Once you have prepared your walls for faux finishing as described in part 1, you can begin the fun part of the project; transforming your bare wall into whatever look you want. Mottled faux wall finishes are typically the easiest for beginners to try.

There are many faux painting techniques used to give walls the mottled look of leather or suede, parchment, Italian plaster and many others. Typically these looks are achieved by brushing, dabbing or swirling layers of color over a basecoat color.

The mottled look can be subtle, with different hues of the base color being applied to add depth and giving your wall color a nice variation in intensity and shading. Or, you can achieve contrast for a bolder look by applying a light color basecoat with dark glaze layered over it or a dark basecoat color with lighter color glazing.

Blending and swirling the edges of the glaze can soften the mottling and is where the real artistic touch comes into play. Glaze can be applied using rags, sponges, brushes or even a feather duster, depending on the look you want to achieve.

Experiment with Your Faux Finish First

A seasoned faux painting artist always begins by painting small sample boards to perfect a given finish before starting on the walls. This ensures the technique will be consistent and repeatable and that the client agrees with the finished look before seeing it on the walls! And the less experience you have, the more important this step will be!

You really don’t want to paint an entire room only to find that it looks amateurish and needs to be completely redone; this is the fear that keeps most people from trying faux painting in the first place.

Start by painting on practice boards to experiment and perfect the mottled finish you want to achieve. Then go ahead and mask off the baseboard, window casings, etc. on one wall and try your technique out, starting with one wall or section of the wall if you are faux painting a large wall or the entire room.

How to Get an Even Faux Finish

Regardless what tools and technique you choose, the most difficult part of creating a mottled faux finish is getting a consistent, even look. One way to move quickly and keep a good rhythm is to have a partner. Working together, one person can apply the glaze while the other one does the blending and mottling. This also helps since 2 sets of eyes may see problems that one person working along would miss.

Fortunately, glaze takes quite a while to set up, so you have time to do your blending and if you make mistakes you can simply wipe it off and start over again. Here are some tips on working with glaze when doing a mottled faux wall finish:

• It’s best to work on smaller sections of say 3 or 4 square feet at a time than to try doing an entire wall at once which lets the glaze dry and makes it harder to blend, swirl and smooth the mottled look you’re going for.
• Try to make each section irregular in shape rather than rectangles or squares; this way any overlaps in the glaze will be less obvious to the eye.
• Try not to “overlap” glaze onto sections you have already done since the overlapped area will have more glaze than the rest of the wall; these overlaps will be obvious when the wall is completed and the glaze dries.
• While working step back every so often and look at the whole wall. Check that the blending and mottling are smooth and without too much obvious overlapping between the sections you’ve completed.
• Take your time and don’t be afraid to wipe off sections you aren’t happy with and redo them. This is not a job you want to rush; remember you are an artist and like any artist, some mistakes are inevitable. Fortunately, glaze, like clay, remains soft long enough that you can usually fix your mistakes.

Color Washing Faux Finish Technique

One simple technique you can use to achieve a mottled look is color washing, which blends different colors. Typically three colors or hues of one color are used, with a base coat of white or another neutral tone, a mid tone glaze color over it and finally accented with a deep tone glaze color. You can reverse the sequence if you want a darker overall color, using the deep tone over a darker basecoat color and mid tone and highlight accent colors.

The mottling can vary from the subtle look of “clouds” to a heavily variegated texture, depending on the contrast in your base and accent glazes as well as the blending tool and blending strokes you make. A brush or rag is typically used to blend the accent glaze but, again, experimenting is the only way to decide what blending tool and strokes to use in order to get the look you want.

Here are the steps to create a simple color wash textured finish:

