DO IT YOURSELF

To create a faux finish on the wall you will need:

• a water-based paint color  
• A "faux" glaze

Both liquids are mixed together usually with a ratio: one part paint and four parts glaze. Some of the most popular techniques are:

Ragging on 

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color and let it dry. 

2. Take a rag (wet or dry) and dip it in the glaze. If the rag is wet then the result will be more blurred.

3. Start bolting the rag on the surface without scrubbing it or dragging it but rather rolling it onto the surface. 

Ragging off

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color and let it dry.

2. Start applying the glaze on the wall by using a roller. Before dry, take a rag, a plastic bag or a cheese cloth and start “smudging” the fresh glaze.

Sponging On

Although the technique of sponging on sounds the same as ragging on, the effect is quite different.

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color and let it dry.

2. Dip a damp sponge in the glaze.

3. Start applying the glaze to the wall by blotting the sponge over the wall.

Sponging Off

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color and let it dry.

2. Apply gradually the glaze on the wall by using a roller. Before dry use a damp sponge to blot off the glaze layer. 

Dragging & Combing

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color and let it dry.

2. Start applying the glaze on the wall by using a roller from top to bottom and right after start dragging with a dry brush over the glaze or combing by using an item with teeth, from top to bottom.  

Color Washing

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color and let it dry.

2. Take a brush and start applying the glaze on the wall with random brush strokes. Before dry you can smudge the strokes with the brush or with a wet rag. 

Spattering

1. Paint the wall with a base coat color.

2. Dip a brush in the glaze and start flicking the brush on the wall.