Learn How To Effectively Use Faux Painting

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Have you felt there was something missing from your home? That it was nice but that it lacked that extra unique touch to set it apart from all the other homes you'd been in? So many homes now are cookie cutter affairs. They look the same, feel the same and are almost identical inside.

How can you get around this problem? Well about using a form of interior painting called faux painting? Also known as trompe l' oeil (which means fool the eye in French) this style of painting can allow you to achieve effects such as a window at the end of any hall or the creation of an interesting architectural element against a plain wall. No matter how bland the room is trompe l' oeil can add new depth to any room at a relatively low cost.

While faux painting is normally used just by artists to create amazing effects this type of decorative art is something which can be used by even the most inexperienced DIY decorator. All you need to do is follow some simple tips. For example a stencil of an iron gate or clay pot will help you quickly create the background for any faux painting. When stencilling the image onto the wall use a base color first. Then afterwards use shading and sponging to give your stencil work more depth and realism.

Don't want to attempt a mural? That's ok. You can still dress up your walls or furniture with other faux painting techniques. Have you ever wished you had a marble wall or a marble topped table? You can easily create this type of home decor art with just a few basic and cheap materials.

First off choose a base coat of either tan, green or pink colors. Then choose two shades of tan for your marble veins. Use a feather to drag veins of marble over your base coat until you have a realistic looking marbled finish. Ensure that you drag all of the veins in the same direction so that they mimic real marble.

If you're not looking for a marble finish then what about creating a faux suede effect? You can achieve this using pre-made suede paints which should be available from your local paint or hardware store. Use them to add a real sense of luxury to any room.

Finally, no matter what type of faux art you want to create, take a look at real life examples before you pick up the paintbrush. Refreshing your memory before you begin will help you generate ideas and techniques you might have overlooked otherwise.

About the Author:

This article was provided Aaron Walker of PaintSplashes where you can learn more about interior painting ideas.

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