Fresco faux finish

By Tresa Erickson

Do you adore fresco? Do you wish you could recreate the look of it in your home? Well, lucky for you, you can. With some glaze and paint, you can turn your walls into fresco.

Before starting this project, you need to tape off your trim and any areas you do not want painted. Lay down some drop cloths and then prep and prime your walls accordingly.

To create the look of fresco on your walls, you need these supplies:
• Clear glaze
• Three eggshell latex colors of your choice
• Wallpaper trough
• 4-inch nylon brushes

To begin, pour some glaze into the wallpaper trough. Then add a small amount of each color on top of the glaze, allowing the edges to touch but not blend.

Working in small sections, dip a paintbrush into the glaze first and then into each color, moving from dark to light. Apply the combination to the wall using an X-shaped motion. The glaze will keep the paint workable while the X-shaped strokes will blend the colors together. When you are pleased with the results, move on to another section.

Continue applying paint to the walls in the same manner until you have completed the room. Allow the paint to dry and then apply a second coat. Let the paint dry for several days before hanging anything on your newly frescoed walls.

That’s all there is to it! If you don’t consider yourself much of a faux finisher, you might want to try the fresco technique on a scrap piece of wood first to get a real feel for it. That way, you will be able to master the technique and get the results you want.