Tissue Paper Wall Treatment

Supplies

• A tissue paper faux finish requires only a few ordinary tools and materials. Decorative painters use water-based glazing medium, a house painting brush, a paint roller and a paint pan. The paper is regular tissue paper, which can be purchased wherever gift wrap is sold. White tissue paper is fine if you plan to apply a topcoat of tinted glaze or paint to your tissue paper faux finish.

Preparation

• Walls need to be stripped of wallpaper and free from dust. It is not necessary to fill holes, as the tissue paper will cover most minor imperfections. Glossy paints resist glaze, so a shiny surface should be lightly sanded. As with any decorative paint job, you should move furniture out of the way and protect the floors. Taping around the edges of the wall makes for a quicker and neater process.

Application

• Sheets of tissue paper adhere to a wall coated with glazing medium. Tissue paper has a natural tendency to wrinkle, but you can adjust the amount of wrinkling by bunching the paper or keeping it fairly flat. Glaze dries quickly so it's best to apply it in strips the width of the tissue sheets with a paint roller. Overlap the tissue paper slightly for complete coverage.

Sealing

• A topcoat of glaze provides a protective seal for the textured paper surface. Uncolored glaze will reveal the color of the tissue paper. Tinted glaze accentuates the texture of the tissue paper as it gathers in its crinkles and folds.

Variations

• Different colors of paint and types of faux finishes applied to the tissue paper surface completely change its look. A solid opaque paint draws attention to the wall's texture. A color wash or rag distressed faux finish creates subtle variations of color. Stencils offer another opportunity to customize your walls. Glaze over stencil designs for a more muted image or apply stencils on top of paint or glaze for a bold effect.