Faux Painting Your Walls Using a Combing Basket Weave Technique

Combing a traditional basket weave pattern on your walls adds texture, dimension, and elegance to your room. The basket weave pattern combines horizontal and vertical stripes, looking just like the pattern on a picnic basket. The intricate detail of the basket weave pattern looks difficult to master, but it's actually easier than it looks. You don't need to be an interior designer or expert painter to achieve this look - here are 6 easy steps to apply the basket weave combing technique to your walls.

What you'll need:
Blue Painter's Tape
Level
Paint roller and pan
Semi gloss paint
Razor knife
Colored pencil
Decorative painting comb
Cardboard

Combing Basket Weave Painting Technique Step 1: Draw your grid
Using a carpenter's level, draw a grid to mark off the squares of your design. If available, use a colored pencil that's the same color as your base paint. This way, your lines will not show. Make sure the top and bottom of your squares are the same width as your decorative comb.

Combing Basket Weave Painting Technique Step 2: Tape the squares
Using blue painter's tape, mark off the top and bottom lines of your squares on the wall. Use the level to mark off the vertical lines and draw the line. Do not use the masking tape to mark off the vertical squares.

Combing Basket Weave Painting Technique Step 3: Paint vertically
Use the paint roller and roll on your paint. Drag the painting comb vertically on alternating squares. This reveals your "base" color that was already on the walls into a striped pattern. Make sure to stop dragging once you reach the bottom masking tape.

Combing Basket Weave Painting Technique Step 4: Paint horizontally
In the remaining squares, drag your comb horizontally. Continue this process until you finish the room.

Combing Basket Weave Painting Technique Step 5: Finish the smaller areas
Chances are, you'll discover your faux painting design will not fit your room perfectly. There will be smaller areas that do not fit in your basket weave design. For these unfinished spots, you'll need to create a makeshift decorative comb. Cut a piece of cardboard to the desired size. Using your main decorative comb, match the teeth up to the cardboard and mark off with a pencil. Take the razor knife and cut out the teeth.

Apply the basket weave technique above and finish off the smaller areas using your cardboard comb. Because this is a piece of cardboard, it's going to weaken after a few uses and your lines will not be as "tight." You may need to replace it a few times if you have a lot of smaller areas to cover.

The basket weave combing faux painting technique adds drama to even the most boring room. Once you're finished, you'll have a beautiful room with eye-catching, textured walls.