When creating special texture effects in your home for accent walls or decoration you may want to try a marblized effect.
Marbling is a technique where different colors of paint are layered in a pattern to break up a solid color.
You can get as creative as you want designing an abstract pattern or one that simulates the colors and textures found in natural marble stone but you should understand before you start no matter how much time and talent you put into your masterpiece it will never look exactly like stone.
You can think of this as the difference between a painting that an artist might create and a photograph. If the photograph represents reality then the artist uses different techniques to manipulate the paint to approximate reality or they can go off on their own and create something abstract.
For instance you could create a marblized texture from hot pink and hot orange paints and have a result that meets your needs and another person may want to paint a fireplace to recreate the idea of stone without installing stone pieces.
It is all up to you.
What tools will you need?
First you will need your standard painting tools.
Variety of paints that match your final design.
Paint pan to hold your main color and smaller pots to hold your accent colors.
Standard flat roller or wide brush to apply your base color.
Textured rollers to apply your secondary colors.
Small brushes to apply accent colors. Depending on your detail you should select standard painters brushes down to smaller artist brushes.
Some people like to use sponge brushes and rolled garbage bags to apply textured colors. Rags are also useful to roll down your wall and create a special texture.
Having a reference
If you are trying to create a natural look then you should visit your local supply store and pick up a few natural stone tiles that match your design.
If you are working on an abstract pattern you may want to work it out on a computer or paint a test pattern as we will discuss next.
Test Your Work First
If you have never created a special paint pattern you should practice your skills on the same materials that you will eventually paint.
If you are working on drywall then you should prime and test on a good sized piece of drywall …. if you will be applying your skills to wood then work on the same similar pieces.
Testing your work is important because it lets you know what tools work best to create different patterns. There is no real rule on how you use your tools but there are some basic methods that each tool can be used to create.
Once you have tested your skills you may decide that wall paper is a better bet heh …. or you might want to work out a few different layered effects to get the right one.
Applying Your Paint
After you prime your piece so your paint will adhere uniformly you want to apply your base color. Choosing your base color is pretty easy it should be the main or largest color of your pattern.
When adding your secondary colors you have a choice of using opaque colors that will block the color behind it or you can mix in an additive that will make your colors translucent.
When you start adding your top layers work in 4 foot or smaller sections so your paint will not dry before you can work it.
For a consistent look you should work the entire area in layers. This means apply paint in layers throughout the whole piece before attempting to add more details.
Pattern head paint rollers are a good way to add consistency uniform layers fast.
For random patterns you can use a rolled rag or trashbag to either add color or remove it.
For a final step you can use a large soft brush to blur the edges of your patterns. This will make the surface look like it is one piece of material.
Final Note
Whatever techniques you use to create your patterns remember you can not effectively recreate an exact duplicate of stone with paint. As a matter of fact even countertop manufacturers that make simulated composite marble can’t duplicate the natural look of marble.
With that in mind have fun with your painting and always test your work before you apply it to your final piece.