How to Apply Faux Finish Bathroom Cabinets

Lead Image for How to Apply Faux Finish Bathroom Cabinets
  • 3-4 hours
  • Beginner
  • 1-200
What You'll Need
Sandpaper
Latex semi-gloss paint in your choice of color
Paintbrushes
Sponges
Paint tray
Paint roller
Top coat or glaze
Drop cloths or old newspapers
Old clothing
Old rags
Tools for making textures (combs, dusters, scrub brush, string, linen, old fabric swatches, forks, spoons, gauze strips, etc.)
What You'll Need
Sandpaper
Latex semi-gloss paint in your choice of color
Paintbrushes
Sponges
Paint tray
Paint roller
Top coat or glaze
Drop cloths or old newspapers
Old clothing
Old rags
Tools for making textures (combs, dusters, scrub brush, string, linen, old fabric swatches, forks, spoons, gauze strips, etc.)

Among the best ways to update your bathroom is refinishing the bathroom cabinets. Faux finishing techniques can transform a cabinet without removing the cabinet itself. Faux finishing is the process of creating a surface that resembles the texture of wood, denim, or suede.

You can create most finishes with paint and common household items such as combs, feathers, and sponges. Follow these steps to create interesting and beautiful faux finished cabinets.

Preparation

Sand the old paint from the bathroom cabinets. Clean the surface and fill the chips or cracks with wall plaster. Use the appropriate plaster for your material.

Prepare and mix paint in the tray and lay either drop cloths or newspapers to protect the floor. Wear old clothing to protect yourself.

Basic Paint

Paint the cabinets with a base coat of semi-gloss paint. Use the paint roller and move from top to bottom. Allow the base coat to dry for 24 hours.

The next day, paint the next color on your cabinets. Paint from top to bottom and let the paint dry until it is sticky to the touch.

Tooling

Use the tool of your choice to apply the faux finish. Be creative and imaginative. For example, you can use a sponge to create texture. Use concise patterns and pressure. You can take classes to learn technique procedures at many home improvement stores.

Official faux finishing tools can be purchased at home improvement and paint stores; however, you can also find what you need around the house. A feather can be used to make light strokes, while a rolling string creates interesting lines. A scrub brush can also make lines for a rugged distressed look. Let the paint dry overnight.

Glazing

Use a clean paintbrush to paint a thin layer of mold-resistant glaze to seal your work. Let the cabinets dry for a full day before opening them. Once you are finished, clean up and store materials away from pets and children.