Faux Paint Treatments

Rag Roll

• Rag-rolling uses rags to create an uneven faux-paint treatment. To create a rag-roll faux paint treatment, paint your base coat and allow it to dry, then follow with the rag rolling. To rag roll, dip a rag or medium-sized hand towel in your accent paint color covering it, then wring out the paint gently. Once the excess paint is removed, roll the rag into a ball then apply the paint from the rag by rolling it across the surface. Vary the direction of your rolling to enhance the irregularity of the pattern and reapply and wring the paint on the rag as necessary.

Parchment Glaze

• The parchment glaze faux paint treatment mimics the look of old parchment on surfaces and the application process is similar to the rag roll technique. With this faux paint treatment an oil-based glazing liquid is mixed evenly with an oil-based paint and paint thinner to create a thin, translucent liquid that's applied over a base coat. Use a paint roller to apply the mixture over the base coat using a few strokes. The idea is not to spread it evenly, only to get some of the mixture on the walls. Use a rag to spread the mixture onto the entire wall using a rolling technique, but be careful to avoid even application as this will ruin the parchment faux treatment appearance.

Bagging

• The bagging faux-paint process is different from that of some treatments in that it uses a subtractive technique, or the process of removing paint from the walls, to create the textured, veined look. After applying a base coat and allowing it to dry, mix a glaze that is five parts latex glaze and one part latex paint and apply that to the walls using a roller. While the glaze is wet, pat the surface with a crumpled plastic bag to create a textured treatment. Because you have to complete the patting process while the glaze is wet, it may be easiest to work with a partner; one person to apply the glaze, the other to do the bag patting. Have multiple bags handy during this process to switch when the bags become saturated with glaze.