What Is the Most Popular Faux Finish for Bathrooms?

Bathroom Considerations

• Steam, warm water, and high traffic in enclosed bathroom spaces make home decorating in bathrooms a particular challenge. Any faux finish considered for use in a bathroom must be both beautiful and durable. Paints with a higher sheen (satin or semi-gloss) are durable and can be wiped clean, while still covering more imperfections than high-gloss coats. The color wash technique works best with a satin or semi-gloss paint and a faux-finish glaze, and can be finished with a clear topcoat for further durability.

The Color Wash

• The color wash paint technique is flexible, and looks at home in houses styled traditionally and in houses with more modernist sensibilities. The finished look is similar to weathered stucco, and is accomplished by using a solid base color with one or more thin color coats over top.

Using the Color Wash Technique

• Prep your walls with a tough latex primer to protect them. Pick out a light base color and a darker glaze (or two) to produce the finish. Color washes seem to work best with earthy or natural tones.

  Paint your walls in your chosen base color, which should be lighter than the glazes to follow. One the paint is dry, use a standard paintbrush and dip the brush lightly in the second coat. Brush the glaze lightly onto the wall in random directions. If using a third color, apply that glaze using the same method once the second layer is dry. Brushing on a light, waterproof topcoat to seal the finish is recommended in a bathroom for maximum durability.