Faux Painting Products

Crackling Glazes

• These products work to produce an antique crackling effect on walls and furniture. You apply them on top of a dark colored base coat and underneath a light top coat; they react with the top coat to make it crack and shrink. You can find glazes that work well with latex or water-based paint.

Texturing Compounds

• You can add textures to your walls and ceilings with a texturing compound. These products are available premixed or powdered for mixing. You can use an all-purpose wallboard joint compound for texturing surfaces. You can mix in water to thin it, or add sand or other ingredients for a unique look. Apply it with brushes, paint rollers, sponges or a paint trowel. Let the product cure for 24 hours and paint or tint the compound before applying.

Metallic Paints

• Create a lovely metallic finish on walls and other surfaces with metallic paints. These acrylic or other water-based paints are typically sheer; you apply them over the top coat for a sparkle or reflective metallic sheen. Pick base coats that match the metallic color you are going for; gray for silver or steel, brown for copper and yellow for gold.

Glazes

• There is a range of glazes used in interior decorating that help with faux painting. Most of these products create specialty looks and effects that fool the eye. Faux fabric finishing is achieved with decorator's glaze, metallic glaze and various specialty brushes. You can achieve verdigris finishes with scumble glaze, turpentine and a tint. Glazes can be water or acrylic based and are similar to paint. However, they take longer to dry and are generally clear, reflective or very lightly tinted. The longer drying time allows you to texture the surface with brushes, sponges or rags.