Faux Techniques for Ralph Lauren Paint

Ragging

• The Ralph Lauren ragging technique creates a transparent two-tone color effect on walls. A rag-rolled faux finish allows the base color underneath to show through the top coat, adding depth to a room. The technique uses the official Ralph Lauren rag roller, a lint-free rag and provided paints. Application involves painting a wall complete with a solid base coat and rag-rolling glazed paint over the top. The rag-rolled paint color should be darker than the base coat.

Sponging

• Sponging walls may take more time than ragging because it involves meticulous application by hand instead of using a special roller. The finished effect makes walls appear semi-transparent, smooth and layered in color. The Ralph Lauren sponging technique utilizes a base coat of semi-gloss paint and a darker top coat of paint mixed with faux finish glaze. Dabbing and twisting the Ralph Lauren sponge across the wall in an overlapping fashion creates the sponged effect.

Suede

• The suede faux finish appears rich and smooth and looks very similar to real suede if applied correctly. The suede faux finish is accomplished using two different colors of Suede paint. The first coat involves painting a wall complete with your chosen base coat color. You apply the second coat of Suede over the base coat using a special Ralph Lauren faux finish brush. Crisscrossing the brush in the shape of an "X" creates the subtle and smooth appearance of suede.

Color Washing

• The color washing faux technique is relatively easy to achieve. The subtle and faded color wash finish uses water and glazed faux paint. You simply paint walls with a base coat of Ralph Lauren paint in a semi-gloss finish. Secondly, dab the with a damp household sponge and apply glazed paint over the dampened areas in a crisscross motion using a paintbrush. The brush technique is similar to the suede technique.