How to Paint Faux Wood Walls

If you want to create a wooden effect on your walls but do not want to apply real wood, paint a faux wood finish to the wall. Faux finishes allow you to simulate the look of wood at less expense. Additionally, the wall can be easily repainted when you redecorate rather than going through the effort of removing the wood and repairing the wall. The treatment is applied using a base coat that resembles the wood tone of your choice. A second, darker paint is applied very lightly and wiped down with cheesecloth, and the wood grain tool is rolled over it while the second coat is still wet.

Fine sandpaper
Paint, color of wood tone
Paint roller
Roller pan
Paint, darker color of wood grain
Paintbrush
Cheesecloth
Faux wood grain tool
Angled sash brush

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the surface of the wall with fine-grit sandpaper to prepare the surface for paint.
- 2
  Apply a coat of the lighter color paint for the base wood tone of the wood finish treatment using a paint roller. Allow the finish to dry for at least four hours.
- 3
  Brush on a very light coat of the darker color paint for the wood grain onto the wall using a paintbrush. Drag cheesecloth down the wall from ceiling to floor to streak the paint down the wall.
- 4
  Start at the top of the wall and work downward using the faux wood grain tool to create the wood grain pattern on the wall while the second coat of paint is still wet. Rock the faux wood grain tool in a downward motion to evenly create the wood grain pattern.
- 5
  Touch up any small areas as needed along the top or bottom of the wall and around casing with an angled sash brush, using the lighter base paint. Allow the paint to dry for 72 hours before placing anything against the wall.

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Faux Finishing