Ralph Lauren Suede Paint Review

I enjoy working on home improvement projects myself.  Well, techniqually I don't enjoy the WORK, but I enjoy seeing the finished results and being able to say, "I did that myself".  I'm not an expert by any means, but I enjoy trying out new techniques that will add a different look to my home.

The walls in our hallways were horribly uneven, scratched, and with small cracks from where the foundation had settled.  Wallpaper was NOT an option as the walls were way too uneven.  Regular paint didn't mask the damaged areas on the wall either.  I knew from experience that a textured paint would be a good solution to this problem, as using textured paint is a good way to disguise damaged walls. 

Ralph Lauren Suede Paint seemed to be the best solution to our damaged walls, and after seeing a finished Suede Paint project, I really liked the way the walls had a soft velvety appearance upon completion.  So I sat out to educate myself on the application process and purchased the necessary supplies.

The supplies needed to use Ralph Lauren Suede Paint include:

• Ralph Lauren Suede Paint (color of your choice)
• Regular paint roller
• Paint tray
• 3" paint brush
• Drop cloth
• Painters tape

To begin with, you will need to tape off areas that you want to keep protected from paint.  There are little beads in Ralph Lauren Suede Paintthat cause the paint to "bounce", so it's a good idea to completely cover the ceiling and floor with newspaper.  Paint the walls with the paint roller as you normally would.  Allow to sit overnight. If the paint appears uneven, don't be concerned.  This is normal.  (Leave everything covered with newspaper and drop cloths for the next day's work)

Using the same Ralph Lauren Suede Paint (use the same color as you painted on the wall) begin applying small x's in a crisscross pattern with the 3" paint brush. The crisscrosses should slightly overlap each other.  The crisscross pattern should be randomly applied, but every inch of wall should be covered.  Try working in a 5" X 5" section at a time.  DO NOT ALLOW THE PAINT TO DRY.  You must consistently apply the crisscross pattern to the paint until the entire room is finished. 

You can expect to work a full day on the application of the Ralph Lauren Suede Paint.  IT IS A LOT OF WORK!  As you apply the crisscross pattern, you will immediately begin seeing the depth and definition of the textured paint.  Because it creates so much definition to your walls, it WILL help to blend in the imperfections of your walls, and is a great way to disguise damaged walls. 

Ralph Lauren Suede Paint was once only available at specialty paint stores, however it can now be purchased at all home improvement stores as well.  Any paint professional will be able to direct you to the tools and supplies you will need. 

What makes Ralph Lauren Suede Paint stand out from other textured paint techniques, is that you don't have to buy any special glaze or separate cans of paint.  You also don't need any unusual tools, just a large 3" paint brush that you can purchase for less than $ 5.00.

Ralph Lauren Suede Paint is available in many beautiful colors. Visit the Ralph Lauren Home website for a full listing of the 44 different paint colors available.  Some of the shades that are available include:

• Arrow Wood (This is the color we used in our home and it is a coffee brown)
• Caminos Grey (A soft, velvety dark grey)
• Santa Rose (A beautiful dusty rose)
• Ventana (A gorgeous shade of grey/blue)
• Rowan Berry (A deep berry color with a hint of brown)
• Adobe (An inviting brown shade)
• Yellowstone (A gold-tone yellow)
• Silver City (A piercing shade of silver)
• Blue Agave (A medium shade of bright blue)

With over 44 shades of Ralph Lauren Suede Paint, it is impossible to list them all here, but you can find the perfect paint color for your home.  Select from browns, tans, silvers, blues, deep purples, neutrals, pinks, mauves, reds, golds, and much more. 

Ralph Lauren Suede Paint provides a velvety appearance, and adds depth and dimension to any room.  This very unique paint technique is appealing to the eye, and omits a warm and inviting atmosphere.  Although it will require a great deal of work, you will be pleased with the end result. 

In addition, this is a very durable paint finish.  We have had our hallway painted with Ralph Lauren Suede Paint (which is a high-traffic spot in our home) for roughly five years now.  I had not had to touch up that area one time.  When your walls are covered with this textured paint, they feel rough to the touch and hold up against a lot of wear and tear.  The paint doesn't show fingerprints or scuff marks or hand prints, etc.  IF you do have to touch up the area, just lightly dab the paint on the area and blend it in with a wide paint brush.

Bottom Line - Ralph Lauren Suede Paint provides beautiful results to those that are up for the job.  I love the way my walls look, and you can no longer see that the walls are damaged.  However, it took A LOT of work (and a very sore back and shoulder) to get the job done right.