Faux Painting Techniques for the Kitchen

Faux painting techniques can add texture and dimension—as well as detail—to your walls. These techniques work especially well in the kitchen.

Faux techniques are affordable options that don't require you to hire a professional. Some popular faux painting techniques for the kitchen include stenciling, color washing and sponging.

Stenciling is a popular faux painting technique that can be used in your kitchen. Easy and affordable, stencils add visual interest to your walls and will really liven up a boring space. Find a stencil pattern that speaks to you and then set to work applying it to your walls, cabinets, backsplash or floors. Stenciling takes time, patience and a few practice runs. But once you get the hang of this technique, it can really make your cooking space shine.

Also known as glazing, color washing is a technique that will give your walls a soft, aged look. This technique works well on walls, ceilings, cabinets and furniture, making it an ideal option for your kitchen. To color wash, a thin glaze (or water-based wash) is painted on top of a base coat to create subtle layers of color. If you're just learning how to manipulate paint, color washing can be achieved in a few steps.

Sponging is another faux painting technique that works on walls and furniture. The idea is to add layers of color to your wall with a hand-held sponge; natural sea sponges work best. By using many colors, you'll be able to create an interesting effect on your walls, but it's important to choose colors that naturally work well together.

Creating a distressed or aged look is another faux painting technique that works well in kitchens. You can achieve this look by painting a base coat on your furniture and a topcoat in another color. You'll then want to sand certain spots so the base color shows through and creates an aged look. Try this technique on kitchen islands, tables, chairs or stools.

By creating the illusion of stone walls in your kitchen, you can bring some old world charm into your cooking space. To create faux stone walls, you'll need to select two similar paint colors, but one should be light and the other dark. Some suggested shades include dark reds, oranges and browns or different grays for more modern kitchens. You'll first apply the lighter paint using a brush, roller or both. Once it's dry, you'll mix the topcoat with a glaze medium before applying it with a roller. While the paint is still wet, you'll remove it with a rag so the first color shows through and creates a distressed look.