Thread: How to make outlines of frames missing from wall

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I apologize if this has already been discussed previously. I attempted to do a search, but couldn't think of how to word my query in a succinct enough manner.

Anyway, this year I'm giving my living room a vacant house look. It's going to be pretty minimalistic, with sheets over all the furniture, boarded up windows, etc. I plan on leaving up a couple of creepy paintings I've found at garage sales, but I would like to make it appear as if there were once many more photos and painting hanging on the walls. Maybe you've seen before how dust builds up around frames and sometimes leaves a mark on the wall in the shape of the frame. That's the effect I want to recreate. Does anyone know how I can do this? Naturally, I want some sort of product that won't stain my walls. I'm also not sure how to go about applying this in a convincing manner. I know there are a lot of really creative people on here, so I was hoping someone could help me out.

This can be difficult if your walls are white. If they're painted a color, anything behind the painting is going to be darker, as the rest of the paint will have faded. I'm thinking some kind of clear tinted vinyl in a slightly darker color than your wall so the actual texture of the wall shows through. Matte clear might be a little difficult to find, though, usually it'll be glossy. You could print out a darker color than the wall onto a high resolution paper such as brochure paper, and spray the back with repositionable adhesive. For white walls, you could make it a cream color and pretend that the wall was originally cream.

If it's wood, generally it will be lighter, as exposure to sun and lighting will usually darken most woods. What you might have to do for this is take a photo of the section of the wall you want to change, lighten the tint of the wood, print it out on photo quality matte paper then try to stick it to the wall as close as possible to the photo area.

What you're talking about is the fact that wallpaper or paint tends to fade out when exposed to light, and when things like picture frames are in place for a long time and then removed, the surface under the picture/object is "fresher" as the object blocked the light fade effect... so it's not dust.

I unfortunately don't know of a good temporary solution that won't damage your walls. You might be able to go a few shades brighter/darker on whatever the color is on your walls (or if you have wallpaper, getting a scan of it and adjusting it that way) using very thin transparency type film (check out places like Kinkos/Fed Ex or Staples print center for printing on transparency film) but that means getting a file built of the color of your wall fading out in a square shape the size you need it to be... and attaching it with something like low-tack double sided tape or the like and you'd still have to deal with the shine... hmmmm.

Since you are planning this for your own walls that I assume you don't want to repaint, I'd suggest using either washable water-soluable paint, maybe something like Crayola kids paint, that could be sponged on to give a dirty look or a washable water-soluable light spray adhesive that you could add some dryer lint dust to to give a dirty look. I'd test a small area out of site before doing a large area and I'd stay away from using any reds as they can sometimes leave a shadow behind when removed.

For the look of missing pictures, cut out cardboard frames (some with a decorative edging or oval would be nice for a vintage look) and temporarily attach them to the wall. Then apply your "dirt" technique by either lightly sponging paint, or spraying adhesive and casting "dirt" to the wall. If you sponge, be sure to feather your work out to blend with the wall. Remove frame outlines and that should create the look you want.

Thanks for clarifying exactly what causes the effect I'm looking for. I guess I really hadn't thought about it too much. I'm intrigued by your suggestions, Xane and Frankie's Girl, but I feel like it would be too difficult for me to get a close enough match to my original paint color.

I'm going to give Spookie's suggestion a try. My main concern, really, was getting the darker paint to fade out, but Spookie's sponge recommendation sounds like it could work with a bit of care. Thanks so much for the help! I'll be sure to post pictures of the results if it turns out okay.

Since you're trying to simulate the accumulation of dust and discoloration.... use dust!

Get some cocoa powder, and a wet rag. Put a square on the wall made of cardboard the size you want, and some rolled up duck tape to hold it in place for a few minutes. Wipe down the wall around the rectangle using the wet rag, then sprinkle the cocoa powder onto it lightly and carefully so it sticks to the wet wall. Wipes right off afterward with a wet rag.

You can experiment with other sources for "dust" like actual sawdust or flour or powdered sugar or coffee grounds dust or chalk line powder...

I wonder what effect this would give on a wall.

During Christmas, we use Glass Wax on our windows to simulate frost or snow build-up in the conver of the windows. We sponge it on the window and allow it to dry to a whitish haze (goes on pink to start with). Then, when it's dry, we use a clean cloth to form the look we want. It comes off like any car wax. Like a dry white dust.

It's sold at our local hardware store and it comes in a pink metal rectangular "can".

If you'd like, i'll put some up and take a few pictures when I have some time.

If you could get construction paper close to the color of your wall just cut out frames and use spraypaint to adge them then tape them to the wall, or maybe the wall cling material.

Originally Posted by Bryan316

Since you're trying to simulate the accumulation of dust and discoloration.... use dust!

Get some cocoa powder, and a wet rag. Put a square on the wall made of cardboard the size you want, and some rolled up duck tape to hold it in place for a few minutes. Wipe down the wall around the rectangle using the wet rag, then sprinkle the cocoa powder onto it lightly and carefully so it sticks to the wet wall. Wipes right off afterward with a wet rag.

You can experiment with other sources for "dust" like actual sawdust or flour or powdered sugar or coffee grounds dust or chalk line powder...

I was thinking the same thing. If you can't lighten the area behind a picture, darken the area around it. You don't need to do the whole wall, just the area around the picture and fading out a foot or so.

I would use dust, cocoa powder, or the powder railroaders use to dirty up scenes (available at most hobby shops). Fill one of those blue squeeze bulbs you use to clean out the noses and ears of little kids, and spray the powder around a masked-off area of the wall. After Halloween, take a Mr. Clean Magic eraser and some water and take all the dirt off (those erasers clean everything!)

OPs girlfriend here. Thanks so much for the cocoa powder suggestion Bryan316! A quick look at the paint section of Michaels definitely revealed that nothing that won't damage your walls exists. We wet one of those craft sponge brushes a little, dipped it in the cocoa powder, and just dabbed around a cardboard cutout. I'd say it looks pretty close to how we hoped it would!