1. Start by painting the wall with your base color, using an eggshell, satin or semi-gloss enamel paint. Let it dry before you begin the glazing steps below.
2. Mix your basecoat of glaze using about 4 parts glaze to 1 part paint; a gallon of glaze mixed with 1 quart of paint should be enough to cover about 400 square feet. Check with your paint center for the exact mixture recommended by whichever paint brand you’re using.
3. If you want a more transparent look add more glaze to the mixture; using less glaze will give a more opaque look. Use a stir stick to blend the paint and glaze together completely. Pour the basecoat glaze/paint mixture into a paint tray.
4. Next, using a separate bucket, mix your accent paint color with glaze; the same ratio applies but you can experiment on your practice boards to get the look you want; in some cases you might want to use more or less glaze in the accents than in the basecoat. The accent glaze mixture will stay in the bucket since you’ll be using your chosen blending tool (brush or cloth is usually best for color washing) to apply and blend it for whatever mottled look you want.
5. Use a roller to apply the base glaze color to the wall in an irregular shaped section that is about 3 to 4 feet in area, starting on one corner of the room. Apply the base glaze evenly over the section.
6. While the base glaze coat is still wet, use a cloth or brush to blot the accent glaze color over the base.
7. Use your blending tool to blend the accent glaze coat into the basecoat glaze, using small and large criss-cross, overlapping motions, letting the brush strokes show through as needed to achieve your desired look. This is where it is important to follow the same technique you used on your practice board in order to get the same look on the wall!
8. Rinse or wipe off your blending tool frequently so that you don’t get a build up of glaze; this helps keep your finish even and consistent.
9. Keep repeating the process one section at a time until the entire wall is completed. Take care to “cut in” around the edges and corners of the wall and areas where you have masked off window trim or other things you aren’t painting. Cutting in smoothly is another part of color washing that takes practice!

A key part of great home interior design involves paint color and texture. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to faux finish your walls but can’t afford a professional painter. Or maybe you’re ready to hire a painter but aren’t sure what type of faux finishing techniques would work best with your décor.

The worst thing you can do is trying to faux paint without any knowledge or experience; this is a sure way to end up with walls that look unnatural, amateurish or just plain ugly! It takes true talent and years of experience to learn the techniques behind some of the more intricate faux painting methods but there are others that you can easily master yourself with a little practice and lots of patience.

You really should hire a professional unless you have some artistic skills and are willing to take the time to learn how to faux finish your walls the right way. A good place to start is by reading on to learn what types of faux paint finishes are used to create designer showcases and the methods and artistry involved.

Origins and Types of Faux Finishes

Faux means literally “fake” in French. In America in the late 1980s and early 90s, painters developed techniques to mimic natural materials such as wood grain and stone. Thus, a client who wanted marble columns or mahogany wall panels could get the look of the real thing for a fraction of the cost.

As the faux finishing art form has continued to evolve, the term now applies more holistically to a number of techniques such as color washing, glazing, subtractive sponging, rag rolling, combing, marbling and others used to simulate natural or manmade elements. These techniques can literally transform an ordinary room into a completely different environment.

The basic ingredients used to create the textures, tones and color depth you see in most faux finished walls are paint and glaze. Typically a base coat is applied first and then layers of color are applied over the base, with the glaze allowing you to blend, swirl and texture the paint to achieve the desired effects.

The range of effects that can be achieved is truly amazing, from Venetian plaster or Italian marble to subtle stripes and mottled looks, color washed walls with translucent, metallic sheens to aged old world stone masonry.

Preparing Walls for Faux Finishing

The basecoat layer will make or break the results of your faux painting project. Since most faux finishes involve applying very thin layers of glaze over the base color, imperfections will become quite apparent to the eye. Cracks, bumps and other surface imperfections will be amplified by your faux finish.

In most cases, walls must be prepared ahead of faux painting; standard drywall that has been textured with a drywall hopper will need to be smoothed or else textured to create the rough look of stucco or another desired surface before you begin painting. Prep can comprise up to 25% or more of the time and effort involved in creating a high quality faux finish so don’t underestimate the surface preparation phase.

If you are building a new home or remodeling you can avoid extra time and work by planning wall texturing (or lack thereof) accordingly. If you plan to faux finish existing walls that have already been textured with a drywall hopper, your first step unfortunately is to apply joint compound to fill imperfections, sand the walls flat and smooth and apply primer. These steps often have to be repeated several times before the walls are ready for the basecoat.

Heavily textured faux finishes can involve other types of preparation, with skip trowel, knockdown, orange peel or other hand texturing techniques being required before painting begins. These more advanced techniques are not typically recommended in most cases for beginners so you should consider hiring a contractor to prep interior walls if you intend to apply one of these kinds of texturing.

Taking time and effort to prepare your walls before attempting to faux finish them cannot be emphasized enough; a flat, solid, smooth surface is absolutely critical to the success of your faux finishing project! If you have experience with faux finishing please share your thoughts and tips by leaving us your comments below.

