How to Paint a Marble-Inspired Wall
The subtle coloring, soft veins, and no-two-pieces-are-quite-the-same look of marble has made the material a popular choice in home design. But as exquisite as marble might be, there are many considerations that need to be made before its installation. For one thing, marble is heavy and requires specific supports before it can be installed. Plus, it's an expensive material and often requires special cleaning considerations.
We found a way to capture everything you love about marble and recreate the look in a painted wall treatment. Our easy how-to will show you the materials and technique needed to get a marbleized finish on an accent wall. As a bonus, this DIY project will not break the bank. All you need is a few buckets of paint and some crafts supplies.
Matthew Clark
What You Need
Drop cloth
Painters tape
2-6 different colors of paint that range 3-5 shades apart, plus white paint
Paint stir sticks
Wool pad (we used the Woolie)
Tape or lint roller
Plastic tub or bin
Large paintbrush
Feather
Large soft paintbrush
Step 1: Prep for Painting
Prepare the room by laying down drop cloths and applying painters tape to the trim. Open paint cans and give them a stir. If they're too sticky, add one cup of water per gallon of paint to thin it out. Then, de-fuzz the wool pad with a piece of tape or a lint roller. You don't want any fuzz to make it onto the wall. Fill a large container with water, wet the wool pad, blot it dry, then fluff it with your fingers.
Step 2: Apply Diagonal Lines
To start painting, dip a large brush into the first paint color. Apply paint to the wall in heavy, diagonal, blotchy lines. Repeat with all colors, alternating as you work your way across the wall.
Step 3: Blend Paint
Apply a small amount of each paint color to the wool pad. Use the pad to apply the same diagonal lines to the wall, blending together as you go. Allow the paint to dry overnight.
Wow-Worthy DIY Wall Treatments
Step 4: Prep White Paint
To make the marble veins, mix 1 part white paint with 3 parts water. Dip a large feather into the paint and water mixture, wiping off any excess.
Step 5: Apply Thin Lines
Drag the painted feather across the diagonal lines of the wall. Turn, wiggle, and shake the feather as desired to mimic the look of natural marble veining. With a soft, dry, and clean paintbrush, lightly dab over the vein lines to lighten and blur them. Let dry, then remove painters tape.
