Faux Finishes for Exterior Projects

Venitian Wall

• A venetian wall works well on exterior walls made of stucco, concrete or some kind of masonry. You can create a finish that makes an otherwise flat wall look as though it was made of plaster by either troweling on a three-dimensional product made from Portland cement and various shades of paint or just layers of paint applied with a sponge. Both techniques leave you with a wall that looks as though it was made centuries ago.

Faux Finish Walkway

• When you have a plain concrete walkway, you can make it extraordinary by applying faux finish. To complete this project, you must grind away some of the upper layer of the concrete to expose some of the aggregates beneath the surface. Spray on a layer of colored paint diluted with water, then a second layer of paint of a different shade. With the second layer of paint, if you spray it in a random pattern, you add depth and interest to the overall finish.

Pillars

• Perhaps you have plain, ordinary pillars supporting your porch. Add a faux finish of a mixture of paints to turn those pillars into marble or granite. As with any faux finish project, apply a base paint first, and add layers of paint on top of it to give the pillars a three-dimensional look.

Murals

• Murals can be a gorgeous faux finish for any exterior wall. Perhaps you live in Florida and long for winter; create a mural that realistically portrays a winter wonderland.You can even make use of the trompe l'oeil to create open doors in walls that lead to nowhere, gardens that bloom in the side of the house and more. You can turn the exterior house into any conceivable thing or place, limited only by your imagination.