Rendering 103: How to add Sheen to Flooring

Many of you have asked about how to get light effects and sheen on a flooring surface. Here is one of the ways I do this…

1. Start with drafting tape…it’s not as sticky as regular masking tape. I usually put it on my jeans or my skin a few times to get most of the tackiness out of it. Then figure out your light source, and tape out some rays of light. A piece of furniture will block the light…so leave that part of the floor dark.

2. Use white chalk pastels (the hard ones) and something to scrape some powder off…I’ve used a bulldog clip edge…then scrape some of the powder between the tape lines.

Build up the powder…not too much, not too little. You can always put the tape back down and add more, but you can’t take away. Actually, that’s not true, you can blow it off still at this stage.

3. Rub the chalk powder in with your finger…not too much pressure.

4. Remove the tape carefully, by rocking it back and forth as you pull it.

5. I use a make-up brush to remove the excess chalk …you can do this before you remove the tape if you have lots of powder. Brush in the same direction of the light.

             

Interior Design by Patricia Gray Interior Design