When selecting your bedroom colors, you may first want to consider the mood you want the decor to produce.

The effect of color on the mind is quite an interesting subject and the psychology of color has been widely researched and the results show that color has a profound effect on our thoughts, perceptions and interactions.

It seems that in China, for example, red tends to elicit a feeling of calm, while in America red is a color associated with aggression.

For most people, the bedroom is a place for privacy, harmony and relaxation. And, of course, you want master bedroom colors that feel cozy and romantic!

Also, it is important to consider the tone and shade of colors, as well as the use of texture and patterns, which can have more impact on the mood your bedroom evokes than just the colors themselves.

Finally, you have the final say! No matter what experts or research indicates about color psychology, you are the person whose mind will be most affected by the colors you choose for your bedroom and only you can truly know and understand the feelings different colors evoke for yourself.

Matching Your Bedroom Colors and Decor

While psychology and picking feng shui bedroom colors should factor into your decisions, it is also important to think about the overall decor of your bedroom.

If you have the luxury of starting with a blank slate, then you can choose a bedroom set and accessorize to match your color choices.

But most of the time you might be remodeling or moving into a new home and already have existing bedroom furniture and other decor items to consider. Selling or donating old furniture and replacing it may be another option to consider if you want a fresh look.

If you try to force bright colors to work in a French country decor, for example, you are just asking for trouble.

On the other hand, if your bedroom decor is distinctly tropical or Hawaiian, then using a color scheme that is too neutral could also be problematic.

Neutral Tones

The growing trend in bedroom wall colors is toward neutral tones; tans and medium to rich browns are very popular, evoking an “earthier” image than brighter hues.

Neutral colors are a very good primary color choice for the bedroom since they can always be mixed with green, blue, gold or red accent colors. By using these accent colors for bedding and accessory items, you will be able to switch accent colors and alter the mood of your bedroom seasonally or whenever you want a fresh new look.

Gray is a shade you might want to avoid since it can evoke feelings of sadness, depression or a battleship; probably not the mood or images you want in your bedroom!

Cool Tones

Using cool paint colors for bedroom will help make the room seem slightly bigger and give your bedroom an airier feeling.

Colors like green, blue, green or lavender work well in many bedrooms. Blues and greens, which are associated with the sea and sky, can help evoke a sense of serenity and tranquility in the bedroom.

Pastel pinks, lavenders and purples can also work for bedroom walls, especially if you are decorating a little girl’s room. Use these colors if you want a more feminine room decor.

Warm Tones

Vibrant reds, yellows and oranges can energize a bedroom, helping revitalize you in the morning when you wake from bed and are surrounded by bright color.

These brighter colors also work well when painting a boy’s bedroom walls. If you want to infuse a more youthful touch to your bedroom, warmer, brighter colors may be the way to go.

Warm hues can also create a calm and relaxed mood, if the right tones and shades are selected.

Consider warm hues like peach, burnt orange or buttercup gold, using lighter or pastel shades rather than deeper or brighter shades.

Tips on How to Choose Bedroom Colors

• Use sample colors, painting swatches of each on your walls before making final selection. Give yourself a couple of days to consider the color swatches in different lighting conditions and times of day to see how they affect your mood and fit in with your bedroom design.
• Be careful with the intensity of your color choices. If you want to use bolder shades, try using them as accent colors rather than your primary bedroom wall color.
• Be sure you and your partner are in agreement; while he might have first choice on the colors he wants for the den or game room and she might pick the kitchen color palette, the bedroom is one place where both partner should definitely be in agreement.
• Use accessories like plants, throws, and chairs to continue your color scheme throughout the room.
• Mixing colors will bring a more natural feeling to your room. Use pale or pastel colors on your walls, ceiling and carpet, and brighter colors with dark trim for curtains and upholstery.
• If budget is tight, you can always to with white on white, which can create an airy and ethereal look that many people find calming. Pastel window blinds, throws and pillows can add a splash of color.
• Use more vivid colors in a child’s bedroom. For more ideas on decorating kids’ rooms, read our stories on Boys Room Decorating Ideas and Decorating a Girl’s Bedroom.

