How to Faux Paint a Wall to Look Like Cinder Block

Faux painting a cinder block wall can add character to a playroom, workshop or laundry room. However, gray cinder block can appear overwhelmingly raw and stark in a bedroom or living room, particularly since it lacks the contrast of the thick mortar band that is present in brick walls. To expand the design possibilities and use the cinder block motif in other rooms, consider using a nontraditional color such as blue, red or green.

Soap
Bucket
Rag
Gray primer
Paint tray
Cotton roller, 1/2-inch nap
Painter's tape
Scissors
Ruler
Level
Paint texture additive
Gray matte paint
Stirrer
Satin-finish paint, white and gray
High-gloss paint, gray and dark gray
Brush
Sponge

Instructions

- 1
  Wash the walls with mild soap and water. Allow the walls to dry thoroughly.
- 2
  Pour 1/2 cup primer into the well of the paint tray. Dip the roller in the paint and then roll it against the grate until it produces a tacky sound.
- 3
  Apply one coat of primer to the wall. Allow the primer to dry 24 to 48 hours.
- 4
  Tape off the horizontal borders of the bricks with 1/4- or 1/2-inch painter's tape. Measure from the bottom of the wall up 6 inches on both sides. Run a horizontal strip of tape from one end of the wall to the other. Use a level to ensure the tape is not sloping. Repeat 6 inches above the upper edge of the horizontal tape.
- 5
  Cut a 6-inch strip of tape. Place the tape vertically 8 inches from the left corner. Measure 8 inches to the right of the tape and place a second strip. Repeat for the remainder of the row. Apply vertical strips of tape to the remaining rows, staggering the placement of the tape so that the seams of the bricks are not aligned.
- 6
  Add one bag of paint texture additive to the paint as directed by the manufacturer. Stir the mixture.
- 7
  Pour the textured paint into a paint tray. Load a roller and then apply to the wall.
- 8
  Wait one to two hours until the paint is dry to the touch. Remove the tape.
- 9
  Apply satin and high-gloss paint to the wall as highlights. Use a sponge to dab the paint on the wall and achieve a mottled finish.
- 10
  Touch up the wall with un-texturized paint as desired.

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