If you have never applied faux texture before, try the technique on a sheet of plywood before committing to your dining room.
Things You Will Need
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Remove any light fixtures and outlet covers from the drywall that you will be working on.
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Tape off the edges of the wall with painter's tape to protect areas that you don't want painted.
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Lay a tarp on the floor.
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Spread a 1/4-inch layer of drywall compound onto the wall with a trowel.
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Press the flat edge of the trowel against the drywall compound, then pull it away to produce raised peaks. Lightly flatten these peaks to produce a stonelike texture.
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Inscribe mortar lines into the wet drywall compound with a chopstick or similar tool if you want the wall to look like it is made of multiple stone blocks. Use a laser level to ensure that your lines are straight.
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Allow the drywall compound to dry for 48 hours.
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Paint grout-colored latex paint into the inscribed lines with a paintbrush.
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Apply the base color for the stones with a paint roller. With a light touch the roller will pass over the inscribed lines without filling them.
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Allow the base color to dry.
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Lightly sponge on a color that is a few shades darker than the base coat using a natural sea sponge. This will begin to add additional color and texture to the wall. Apply this paint more heavily on some stones than others to create a natural variation.
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Pat the wall with a wadded piece of cheesecloth to soften the sponge texture.
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Allow the paint to dry before removing the tape and replacing the fixtures.
The Drip Cap
- Drywall exists in many homes today because of its low cost and ease of installation.
- You can get the best of both worlds with a faux finish on your drywall, creating the textures and colors of stone without the difficulty or cost.
- Remove any light fixtures and outlet covers from the drywall that you will be working on.
- Apply the base color for the stones with a paint roller.
- Pat the wall with a wadded piece of cheesecloth to soften the sponge texture.