Fabulous Faux Painting

Remember last time when we talked about "Spending Pennies" to make your home look like a million dollars? Well, we touched on painting old things around the house. Now that you are losing your fear of the paintbrush, it's time to do something bigger - like your walls. Maybe not all of your walls, just one at a time.

Nothing adds drama to a room like faux finishing one wall. Every room has a focal point. That's the wall you want to do. It could be the fireplace wall, or behind the sofa or maybe your foyer. You won't believe how easy it can be and, best of all, if you hate it, just paint it Navajo white again. (That's the non-color we're trying to kiss goodbye here.)

Match a color that is already in your room. One of the colors in your sofa, a throw pillow, a vase or a color that you've always loved. For faux finishing, deep rich tones such as terra cotta, taupe, purple, teal and mandarin red all work beautifully. Now you see why one wall is enough. We're talking vivid color here. Be brave. Get out those paintbrushes !

Here are the easy steps to doing it yourself. Think of this as a recipe.

Of course, you'll need a ladder, paint brushes and a paint tray in which to mix your glaze coat. A bottle of water to slurp on won't hurt either. Now you're ready to faux!

Apply your base coat to the wall and let it dry for several hours or overnight. Mix your glaze color in the paint tray with some water until it is thin (sorta like colored water). Put on the rubber gloves.

Dip your scrunched up grocery bag in it, wring it out a little and start washing the wall with it. This is the messy part and the main reason you have a drop cloth. Wipe up drips from the wall as you go or they will be there when you're done. Just do a couple of square feet at a time because it dries quickly and you don't want to see any edges where you leave off.

Now take a damp rag and start wiping some of it off. The more you wipe off, the more base color shows thru. Wipe as much or as little as is pleasing to you. Keep working from top to bottom until you've done the entire wall.

Remember last month's tip on cleaning up? Just throw away the rags, brushes, bags and gloves and sit down with a cold drink. Wait for all the nice compliments that are sure to come. Everyone will be asking you to do their walls for them. You're a fabulous faux finisher!

We'll be back again next month with more DECORATING TIPS. Visit our website again.

by Jacque Ramsey