The term “faux finishes” may imply fake, but there is nothing fake about the trendy and stylish results of these decorative painting techniques.

Derived from the French word for false, these “faux” finishes replicate the appearance of textured, aged, and natural materials such as parchment, wood, and marble. Faux finishing has been around since the days of Ancient Rome and Egypt. Today’s faux finishes date back to French and Italian techniques of finishing that have become increasingly popular in the United States over the last decade.

Ten years ago, stenciling and faux finishes such as sponging and ragging were popular alternatives to traditional painted interiors, primarily because of their simplicity. Today, these decorative painting methods “have become more sophisticated,” says Deb Caulo, owner of Village Faux Finishes in Norwich, Vt.

“Five to ten years ago, Colonial patterns were big in stenciling. Now stenciling may be done with color washes and borders. It’s all pretty elaborate,” she says.

The same level of sophistication may be found with other faux finish techniques, although sponging and ragging still remain among the most simple and popular. Mark Lamborn, product information representative for Benjamin Moore & Company, says that color washing, which produces subtle and soft variations in color, “is one of the most popular finishing techniques.”

Other techniques have evolved to produce more difficult and intricate textured finishes such as tissue paper, crackle finish, wood grain, and marble. Although beginners may attempt each of these techniques with various degrees of success, the more elaborate finishes have become such art forms that they may best be left to a professional. “There are certain tricks a professional knows such as how to tape off the room and cut in to the corners,” says Caulo. “Texturing with paper is more difficult for a beginner while a color wash is a lot simpler.”

Other techniques have evolved to produce more difficult and intricate textured finishes such as tissue paper, crackle finish, wood grain, and marble.

In the post September 11th world, people have begun focusing on their homes, expending more energy in making their environments friendly and comfortable. This trend, notes Caulo, has led to “a renewed interest in color.” No one color choice is prominent, although many have noted an increased interest in reds and “dark and vivid colors that create a dramatic appearance,” says Karen Mills of Mills Hardware in Bethel, Vt. In terms of faux finishes, metallics are coming into play — but rather than the gold of old, these metals take on warmer and deeper bronze tones.

Faux finishes work in any room and on al-most any surface in-cluding drywall, plaster, or wood. They provide more movement and interest than standard paint while in most cases still remaining subtle. The simplest methods such as sponging, ragging, and color washing are easier to apply than wallpaper and are “very durable, standing up to fingerprints,” says Caulo. Most of these techniques are relatively inexpensive, simply requiring a sponge, rag, or even cheesecloth to apply the topcoat. For example, Mills recommends using old, lint-free t-shirts as a cheap choice when ragging. Other possibilities include “plastic grocery bags and feather dusters to achieve different effects,” says Jamie Swanson, a customer service representative from Hometime, a home-improvement television show with a Web site of information.

Getting Started

Ready to undertake a faux finishing project? Since interiors are “climate controlled, you can paint them throughout the year,” says Lamborn. You may, however, want to keep the windows open if you are using oil-based paints.

• Prepare the walls before applying paint. Patch holes and cracks with spackling paste and wash away dirt. Don’t worry if the walls aren’t perfect, as one of the benefits of faux finishes are their ability to hide surface flaws.
• Use painter’s tape on windows, baseboards, and moldings. Many beginners make the mistake of using masking tape, which can be difficult to remove and may cause damage.
• Regardless of the technique you choose, you will have to apply a colored base coat that you will accent with two or more additional colors using a faux finish. The colors you choose are up to you, but remember that extreme variations will not work well together. Examine the paint cards available at your local paint store and try using two or more colors in the same groupings.
• When applying the basecoat, use latex wall paint with an eggshell or satin finish.
• Either oil-based or latex products are appropriate for the accent coats. Latex paints dry more quickly and clean more easily. The faster drying time means you can apply your second color much sooner. The longer wet times of oil-based paint, however, give you more time to experiment and perfect your wall.
• Before applying paint, experiment on a sample board. Experts use anything from washable wallpaper to cardboard. When moving on to walls, consider starting in a concealed place such as a closet.

Once you have applied the base coat, you are ready to choose one of the following techniques:

Sponging

• For the most natural look try a sea sponge. Synthetic sponges produce too regular a pattern unless they are torn up in random chunks.
• Use the flat part of the sponge to apply the paint, making sure to first squeeze out the excess paint.
• Dab the sponge gently on the wall, being careful to avoid overlapping. Twist your wrist slightly (one way and then another) to vary the pattern, moving quickly along the wall. Once the first layer is complete, randomly add a second or third.

Ragging

• Dip your rag, plastic bag, or cheesecloth in the accent paint. Wring it out and bunch it up into a loose ball.
• Set the cloth on the wall and then roll it across, allowing the loose edges to randomly spread the paint.
• Change direction as you roll. Soft colors look best.

Color Washing

• Using a brush loosely apply a translucent colored or tinted glaze.
• Make crosshatch designs as you paint.
• For a softer effect, dab the surface with a rag.
• Apply as many coats as you like for your own customized look.