Faux Finishes Add Character to Your Home

In the world of design, old things are new again. “Distressing is currently one of the hottest trends for any interior wall in your home,” says design specialist Jessica Kilpatrick of Wagner Spray Tech. Using texture and color on your walls is one of the most effective ways to recreate a time or place from the past and there are many alternatives to accomplishing that. Hiring a professional painter to apply a faux finish is one option.

Traditional faux finish effects require multiple coats of paint, with drying time in between each coat, and take a couple of days work. It can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your room. Kilpatrick offers an alternative, “Creating textured walls mimics the look of old-world charm and can be created in less than half a days work if you have the right tools.” With a simple faux finishing kit you can get the same look that professionals provide and you don’t have to be an artist to do it.

Faux finishing combines complementary colors and layers to create the look of texture using paint. Hardware or paint stores stock many different types of specialty rollers and applicators such as wool, fresco, colorwash, rag or stone. Depending on the atmosphere you want to create, you can apply different textures for different rooms in your house. In a kitchen, you might try colorwashing, which creates a somewhat washed out but clean, crisp look. Fresco is a texture that can work nicely in a den where you might want to create a scholarly appearance. For an entryway, the dual stone rollers could be used to create the feeling of sturdy surrounding walls. Wool roller covers provide a texture that resembles suede and can help create a warm, inviting atmosphere in a living room.

WallMagic from Wagner offers a wide variety of fast, easy and foolproof tools for faux finishing. Using a patented dual roller approach, WallMagic combines your colors on the wall all in one easy step, dramatically cutting painting time. Most kits include an instructional video with detailed step-by-step instructions and color selection guidance. Whether you're interested in a rag, sponge, wool, or colorwash texture, WallMagic demystifies the process into an affordable weekend project that will transform your home. With the WallMagic dual roller system, faux finishing requires no more preparation than a typical home painting project.

Getting the look you want is simply a matter of choosing colors and textures that fit your decor. "Combining colors creates a wide variety of dimension and personalized effects," Kilpatrick says. When selecting colors for faux finishing, the more dramatic the difference between the colors, the bigger the statement you'll be making (think dark red and dark brown). Choosing color combinations where the colors are more similar to each other creates a more subtle effect (such as yellow and cream). For rooms where you want to make a bold statement, use a strong solid color scheme like pure reds, blues and yellows. For a more mellow feeling, use cooler blues, greens and purples -- they’ll provide subtle color that doesn't overpower. If you want something neutral but updated, today's shades of brown, beige, gray, white and taupe create a modern yet conservative look.

Once you've chosen your colors, the rest is easy. The WallMagic dual roller system includes a patented divided paint tray and a dual two-color roller. This allows you to simultaneously blend two or more colors onto the wall without smearing paint or overblending. "The dual roller does the work for you," explains Kilpatrick. Simply pour a small amount of each color into the divided paint tray, load your dual roller, and start painting using a criss-cross arching motion. The dual roller is a foolproof way to create beautiful dimension without the mess, hassle and time. Edging is fast and easy and clean up is a breeze. All roller covers are washable and reusable.

Fabrics, accessories and artwork can be combined with texture to pull your style together. Kilpatrick says, "Aged items and timeless pieces are a distinctive way to personalize one’s home." Add lighting and a touch of crystal to the room to make it glamorous or simply combine the materials of your choice to keep it peaceful and uncomplicated.