If you are a lover of true Victorian and Italian decorating, then a beautiful damask pattern antiqued with gold metallic paint is your "end all" wall treatment. It's easy and fun to do, then step back and fall to your knees over its beauty and authentic appeal.

In my research on the history of damask, I found that Damask patterns and weaving actually began in Florence, Italy in the early 1400's. The methods for weaving such intricate silk designs which showed a reversal of the design in satin on the opposite side, was such a closely guarded secret that anyone caught immigrating to share the secret would surely be beheaded.

Well, history being history, wars were fought, plague was battled, times changed and the secret spread across Europe, making the damask pattern and technique quite commonplace.

Damask patterns started within the linens textile industry but its popularity caused it to spread to other parts of the home decor scene to include furniture, wallpapers, pillows and drapery items as well.
By the turn of the 20th century, damask patterns were a staple in Victorian decorating and have stayed a popular decorating theme within the Traditional decorating style ever since. With today's new interest in Italian decorating, the damask pattern is simply a natural since it originated in Italy.

Typically, in wall decor, a damask describes an all over pattern that completely covers the wall with an offset repeat of the same design. A wallpaper effect.

A great idea for truly elegant walls, a stenciled damask pattern offers the same regal effect but you can do it yourself. Here’s how:

Paint your walls a deep color. Now you will stencil the design in a paler version of the same color. For instance, deep gold walls with pale gold stenciling.

Use a level and create a pencil line for your first row of the damask pattern.
Repeat the design across the wall in a straight line, leaving a gap as wide as the stencil design between each repeat.

Drop the stencil down to the next row (again use the level to make sure you are getting it straight) and stencil the same design "between" the repeats above.
Cover the entire wall.

Once the design is dry, add gold metallic paint to translucent wall glaze and apply with a brush over the entire wall. You will watch the colors deepen slightly and see a sheen develop that gives the entire wall a regal feel.

If a deeper antiquing is desired, rather than to use the metallic paint, mix brown “tint” with your glaze. Tints are typically available on line or in specialty paint stores and are more sheer than wall or craft paint.
Mix just a slight amount of brown tint with the translucent glaze then wipe on to the wall with a rag, wiping it off as you go. This will deepen the pattern and give the wall a more aged appearance.