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Create an Elegant Faux Finish with Paper Illusion Wallpaper

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Paper Illusion Faux Finish Wallpaper

Most faux finishing projects involve layers and layers of paint, but with Paper Illusion wallpaper you can achieve beautiful, one-of-a-kind designer looks without the mess, fumes, and endless hours of tedious work. Faux finish wallpaper is also more durable and long-lasting than paint. Are your walls cracked or uneven? Are they covered with outdated, unsightly paneling? No problem. Paper Illusion covers everything right up. It's also completely washable, but if a section becomes stained or torn, just patch over it with another piece. The paper is printed with a variety of faux finish effects, including Birdseye Maple, Travertine Marble, Florentine Marble, Hearthstone, and Script Illusion. Paper Illusion wallpaper is addicting. Once you get a successful project under your belt, you'll want to try more. I've used several different colors and styles in my home, and the leftover pieces work well for small projects, like photo mattes and book covers. I've even transformed an ugly sink area into an elegant space with a bronze faux marble countertop.

Pictured here: Paper Illusion in Hearthstone Toffee Crunch

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You're the Designer with Paper Illusion Wallpaper

Creating beautiful faux finishes on your walls and other flat surfaces has never been easier. The hardest part is picking out the paper as there are so many colors and finishes to choose from. You won't need special tools, and you can work in small increments of time. Best of all, there is little clean up or prep time involved.

The process of applying Paper Illusion Wallpaper involves three simple steps:

Step One: Tear

Step Two: Dip

Step Three: Apply

Your friends won't believe you transformed your walls yourself, and you won't believe how easy it is!

SquidArt Courtesy of tagsforkids

Step One: Tear

Paper Illusion Wallpaper

Start by tearing the paper into random, irregular shapes. I like to tear up a roll while watching television or sitting around with friends. I put torn pieces into two piles: one for those that have a straight edge, and one for those that don't. If you want your walls to have a veined look, let the underside of the paper show once in awhile. I do a little of both, depending on the color I'm using. For example, the Tuscan Red script paper has a gray underside, which looks really pretty with the red colors. Some of the lighter colors have a white underside, which looks like grout when layered. I've done walls with and without the underside showing, but you need to decide before you start tearing. It looks great either way, but you're the designer. Do a few sample pieces before you tear up an entire roll. That way you can decide what looks best for your project.

Step Two: Dip

Paper Illusion Wallpaper

When you're ready to begin, just dip a piece of the paper into warm water for a few seconds. Some of the older Paper Illusion kits included a tray like the one pictured here, but a bowl of water works just as well. I change the water every half hour or so. You can start anywhere, but I typically begin at the top of a wall and work my way down and out. If you start at the top, begin with the pieces that have a straight edge.

Step Three: Apply

Paper Illusion Wallpaper

Now for the fun part. Apply the torn wet paper in an overlapping manner to any clean, dry surface. You can even use Paper Illusion wallpaper over paneling as long as the grooves are 1/4" or less in width. Once you've overlapped and positioned your piece of wet paper, just use a smoothing tool to press it into place and a damp sponge to remove excess water. That's all there is to it. Just keep applying the paper until your surface is completely covered. I usually work for an hour or so at a time, take a break, then go back to it.

Paper Illusion Wallpaper

See Samples of all 24 Paper Illusion Designs

Paper Illusion Styles

Paper Illusion Faux Finish Wallpaper by Imperial Wallcoverings

Birdseye Maple - Tortoise

Birdseye Maple - Mocha Glaze

Birdseye Maple - Rose Bush

Birdseye Maple - Pearl Oyster

Birdseye Maple - Ashwood

Birdseye Maple - Wild Sage

Birdseye Maple - Burnished Teal

Birdseye Maple - Copper Glow

Birdseye Maple - Plum Haze

Birdseye Maple - Midnight Gold

Travertine Marble - Potters Clay

Travertine Marble - Nutmeg

Travertine Marble - Cream Caramel

Travertine Marble - Green Mist

Travertine Marble - Hazelnut Cream

Florentine Marble - Sandstone

Florentine Marble - Cinnamon

Hearthstone - Marsh Spruce

Hearthstone - Toffee Crunch

Hearthstone - River Rock

Hearthstone - Pebble

Script Illusion - Parchment

Script Illusion - Pomegranate

Script Illusion - Golden Slate

Birdseye Maple Tortoise

Paper Illusion Birdseye Maple

By Imperial Wallcoverings ~ Available in Tortoise, Mocha Glaze, Rose Bush, Pearl Oyster, Ashwood, Wild Sage, Burnished Teal, Copper Glow, Plum Haze, and Midnight Gold

