper on the final coat. I like to tint the MFW with a dark color to tone and seal my furniture pieces in one step. Because this is a hand-applied finish I find it to be more practical for furniture then kitchen or bath cabinetry. If a client wants a waxed look for larger scale cabinetry, I mix Satin and Dull Varnish Plus that I may spray or roll. (Master Finishing Wax tinted black over my Krishna Blue Sample) A favorite wax here at Surfaces is O'Villa Wax. This is a Gold Label product that is a companion topcoat for O'Villa Plaster but is not limited only to this application. We love O'Villa for the low sheen that creates a more traditional or old world look on many of our finishes. (O'Villa Wax tinted the darkest shade over tinted O'Villa Plaster) O'Villa Wax is translucent and trowelable like Aquawax but spreads thinner and melts into the surface. In the living room picture above, the O'Villa Wax allowed us to apply the darkest shade over the plaster adding depth but not hiding the underneath colors. It also highlighted the trowel lines in a soft manner. Because O'Villa Wax has these properties, it is not our first choice for holding beads or glitter particularly over stencils. O'Villa Wax is a good enhancement for Lusterstone finishes because this wax plays nicely off the fabric look of Lusterstone. (O'Villa Wax mixed with Gold Mica Powder troweled over custom Red Lusterstone Colors) We love our Venetian Gem product line because it covers well and we can get rich dark colors. Some clients do not want the classic high sheen of a Venetian Plaster but they want a sheen and depth to the plaster. We find that O'Villa Wax is a good choice in this case. It also works well when the client wants a metallic but "Not Too Shiny!" (Cracked custom blue Venetian Gem with O'Villa Wax in pearl and silver) Another wax in our line-up is the RS Water Wax. Although this is part of the RS Series it is not an "activated" product. This is a true paste wax and looks slightly yellow in the container. Unlike O'Villa, Aquawax, and Master Finishing Wax, the RS Water Wax will not dry clear-so it should always be tinted! It also dries significantly lighter but will darken on the highs when buffed. I find tinting RS Wax deep shades to be difficult-the colorant turns the wax soupy. It is also a soft topcoat. For heavy use areas, I wait 48 hours and then roll Color Seal over the cured RS Waterwax. The water wax is a pretty finish when mixed with metallic colorants or MetalGlow colors. It has a low luster sheen and feels soft. (RS Water Wax mixed with MetalGlow over Lusterstone) I select RS Water Wax when I want a more opaque wax that will more thickly fill the voids in a finish but still allow the under layers to peek through. (RS Water Wax over Sandstone) I did use the RS Water Wax over Lusterstone in our Master Bedroom last year and noticed that the color has faded even though the room gets little natural light. I can only assume that my tint was too light and cured down in the finish over time. I will try rebuffing first to see of that helps. I have used RS Water Wax for client projects and have not received calls alerting me to this issue. I did use a neutral colored RS Water Wax in a kitchen and needed a more aggressive topcoat. The Color Seal Satin I applied did enhance and darken the overall appearance of this wax. Our final wax is our only petroleum-based product in the Faux Effects Line. Old World Venetian Wax is used primarily with lime-based products. It may be tinted with Mineral Pigments and Faux Creme Color Concentrates for darker shades and Faux Creme Colors for lighter shades. It will burn out Faux Color. (Old World Venetian Wax over Stucco Lustro and burnished in Gold Mica Powder) Like most lime-based products, this wax buffs to a beautiful glass-like sheen and feels the least "plastic" or artificial of all the waxes. Some people find the smell strong and unpleasant so wearing a mask may be in order. The smell dissipates as the wax dries and cures. Also wear gloves-this wax is irritating to your skin. When I apply it to ceiling finishes and it is hot, my face breaks out in a slight red rash that itches. The wax looks so wonderful that I have gone through this several times-the sacrifices we make for clients! (Old World Venetian Wax over Stucco Lustro) But I do it for myself as well. I love this look so much I used in our Master Bedroom (above photo) and... Our Staircase wall and... Our lake house fireplace wall. The OWV Wax is the key to all of these finishes. The OWV Wax is applied over StucoLustro in the lake house picture above. This is a flammable product! Do not use near an open flame. All tools need to be cleaned well with water prior to storage and rags/cheesecloth should be soaked with water before disposal Dry time is important to polishing the OWV Wax. If you polish it too soon, the wax will actually dull. If the wax color is offloading on your polishing device, then it is too wet. And speaking of polishing... You are crazy if you do not own one of these brushes! We carry them here and I use them to buff my RS Water and Old World Venetian Waxes and all my polish plasters ( Stucco Lustro, StucoLux, RS Plaster, RS Stone, and Venetian Gem). You'll think that the stiff bristles will scratch the surface but no, no, no. It will save your arm. A few final words on waxes. I always consider how easy it will be to color correct or change a finish both as I am working on it and down the road. O'Villa Wax, Aquawax, and Master Finishing Wax may be glazed although the glaze will bead some on the wax (it will dry down and adhere). These waxes may also be primed out and re-painted. The RS Water Wax is more difficult to glaze and re-paint. If an area of RS Water Wax is too dark, we have used a wet cloth and rubbed it down but this needs to happen the next day before the wax begins curing. This also worked if the wax was applied more heavily in some areas. If your color is off on your Old World Venetian Wax then you are in trouble. This is very difficult to remove and must be done chemically. It is also difficult to paint, prime, or re-glaze. Again, you must strip the wax-so explain this to your clients ahead of time and have them sign off on this in your contract. Now go Wax On-Wax Off Grasshoppers! (The Karate Kid, 1984 Columbia Pictures)

