Faux in French means false , but theres nothing false about the tremendous beauty that faux painting can lend your home . Faux painting is a term used to describe a wide range of decorative painting techniques, so named because they started as a form of replicating materials such as marble, silk and wood with paint, but has subsequently come to encompass many other decorative finishes for walls and furniture . Faux painting is gaining popularity by the day owing to its ability to enhance the mood, create texture and depth and generally , improve the appearance of a room, all at an affordable price.

Some of the more common faux painting finishes are:

• Marble Faux Finish - This is used to make walls and furniture look like real marble. This can be done using either plaster or glaze techniques.

• Wood Faux Finish - Faux bois (French for "fake wood") is often used to imitate exotic or hard-to-find wood varieties.

• Stri- Stricomes from the French word meaning "stripe" or "streak". It is referred to as a negative glaze technique.

• Silk Faux Finish - This replicates the appearance of silk.

• Ragging - Ragging is a glazing technique using twisted or bunched up rags to create a textural pattern.

• Brick Faux Finish - This technique gives walls the appearance of being made of brick.

• Trompe-l9cil - French for trick the eye, this is an art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the illusion that the depicted objects appear in three dimensions.

While there are professional painters who would do a good job, faux painting is simple enough to be done by the amateur. However , there are a few basic steps necessary for any faux painting technique. First, you should begin with a solid background color and apply it, allowing it to dry completely before beginning the next step. Second, mix the glaze with the chosen color. Glaze must be used instead of regular paint to achieve the best finish. If you are new to faux painting, practice the technique youve chosen on a painted piece of cardboard or wood until youre able to produce the desired effect.

Continue with your chosen technique until you achieve the desired result, then move on to the next area. Decide what type of faux finish youd like for the room . Sponging and ragging on are the easiest to do and are best for bumpy or irregular walls; dragging and stippling are more difficult and require a smooth wall surface. If adding more layers, be sure to allow drying time between layers as necessary. Creating an all-round even appearance may be difficult to achieve. With practice, however, you can learn to achieve a very attractive result .

Do not aim to achieve a particular look as shown in televisions or magazines. The fact of the matter is, faux painting is a highly individual art, where each painter communicates his own style and personality to his work . Enjoy the experience and create something new and unique.