Travertine Marble Nutmeg

Paper Illusion Travertine Marble

By Imperial Wallcoverings ~ Available in Potters Clay, Nutmeg, Cream Caramel, Green Mist, and Hazelnut Cream

Florentine Marble Cinnamon

Paper Illusion Florentine Marble

By Imperial Wallcoverings ~ Available in Sandstone and Cinnamon

Hearthstone Marsh Spruce

Paper Illusion Hearthstone

By Imperial Wallcoverings ~ Available in Marsh Spruce, Toffee Crunch, River Rock, and Pebble

Script Illusion Golden Slate

Paper Illusion Script Illusion

By Imperial Wallcoverings ~ Available in Parchment, Pomegranate, and Golden Slate

See Samples of all 24 Paper Illusion Designs

Hallway in Script Illusion Tuscan Red

Script Illusion in Tuscan Red

Script Illusion by Paper Illusion

One of my favorite Paper Illusion styles is Script Illusion. Our hallway was covered with dreary, yellowed wallpaper that dated back several decades. My least favorite home improvement project is removing old wallpaper. On top of being messy, it wastes hours that could be spent doing something more creative and constructive. In this case, I was able to simply peel off the wallpaper and leave the liner. Then I papered over the liner with Tuscan Red Script Illusion. Regular wallpaper would have been problematic since I needed to accommodate six doors and a built-in cabinet in the hallway. I used the same paper in a bedroom closet that had decaying, boldly striped wallpaper from the 1920s. I decided not to strip this paper, since I wasn't sure what was underneath, but the Paper Illusion wallpaper adhered beautifully. Also, because Tuscan Red is such a rich color, the striped paper was completely camouflaged. I was sure we'd have to panel the closet in wood, so Paper Illusion definitely saved the day.

Paper Illusion Wallpaper on eBay

The Latest Auctions for Paper Illusion Wallpaper, Including Discontinued Patterns and Colors from the Village PaperIllusions Wallpaper Line

Travertine Illusion Terra Cotta

Travertine Illusion by PaperIllusion

Later this year we'll be doing a major remodel of our kitchen (circa 1926). In the meantime, a quick, inexpensive fix was needed to update the walls, which were covered with tacky, pink-flowered wallpaper. To prepare the walls, I tore down the paper and left the liner. I've then applied Paper Illusion directly over the liner with no problems. The cracked ceiling was an eyesore, and also included a badly beat up vent. The ceiling is now covered in Paper Illusion, and looks like new. I'll almost be sad to see the walls and ceiling torn down. The paper I chose is Travertine Illusion Terra Cotta, which has been discontinued.

Paper Illusion Faux Marble Countertop

Faux Marble Countertop Project

Does Your Ugly Countertop Need an Inexpensive Facelift?

Paper Illusion Marble Wallpaper on Amazon

Shop for Paper Illusion Wallpaper in a Variety of Marble Styles

Riomaggiore Mural by Galen Crader
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Reply

MiaBellezza Apr 26, 2012 @ 7:38 am | delete

I'm choosing wallpaper again. It's time for one wall in the bedroom that must be papered. I really like the illusions paper. I'm a Canuck though and have to buy Canadian. Did you know we have to pay duty on anything over $20?

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KimGiancaterino Apr 26, 2012 @ 1:02 pm | delete

Yes, I have family in Ontario. It's a big deal any time we want to send something to them. Usually we just send cards.

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Camden Mar 29, 2012 @ 12:10 pm | delete

What a fabulous idea! I once tried to paint a faux finish combination of blue and red - I ended up with purple walls and had to repaint. This is a great way to avoid that kind of nightmare!