Learn this easy Faux Verdigris Finish Paint Technique! Brought to you by Heirloom Traditions.

Get the perfect patina paint faux metal look with easy to use metal finish paints. Works on wood, ceramics, glass, canvases & walls too.

If you love the look of the aged-plaster walls, marble, stone and wood grain found in European homes, try recreating the dimension, depth, beauty and drama on your own walls with faux painting. Faux is a French word for artificial or imitation and faux finishing techniques will give the appearance of a material such as stone, metal, or wood, and architectural style aesthetic to your walls. Faux finishing has been used as decorative arts as far back as cave paintings, the tombs of Ancient Egypt, and plaster and stucco dwelling of Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago. Today faux has taken on an artistry in itself. With faux finish techniques from distressing, graining, and layering on a variety of colors to add depth and to age your walls, there are truly no limitations as to the look that one can create. Faux finishes and textures are perfect for interiors that want to bring an aged patina to their interiors. These finishes have a shine quality and movement that speaks of old world finishes, and yet are very functional for today's decor. There are so many techniques and varieties available that there is one suitable for just about every home and home owner. I have used several techniques in my own home, as you will see below, and have loved the results. houzz.com Have you bought wonderful furniture and accessories only to have you room still appear nondescript? Don't be discouraged....... it’s all about paint and faux finishes. By adding just some of these techniques, you’re going to love the way your home looks via Pinterest Re-create that aged patina with nothing more than paint and transform your home's surfaces into visually stunning decor by using a few simple faux painting techniques. Kimberly Wohlfarth,Artist Ceilings are usually not given much thought and often overlooked. You too can have a ceiling like this one, hand plastered with a hand painted ceiling medallion. elle.gr You too can add charm and distinction to your bare walls. Use faux painting as a way of bringing an old world art technique to your space. It's a great way to decorate your home uniquely and inexpensively while adding a level of visual texture. veranda.com Look at he visual impact of patina on the walls of this room. Simply gorgeous! nola.com Faux surface painting definitely puts some "wow" on your walls. Savena Doychinov, CKD/Design Studio Intern Decorating magazines and home tours are filled with colorful faux finishing ideas. The walls and ceiling of this bath are lovely. south-florida-artist.com Consider a faux finishing technique called marbleizing which helps create the variegated look of veins in marble and beauty of the varied colors with just a paint brush, feather, and the right paint. Architectural details in your home such as columns, corbels, and other details can be given a transformation. atlantahomesmag.com My favorite things about faux painted surfaces are the depth and dimension they brings to an otherwise flat space. houzz.com It your look leans towards exotic, faux painting in a tortoise shell design could be just what you need to put your room over the top! classicclawfoottubs.com An old clawfoot tub is the perfect place to try your hand at faux painting techniques. If you have always wanted a copper tub, here is your chance. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com This is the tub in one of my baths that I marbleized in green and then gilded the rim and legs. thedesignfiles.net You can have the feel of aged and weathered plaster if you learn the right faux finish technique. eloquenceinc.com More beautiful plaster work. Plaster is one of the most popular faux painting techniques. