How to Paint Using the Denim Technique

The epitome of comfort and durability, denim has found its way out of closets and into home décor. Designers use denim fabric on couches to create a family-friendly zone that stands up to kid's wear and tear. On the walls, a denim-inspired faux finish can add texture and soothing blue color to a space. To create a denim faux finish on the walls in your home, you need only two paint colors, glaze and a faux-finish linen brush.

Primer
Paint trays
Painter's tape
Tape measure
Level
Chalk line
2 colors of latex semigloss paint two shades apart
Faux technique glaze in clear
Linen faux finish weaver brush
3/8-inch nap roller cover
2-inch angled nylon paintbrush
Lint-free rags

Instructions

- 1
  
  Mark off nonpaint areas with painter's tape.
  
  Mask off any areas you do not want to paint with painter's tape.
- 2
  
  Paint walls with a base coat of primer.
  
  Base coat the walls with the primer. Let the primer dry overnight.
- 3
  Base coat the walls with darker color of paint. Let dry for 2 hours.
- 4
  Measure 40-inch wide, floor-to-ceiling panels, starting in one corner of the room. Make tick marks along the ceiling and the floor, and use the chalk line to snap guidelines. Check that the lines are level, and then apply painter's tape to outside edges of the lines to mark off the panels. You will faux finish alternating panels to ensure the finish stays intact.
- 5
  Mix one part of the lighter paint with four parts of glaze in a paint tray.
- 6
  Roll glaze mixture onto the first panel, ceiling to floor.
- 7
  Drag the linen brush across the wet glaze. Start at the top of the panel and pull to the right in one stroke. Clean off the bristles with a lint-free cloth, then drag the brush back over the lines you just created, right to left. Clean the bristles off again and repeat this procedure for a total of four passes on the section. Repeat the entire process down the panel, cleaning the bristles between passes.
- 8
  Drag the linen brush vertically down the length of the panel, beginning at the left and moving right. Apply a lighter pressure to leave the horizontal marks intact. Repeat horizontal and vertical faux finishing to the alternating panels that you previously taped off.
- 9
  Pull off the painter's tape while the panels are still wet. Let the panels dry overnight. Apply painter's tape to the outside edges of the unglazed panels the next day and repeat Steps 6 through 8. Pull off the painter's tape while the panels are still wet and let the panels dry.

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