How to Paint Paneling to Look Like Marble

Prepare the Paneling

• 1

  Mix the trisodium phosphate cleaner with the water in a bucket. Dip the rag into the cleaner, and wipe down the paneling to remove residue.

• 2

  Rinse the paneling with clean water. Let dry for 15 minutes.

• 3

  Pour the primer into a paint tray. Roll the roller into the tray, and then roll the primer onto the wall. Apply an even coat over the paneling. Let the primer dry for 1 hour.

• 4

  Dip the corner of a small scraper into the spackle, and then apply the spackle to any nail holes or imperfections. Let the spackle dry for 15 minutes.

• 5

  Sand the spackled areas to smooth out the finish. Wipe away the debris with a tack cloth.

Create Marble Finish

• 6

  Mask off any areas you do not want to faux finish.

• 7

  Pour the white, gray and beige paints into the paint trays.

• 8

  Dip a roller brush into the gray paint, and paint the paneling. Let the base coat dry for 2 hours.

• 9

  Tear off a 2-foot long piece of the cling wrap, and lay it on a flat surface.

• 10

  Dip a flat paintbrush into the white paint, and apply a thin layer of paint to the surface of the cling wrap. Dip a clean brush into the beige paint, and apply the paint to the same cling wrap. Let the colors blend in some areas, and keep them separated on other sections.

• 11

  Pick up the paint-loaded cling wrap carefully, and apply it to the wall. The plastic will cling to the wall and create random shapes. Lift off plastic carefully and apply it to a new wall section. Depending on how much paint remains on the plastic, you may be able to get three uses out of each sheet.

• 12

  Dip a feather into the white paint and create veins in between the shapes created by the cling wrap. Repeat with the beige paint. Repeat the plastic paint technique and feather painting until the paneling is completely faux finished. Let the paint dry overnight.

• 13

  Mix one part teal craft paint and one part water in a small container. Dip a rag into the teal wash, and apply color to some areas of the marbling. Dip a feather into the teal wash, and add some fine veining. Let the paint dry for 1 hour.

• 14

  Mix one part burnt umber craft paint and one part water in a small container. Dip a rag into the burnt umber wash, and apply to the entire marbled treatment to pull all of the colors together and soften any harsh lines. Add vein accents as desired with the feather. Let the paint dry for 1 hour.

• 15

  Dip a paintbrush into the polyurethane sealer, and apply a coat to the paneling to seal the faux finish.