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com These two pictures are of a hall in my home that I did in faux limestone finish. It was time consuming but worth the work. I get many compliments on these walls. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com emanuelamarchesini.com Using a combination of paint and glazes you can create a range of different textures, from linen to marble. The main tools used for these faux finish techniques are quite basic: paint roller, painters tape, painting combs, sponges, brushes, even steel wool – depending on the style and texture you want. Artstar Custom Paintworks Your ceiling or 5th wall as it is referred to by designers, is one of the best places to apply faux finish techniques.Transform a boring white painted ceiling, then paint (or like in this case faux finish) the remaining walls a color to complement that finish. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com I marbleized the woodwork in one area of my home in soft creamy marble with subtle veins. This Christmas picture is the only one I have taken of the result. It is much prettier than it shows up here. www.wallscapers.com Homes just aren’t a box with white walls anymore. You need to get some color and texture in your world and faux painting will provide you the opportunity to take your home from nice to fabulous. modernmasterscafe.com Consider a faux finish like this for your range hood. nicolefranzen.com Why limit yourself to a boring white color by default that looks identical from room to room when you can enjoy an old world textural wall. These finishes give a room warmth and character. kcfauxdesign.com Over the years faux finishers have developed many styles and techniques to duplicate the look of such finishes as aged plaster, marble, limestone, wood and distressed paint. These finishes can be recreated in days and sometimes even hours by a finisher. Or learn to do it yourself! Tony Duquette You can even learn to paint your walls in faux malachite......... source unknown and agate, which is a popular new trend. hometalk.com This ceiling has a cracked leather finish. If you have a dome or tray ceiling you are not doing justice to a wonderful architectural feature by just paining it. They look stunning when decorated with faux paint techniques. It's like they were made for each other! source unknown Four walls too much for you? Try faux painting just a portion for interest and color. via pinterest Faux finishing is designed to update your home and add value and design appeal .This wall is fabulous done in plaster over metallic paint. Think you can’t learn to paint professional looking walls yourself? You couldn’t be more wrong. It’s so easy. There are many tutorials that will teach you how to break the limits of ordinary wall paint and learn how to make your room a canvas on which to produce a distinctive look that is sure to create an impression upon all your visitors. Click here to see the previous post http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2015/05/decorating-with-murals-and.html This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

How to create a faux zinc paint finish on a wood dining table or any surface. It is easy and inexpensive to do with craft paint from Walmart. Follow step-by step faux finishing steps to create your own faux zinc finish.

This is easily one of my favorite DIY hacks ever! I love using paint and gel stain to completely transform wood. I used it for the first time on my front door, then I completely updated the paneling in my office and now I’m obsessed with this piece of furniture! We have had this dresser […]

In interior design this has become a preferred choice by DIY-ers who appreciate and love handcrafting themselves, whilst spending big sums of money in the process.

Forget everything you know about faux finishes of the past. Today’s DIY color-washed walls, including lime-wash paint applications, lend a dreamy, dimensional look to walls. We’ll show you how to paint color-washed walls to perfection.

