While faux painting effects for a finish are not new, dating back to the ancient world and the French trompe l’oeil trends of the 18th century, the recent decades have brought waxing and waning popularity for textured walls. While sponge painting reached a new height in the 1990s and early 2000s, many criticize it as a very dated look today. Using a technique like frottage is more subtle and stylish, offering many possibilities to customize it to your room.
After you have applied your main wall color, use wrinkled plastic wrap or other materials to dab the finish after you’ve applied the glaze to remove some of it. You can also dip the wrap in the glaze to apply it. Each application approach will achieve slightly different results, so it’s best to experiment off the wall or in a small section first. The frottage effect will produce a mottled effect that has a lot of texture and visual interest, all for very little cost beyond your basic painting supplies.
