Faux fabric techniques are beautiful and stylish, and require little work or expense to achieve, even for those with limited painting experience. Sometimes, the bathrooms gets overlooked when we are remodeling, and we often choose simple paints or tile when bright vivid colors and faux painting styles would transform the area.

The master bathroom definitely gets more attention than guest or children’s bathroom areas, so be sure to touch up these rooms as well.

There are several faux fabric techniques that work well in the bathroom, such as a plaid or linen look, and these can create a taller, more spacious feeling in the bathroom. This is very helpful in smaller bathrooms, and can add value to your home if you are hoping to sell in the future. For a man’s bathroom, or just a more refined look, consider a great leather look or marbled style, although these can be trickier to achieve on the wall than on furniture.

Faux Plaid Instructions

Plaids are great ways to introduce multiple colors and add height to the room, and give you a great way to show some creativity. The shades do not have to be variations of the same color, and you can choose multiple opposite colors to create your plaid look. Do not forget a great gold, silver, or white pinstripe, to add depth and really make the wall pop. You can choose a faux plaid on one focal wall, or use it on multiple walls without looking tacky or overwhelming.

To create a faux plaid look, start with a basecoat in a neutral tone, such as beige, off white, or a shade of yellow. Once that coat dries, begin measuring your first vertical stripe, using painter’s tape to avoid any mistakes. Stripes do not have to be equidistant, and you can use a more random approach to this layer of stripes. Allow the stripes to dry for at least four hours before moving to the next layer.

For the horizontal striping, choose your second color and measure thinner lines horizontally, weaving the color through the vertical stripe with an over-under approach. Allow this layer to dry completely. Use your third color, which should be a lighter shade, for both a horizontal and vertical stripe, one layer at a time, making sure that some lines are thin and some are slightly thicker. Finally, the vertical pinstripe will complete the look.

Once your paint has had at least four to six hours to dry, add a layer of glaze, such as a polyurethane, to make the pattern pop. You can really get creative with the colors you use for the striping, and even the base color allows some room for uniqueness. The faux plaid painting technique is a wonderful opportunity to express your individuality in a beautiful and stylish way, without spending your entire budget. For tips on colors that work together, or for help choosing the right glaze, consult the experts at your local home improvement store or do some online research.