Bored with your decor? Sometimes I forget that cool decor starts with the walls. Faux finishes can really add some interest without making a room look overdecorated. If you've ever stuffed a room with knickknacks, artfully arranged, only to see that it creates a chaotic mess, you know what I am talking about. Learn the

Remodeling a bathroom can be an expensive project, but because it's a smaller space, you...

A home is never complete without a lovely paint finish to complement the whole design of the home, be it a modern or a classic design. And while many would

The age-old art of applying faux finishes is the process of creating an imitation of a material with nothing more than paint and applicators

Here's an easy way to create an aged rust finish on new home decor items. Painting a vintage and weathered look is a huge decorating trend right now.

Create the look and feel of Concrete, Cast Iron, Cast Bronze, Terracotta and Limestone with Rust-Oleum Natural Effects spray paint. With a matt finish, the paint is lightly textured to replicate the feel of these natural materials.

Five easy paint finishes for all your DIYs, including vintage metal paint finishes, a weathered wood finish, and a copper patina paint finish

SKU: R6568

This is a simple little way to paint faux rust using only craft paints. On almost anything. Like little stars, cut out of cereal boxes. That would make ideal ornaments for Christmas trees for a front porch. Like my porch, for instance. Yes, I realize we just had Halloween. Yes, I realize it’s only the […]

You don’t need any fancy products to create this beautiful Patina finish. I’m going to show you how you can make your own chalk paint and create this authentic…

Join us for a fun and satisfying journey into the world of DIY Rust Paste! Great for Crafts and Mixed Media Art!

A skilled use of color and layers creates a realistic rusted metal effect. Paneled faux metal is splashed with bright color for a dramatic and artistic look. This mural is printed using the metallic copper substrate. This mural can be printed on the following substrates: Metallic Copper Standard size: 200 cm x 270 cm - 4 panels Pricing represents this mural's basic substrate - contact us for more pricing information

Get the perfect patina paint faux metal look with easy to use metal finish paints. Works on wood, ceramics, glass, canvases & walls too.

The warm and vibrant colors used in this rag painting technique remind us of the baking heat of a Tuscan summer, and the rough and uneven texture of the

