Linen-Look Walls How-To

 

• Latex paint in two shades of the same color in eggshell or semigloss finish (We used two lavenders that are three steps away from each other on a paint strip.)
• Latex glazing medium
• Wallpaper brush, linen-technique brush, or dragging brush
• Surfacing compound (optional)
• Putty knife (optional)
• Sandpaper (optional)
• Tack cloth (optional)
• Painter's tape
• Paint trays
• Paint rollers
• Large bucket
• Paint stirrer
• Lint-free cloths

Note: This is a two-person technique. One person rolls the paint, while the other drags the brush to create the linenlike texture.

1. If necessary, patch any holes or cracks in the wall with the surfacing compound and a putty knife. Let dry. Use sandpaper to smooth. Wipe away sanding particles with a tack cloth. Tape off any molding plus window and door casings. Open a window for proper ventilation.
2. Use the paint roller to roll the darker shade of paint onto the walls. Let dry.
3. Prepare a 3:1 mixture of latex glazing medium and lighter-color paint in a large bucket; stir. Pour some of the glaze-paint mixture into a paint tray.
4. Roll the glaze-paint mixture onto the wall in straight, 3-foot vertical strips from ceiling to floor. Do not overlap the strips. After you have rolled on three strips, have a helper slowly pull the wallpaper brush, linen-technique brush, or dragging brush straight down the wall with a firm hand while you continue to roll on additional strips. After each drag, wipe the brush with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove the glaze. After the strips have been vertically dragged, drag the same brush horizontally across the wall, keeping the brush level. Wipe the brush with a lint-free cloth after each drag. This should result in a coarse, linen-like pattern.
5. Continue the rolling and dragging process across the wall. Stagger the ends of the horizontal lines so there are no definite end marks. Let each wall dry completely before starting the next so you don't smudge the corner areas.