Choosing a color scheme that works with your room decor is the first step. And primary the key to beautiful house painting are knowing proper prepping and painting techniques. Follow these interior painting tips to ensure a paint job you’ll be proud of:

How to Select a Color Scheme

The easiest way to select a color scheme is to find an inspiration piece. Choose a painting, pillow, or textile that you love, and pull your colors from that.

You can take one of three approaches:

1. Choose one color that you like, and paint the room in different shades of that color.
2. Choose related colors. Related colors are next to each other on the rainbow or color wheel. Related color schemes tend to make relaxing rooms.
3. Choose complimentary colors. These are colors located across from each other on the color wheel, and they make for very dramatic rooms.

When you’re choosing house painting colors, don’t rely on those teeny tiny little color swatches from the paint store. They’re just too small to give you a real idea of how the paint will look on your walls. Many paints now come in trial sizes.

Take one home, paint a board or a piece of foam core, and put it up against the wall you plan to paint. Better yet, ask your paint store for a small sample of the colors you like and paint large swatches on your walls to compare the colors and shades.

See how the wall colors you are considering will look throughout the day as the light changes; the colors will look different as the light changes.

Top 10 Interior Painting Tips

1. Before you start, organize a paint station. You can do this on the floor, but it’s better to set up a card table or some other surface that doesn’t require you to constantly bend down to get what you need. Whatever you use, make sure to cover it with plastic to protect it from drips.



2. Take one day and do nothing but prep, prep, prep. The prep job is what makes a difference between an okay wall paint job and a terrific one. Gather all the furniture in the center of the room and cover it with plastic, or better yet, remove it from the room altogether if you can. Remove switchplates and doorknobs and put them into plastic baggies with all their screws and other hardware. You can tape them to the closest window so they don’t get lost. Wash the walls with a basic household cleaner. Cover light fixtures with garbage bags and tape them in place. Tape around doors, windows, and molding.
3. Check the condition of your walls carefully. Holes or cracks will show through your wall paint. Fill smaller holes with spackle or joint compound; you may be able to skip this step if you plan to use a texturized finish such as sponging that helps to disguise minor imperfections. Use fiberglass tape for larger holes and cracks. One easy way to help you spot problem areas is to use a flashlight. Hold the light at an angle, right against the wall, and run it slowly along the wall surface. Look for shadows that indicate holes you’ll need to deal with.
4. Use high-quality products. Sure, premium paint and nicer brushes cost more, but they provide better coverage and a smoother finish. Lower-quality paint might look just fine when it’s wet, but you’re likely to notice imperfections when it’s dry. With better tools, you’ll be able to cover the area with fewer coats. Invest in a roller with an extension handle to paint your ceiling. This allows for smoother strokes and less climbing up and down a ladder.
5. Take a moment to think about your colors and plan your attack. Apply lighter colors before darker ones. If you’re using a very dark shade, consider applying a tinted primer first. This will reduce the number of coats you’ll need to get full coverage.
6. If you’re having problems getting crisp edges, make sure you’re using blue painter’s tape. Masking tape and duct tape are likely to bleed and leave sticky residue on your walls. Some paints will still bleed under painter’s tape, particularly if you’re using a dark color. Try applying the tape and then brushing the edge with a little clear varnish or latex caulk (the varnish can stay; the caulk will need to be removed with the tape).
7. Don’t work directly from the paint can. Not only will it drip and get incredibly messy, but you also risk getting globs of coagulated paint into the can. They’ll end up on your walls, and they don’t look pretty. For the best results, use a cut bucket, a metal bucket with a separate plastic liner that’s built to control drips.
8. To avoid stripy- or patchy-looking walls, start with zigzag or w-shaped strokes. After you’ve completed a section of wall, run the roller in long strokes over the entire wall to blend all of the layers together.
9. Make cleanup easier by wiping drops on the floorboards with a wet cloth as soon as they happen. After you’re done, run the cloth over the floorboard one more time to catch any leftover streaks. If you get paint on the carpet, keep the stain wet and blot it. Don’t scrub; you’ll only work the paint further in and damage the carpet.
10. Store your materials carefully for future touchups. Thoroughly wash the brushes and rollers in soap and water (for water-based paints) or white spirit and then soapy water (for oil-based paints), shake them out, and then wrap them in wax paper and seal with a rubber band. Wipe away any drips on the paint cans and seal them carefully.