Textured Coating Ideas
- Grass cloth wallpaper can be very expensive, but with time and patience you can achieve the look for a fraction of the cost. Choose a natural color such as beige, tan or drab. Apply a base coat of eggshell latex paint to your surface and allow it to dry completely. Add 3 parts of an interior top coat glaze to 1 part of a latex paint that is one shade or more darker than the base coat. This will give depth to the texture. Apply the paint to the wall and, while it is still wet, use a crumpled-up plastic bag to lightly dab over the surface. Then, use a metal comb to drag through the paint in horizontal motions. The lines do not need to be straight, since you want to achieve the natural look of grass cloth.
- Add items such as sand or crushed seashells or nut shells to paints to create textured products for interior and exterior applications. This is a cheap way to achieve textures that look authentic when trying to emulate Moroccan- or African-inspired finishes.
- Drywall compound, applied liberally over the wall and swiped randomly with a trowel, can create the uneven effect of the popular Tuscan plaster technique. Once dry, the surface can be painted with terracotta and earth tones to complete the effect.
- Paint your surface and, while it is still wet, apply sheets of crinkled tissue paper to it. Allow this to dry and then paint over it using a brush or roller. This creates the look of old leather and can be used to good effect in a study with leather accessories, or in any room where you want to create an Old-World feel.