How to texture walls with cheesecloth

I’m crazy about texture, and it’s especially important since we prefer neutral colors. When Dad was visiting, he taught me how to texture walls with cheesecloth. That’s all that’s on the wall! Just cheesecloth held up and painted in place.

This photo is slightly dramatized, just so the texture will show up. Otherwise, it’s very subtle, like this:

Sounds super easy. I wish it was. Actually when Dad–the professional–was still here, it was super easy. But they had to leave before the project was finished. So while we did half the room in just a couple hours together, it took The Hubs and I two weeks to finish the other half without him. (Don’t be scared off by that. If you have a FULL day to commit to it, it can be done in a day. If you only have a few hours each evening, it will take you 2 weeks.)

I purchased the cheesecloth at our fabric store, it was priced at $3 a yard, but we used a 40% off coupon for it. I didn’t buy enough the first time. As a matter of fact, I didn’t buy enough the first 3 times. But you can buy it online for under $5 for three yards.

Instructions, if you are so inclined to attempt this project:

Measure the height of your walls. Unfold your cheesecloth and cut it into panels that equal the height of your walls. Be very careful to cut the cloth as straight as possible.

This is definitely a two person job. One person (the taller one) holds up the cheesecloth to the top of the walls as evenly as possible. The other person then tacks down the corners and a few spots in the middle of the cheesecloth panel with a very saturated paint roller.

The non-painter evens out the cheesecloth panels as they are being painted on, making sure all the lines are straight.

Once the corners are tacked in place, just fill in the rest of the panel with paint. Easy part.

For the smaller pieces above and below windows and doors, we trimmed the cheesecloth to size first, and then painted it on with a mini paint roller (4”). I do not recommend brushing at all (except for the edges if you need to), as even the softest brush will pull the cheesecloth and make it look wonky.
We overlapped each panel slightly. I love the aged look it creates. Small wrinkles and creases are okay too, they add more character.

Extreme zoom-in:

We are so happy with the look. It really brought some character and detail back into the house, but subtly, just like we like it.

So it’s a simple concept: cut the cheesecloth to fit, hold it up to the wall and paint it on.

What do you think? Would you ever try this at home?

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onshore

I must say that at first I thought this is a horrible thing to do, but it is only because at my parents’ they have sackcloth covered walls and those get dusty so easily and are really difficult to keep clean. BUT those are not painted! Cheesecloth painted seems very cool.

- Christina O
  
  Oh wow, keeping them clean never crossed my mind. But I did use satin finish paint, so if dust does stick, it should come off easily. I will watch for that though!
Anonymous

It looks fantastic! I would do it.

- Christina O
  
  Thank you!
Sarah

What a great trick to keep in mind for damaged, cracked, or lumpy walls. I’ve heard of crumpling up tissue paper and then smoothing it back out and applying it to the walls for subtle texture, but never cheesecloth. I imagine it’s almost like faux grasscloth. Very unique!

- Christina O
  
  Grasscloth was what I had wanted in the living room, that’s why Dad suggested this. We’re so glad because I like it even better. It’s more casual than grasscloth with the inconsistent lines and seams.
  
  And yes, perfect for bumpy walls. Good point!
Rhino Shield

Jenn Anderson
Boston, MA
I am having l nightmares over the Rhino Shield covering on my house, installed just over three years ago. Large bubbles are in the material that I can slit and hand peel the material, right down to the bare red cedar clapboards, which were also primed with an oil primer and finished with latex paint before the Rhino-Shield was applied. The material has a lifetime guarantee, so when I called several persons, including the owner Rhino Shield they all came over quickly.
Rhino Shield said that the material was probably put on when the cedar was damp, and thus would strip everything and apply a new primer and finish coat, let dry, then apply new Rhino Shield, adding that there will be no more work till flashing is….
Read more about my issue here
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/09/14/coating-home-bubbled-after-years/EvVT7CXrTWHf9A6Ky9eF9N/story.html

Melissa Nelson

Can I use latex or does it have to be oil based paint? I’m redoing my bathroom in Old Victorian. Would this fit into the motif, or not? Please let me know, as I’m VERY IMPULSIVE and anxious to get started!!! 🙂

- Christina
  
  We love it in our Victorian, it really adds a vintage feel. It is hard to undo though, it will have to be mudded over if you don’t like it. You can always test a section first! And we used latex paint. Have fun!
Rebecca

I’m working on a friend’s kitchen in her old Victorian right now. The walls had 1970’s wallpaper that we removed and we love the rustic appeal of the wall underneath… except for a few spots that were patched – one with plaster, one with drywall. Trying to replicate the old texture of wallpaper paste and beautiful layers of blue and olive paint has been a challenge, but I’ve had the cheesecloth idea rattling around for awhile and I’m thrilled to see how well it can turn out! Another tool for my toolbox!

Kathleen R.

I am going to use this as my (small) kitchen backsplash with washable paint and a dark tan color between stark white cabinets and an earthy, busy granite countertop, anything else would be too much. We have under-cabinet lights to show it off. I plan to finish it with a scrubbable boat-grade polyurethane topcoat. What a great idea, thank you!