Creating the Look of Tile with Paint

If you love the look of tile but do not feel skilled enough to create the look you would like from the actual real thing, you can create a faux tile look that is every bit as attractive (but of course, not as durable) simply by using the right type of painting technique. This look is really great for sections of walls that you might ordinarily tile, such as back splashes or over counter tops in bathrooms or kitchens.

First you will need to gather your supplies. You will need the following:

Drop cloth

Painters tape

Masking tape

Very thin masking tape

Yard Stick

Pencil with eraser

Paper

Smoothing tool (anything that will get applied masking tape very flat)

Latex paint in the colors you will be using

Water (to dilute paint)

Paint tray

Paint roller and covers with desired nap size

Small paint roller for painting squares

Level

Pourous Paint Sponge

Paper towels

Nylon stocking cloths

Start with a white surface. If the surface is not white already, paint it with latex paint, using a paint roller. Allow to dry thoroughly. If the surface is already white, make sure it is cleaned and dried very thoroughly before beginning your task.

Decide where you want to paint your tile look. Measure off the space with your yard stick and mark the places with a pencil. Put a strip of painters tape above and beside these lines so your paint will not bleed over onto a different section. Use your yardstick or level to create the pencil markings where your tile will be. Make marks both vertically and horizontally and then use the straight edge of the yard stick to pencil them in.

Use the very thin masking tape to create grout lines. Place it very carefully along both the horizontal and vertical lines you have penciled in. Use a smoothing tool to get the tape as flat as possible. You want the area underneath it to be very white when finished so it appears to be authentic grout.

Create a paper graph that is representative of the tiles you have just drawn (making sure you have the same amount of squares drawn as there actually are on the wall). Now pencil in the colors you will be making each of these squares. You can do a traditional checkered look with two solid colors. You can do an alternating look with solids and sponged and nylon stocking cloth 'tiles' as well. You can use one, two, or three colors to create the looks you would like. Alternating techniques and patterns as you wish.

Put your fat masking tape around one square 'tile.' Mix three parts paint and one part water together to dilute your paint. Paint the inside of this square the color you would like it to be (refer to your graph). You want to use a small roller for this, not a paint brush. Do all of the squares that are going to be this same color, being careful to tape around each one precisely prior to applying your paint. Allow to dry thoroughly. Remove fat masking tape.

Now you want to apply fat masking tape around the next series of squares you will be creating. For example if you are going to make the sponge-effect 'tiles' now, you want to refer to your graph and put a little pencil mark into each square you will be sponging, or mark it off on the paper as you go. Dip a dampened sponge into the diluted paint color of choice (three parts paint to one part water) and then blot with a paper towel. Dab the sponge onto said squares. Allow to dry thoroughly. Remove fat masking tape.

Now repeat for areas you will be applying the stocking cloth to. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Remove all skinny tape now and you should have a very beautiful and authentic looking 'tile' piece painted. Using various shades of one color works great if you are using the three techniques described above together. If you want to be even more creative, you can hand paint any designs you might like onto individual, random squares (such as a flower, sunshine, fish, sea horse, sea shell, etc.).

Now you can sit back and enjoy your new look.