Textured paint and faux finishes have become more
popular in recent years than at any other point in
history. One reason for this is because so many home
improvement stores are offering classes for those who
are willing to pay the price for the paint so that the
average Joe or Jane can recreate these fabulous finishes
on their own walls as well. The fact is it is truly
amazing what works of art can be created with the clever
and creative use of textured paint.
Faux finishes can be used to create the illusion of
anything from plaster or brick to leather and a few
amazing things in between. Those who are skilled at
applying faux finishes are in great demand for their
artistic talents though most home owners can do a
passable job if they are willing to take the time
required to properly learn the technique. Even wood
grains can be imitated through the use of a talented
faux finisher and paint.
Using textured paints and faux finishes can be done in
almost any room in the house though they seem to be most
common in living rooms and kitchens as a major design
feature. There are some ambitious homeowners who have
decided to take this style of painting into every room
of the home. While it may seem a good idea in theory
there are some drawbacks to this as well.
First of all, textured paints and faux finishes are very
time consuming. If you are hiring a professional to do
the work their time is a lot of your money and this is
something that really needs to be considered. Is the
amount of time really worth the reward of the finished
project as far as you, as the homeowner, are concerned?
Most people find that it isn't worth all that much money
and time but others really appreciate the look and feel
that it is vital to their enjoyment of their homes.
Whichever category you fall into it is important that
you realize that this could become a costly proposition.
Another thing to consider is that many who manage to
bring a texture or faux finish of some sort into every
room of their homes often decide after a little while to
remove some of their hard work. The reason for this is
that in small doses faux finishes and textured paints
are novel and spectacular. In large doses they can be
more than slightly overwhelming and, more importantly,
unimpressive. There is something to be said about the
fact that sometimes less is more.
This doesn't mean that some homes do not wear faux
finishes beautifully in almost every nook and cranny.
Some homes are simply meant to be decorated from one end
of home to the other end. These homes are simply lovely
no matter how many new finishes are added to the walls,
furniture, fireplace mantles, and bathroom cabinets.
There never seems to be too much in these homes. There
are some homes however that beg for moderation when it
comes to designs such as this. Listen to your home when
decorating and you should have a much better decorating
experience overall without overwhelming either your home
or your guests.
If faux finishes and/or textured painting is something
you would like to incorporate into your home decorating
plans you should be delighted to discover that there are
many, many resources both online and offline that can
assist you with your goals. The first and best choice is
to check with local hardware and home improvement stores
in order to see if they are offering any free workshops
on faux finishes or textured painting in your area. If
they are then you are set. However, if they are not your
local library may prove to be a valuable source for
videos, magazines, and books that offer step-by-step
instructions. The Internet is also an excellent source.
Do not forget the value of spaces such as YouTube and
Google Video as they may have some actual demonstrations
or how to videos to help as well.