How to Antique a Wall with Molding
- 1). Assess the condition of the wall and molding. It is usually best to repair surface issues before painting, but minor imperfections can actually enhance the look of an antiqued wall. If any paint is peeling or loose, remove it with a paint scraper and sand the surface smooth.
- 2). Choose a base color, a top coat, a glaze and a primer. Use a color wheel to select harmonious shades. Tinted glaze is unnecessary unless you select a very deep top coat, such as red; tinted primer is required only under dark base coats. Measure the room to determine how much paint and glaze to buy. The base coat must fully cover the room, while the top color is mixed with glaze and applied unevenly.
- 3). Remove the molding, and set it aside. It is easiest to paint the walls when you don't have to worry about accidentally touching the molding.
- 4). Use a paint roller to prime the wall, and allow it to dry overnight.
- 5). Use a paint roller to apply two thick, even coats of the base color. Allow the first coat to dry for several hours before applying the second coat. Use a brush to cut in around doors and other breaks in the wall. Allow the second coat to dry overnight.
- 6). In a bucket, mix the top color with glaze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Glaze sets quickly, so mix only enough to last until your first break.
- 7). Dip a plastic grocery bag in the paint-and-glaze mixture, and roughly stipple it onto the wall. Swirls, loops and other patterns make the wall appear natural; smears and drips look unprofessional. Keep a paint brush ready to catch any drips as they appear. If you take a break, overlap your previous work slightly when you return to avoid lap lines.
- 8). Use a paint brush to prime the molding, and allow it to dry overnight.
- 9). Use a paint brush to coat the molding in the base color or, for visual interest, reverse the colors on the molding. Allow the molding to dry for several hours before adding a second coat. Allow the base color to dry overnight.
- 10
Use a paint brush to thoroughly coat the molding in the top color. Allow the paint to dry for several hours. - 11
Use a block sander and medium-grit sandpaper to remove some of the top color, allowing the base coat to peek through. Sand unevenly, creating some spots that are fully covered in the top color, some areas that show only the base coat and some areas that show a bit of both colors. Allow the molding to dry overnight before reinstalling it in the room.