Today's post will be all about taking shortcuts in our painting. Why spend hours making layer upon layer of paint when you could just do a faux finish in a whole lot less time and money? So, there are gonna be lots of pictures, and for each finish I will just list the tools and the paint colors that I used. The paints for these finishes are by Folk Art, that brand is the thickest of all the brand of crafting paints and therefore goes much further. All these are my practice boards so to speak, and are done on canvas sheets. I keep them for reference to show clients for backgrounds. Here we go!!! Some rules that apply to these finishes...Completely drying something means that it can't be cool to the touch, because that means that it is still wet down under the top skin of paint. Walk away, let it dry! When you go on to a second step in a process, work fairly quickly as you don't want it to start drying while you are still trying to work with the paints. When working with sponges, be sure to wet it first and then wring it out real well, maybe even giving it a good squeeze with a cloth towel. Try to pick up liquid off a counter with a dry sponge...now try again with a sponge that has been wet and then wrung out. Amazing how much better and more efficient a dampened sponge works! First. Woodgrain. Basecoat with Butter Pecan, and let it dry completely. Next is a mix of two parts of glazing medium (from the craft store is fine) with one part of Burnt Sienna. Paint over the entire surface with the mix. Use your woodgraining tool (can get one at the hardware store or online) and pull through the paint while slowly rocking it to obtain the look you want. Because this mix had the glazing medium in it, you have some time to work with it. IF you don't like your first attempt, just repaint it with the paint that is already on the surface and try again. Let your rows overlap just slightly. Let it dry. Second. Kinda looks like faux leather, depending on what colors you use. Basecoat with Yellow Ochre, and let it dry completely. Make a mix of glazing medium and Burnt Sienna, equal parts of both. Work quickly and paint over the surface, lay a plastic shopping bag (writing on the INSIDE!) down over the top. Squish it around, leaving wrinkles all over. Peel it off and there you go. Don't like it? Just redo it real quick. Let it dry. Third. Damp Sponge Background. Here is where you use one of those sea sponges with all the holes in it, be sure to dampen and wring out. On a throw away recycled lid, put out Burnt Carmine, Violet Pansy, and Wicker White. Pick up some of each color and apply all over and repeat until your surface is covered. IF you need more open time to work, add just a bit of glazing medium with each color before you start. Rotate the sponge as you are pressing it down so that you don't get all the holes in the same places all the time. I have used the technique quite a bit when doing memory boxes for area hospitals. You can make a really soft pastel background to paint little baby things on. Fourth. Damp Sponge Marble. This is done like above as far as using a sponge, but it looks more like a marble due to the colors used. Basecoat in Burnt Umber, and let it dry. Now use water and thin the paint down a bit, it isn't going to be quite one to one. You don't want your paint runny, but you want it thinner than it comes out of the bottle. Colors that I used are- Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Butter Pecan, Metallic Inca Gold, and Burnt Umber. Use your Sea Sponge and work while it is wet with all the different colors til you get the look you want. Fifth. Denim. Basecoat in Navy Blue, and let it dry. Second layer is a mix of glazing medium and a touch of true blue. Put this mix on very quickly with one of those inexpensive foam brushes and then with a VERY light touch drag a dry wallpaper brush through it to leave streaks. You can come back in and add any orangy colored stitch lines you want to after it is totally dry. You can also float a line of the color next to the stitching to make it look more like a raised seam. Sixth. Linen. Basecoat with Butter Pecan, and let it dry. Mix of 1/2 glaze medium and a little French Vanilla and coat the canvas. Quickly while it is wet, drag the dry wallpaper brush across it to leave fine lines. Let it dry. Repeat the mix and drag process again going the opposite direction. Let it dry. Nice background for lettering signs. Seventh. Crosshatching. You are going to use a 3/4" flat brush for this one. Wet the brush and dry it on a paper towel. Put Teal and Extender all around the outside using small "x" motion with your brush. Inside that comes the same technique with Cayman Blue and Extender, be sure to blend in with the first area. The last color is Wicker White and Extender in the center, blending with the colors used before. Can't tell you have many times I have used this for a background on many a surface!!! You can use any two or three shades and just go from dark to light, blending in little crosshatching "x" strokes as you go. Because of the extender, you can play with this for a while, but don't drag out the process. Love, Love, Love this technique!!! Eighth. Diagonal. Is done with a 3/4" flat brush and worked one color right after the other while it is still wet. You do one color and then do the next one and blend to create a color in between. Colors used are- Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Terra Cotta, and Linen. Keep using the same dirty brush through the entire process and don't overwork it. Let it dry. I have done quite a few angels on this background after changing the colors to various shades of blues and white. Ninth. Crackle. Really like putting a crackle on the background before doing something that is gonna be shabby-girly, antique or country. Basecoated with Bayberry, and let dry. This is really quite simple and I used the kit put out by Plaid called Crackle Coat Kit. Do the Undercoat in ALL ONE direction. Let it dry for about 30 minutes or until it is just tacky to the touch, no wet puddles! Then, going in ONE direction I put on a coat of Linen. DO NOT RESTROKE you work, it will start pulling up and moving around on you and you will end up with a mess. Trust me on this one. The less strokes, the better the results. Now, sit back and watch it crackle, too cool! I encourage you to just get some old scraps of canvas or wood and try these out. Change up the colors and see what different effects you can get. Always remember, it is only paint. You can almost always sand it all off and start over!!! Enjoy these techniques and see how you can use them to change up your furniture, walls and decorative painting surfaces. Be sure a let me know what you think, leave me a comment. Are you using one of these techniques to revamp something?? I would love to hear about it!! Be sure and check back in with me next week when I tell you what I use my Flee Market Hymnal for. Happy painting and go do something creative. - Pam