Have you ever seen an interior with such intricate paint? If you want to break out of the ordinary wall paint and decorate your walls with something exciting and fun – you might want to try and learn some faux painting techniques. Though usually done by professionals, this kind of project is achievable (even for beginners!) with the right tools and techniques. So if you are ready to take on this fun challenge, read on!
Faux Painting: The Basics
Let’s start with the basics, what is faux painting? Faux painting is a technique that replicates the look or feel of another finish or material, such as marble, suede, concrete, and a lot more. As for the materials you need, it depends on the kind of look you are going for. However, some of the things you can do without are paint, a paintbrush or roller, tray liners, and a drop cloth. Also, with faux painting, you need a lot of patience and hard work. However, once you’ve accomplished your project, you will be rewarded and will definitely feel accomplished.
Faux Painting Techniques
Are you ready to start painting your home? Here are some tips that can help your faux painting project go smoothly and effortlessly as ever:
Marbleizing
The rich color and pattern of marble can be attractive to a lot of people. It is elegant and very chic. Now, for the marbleizing technique, you need a few things, such as:
- Paints – get two or three shades. One for your base color and then two for painting the veins.
- Paint roller – once you have your paint ready, use the roller to paint your wall.
- Feather/Sea Sponge – A feather is a great tool to create faux marble veins. All you need to do is dip the feather into your paint and then, with the tip of the feather, draw a diagonal line moving side to side and back and forth. Alternatively, you can also use a sea sponge to create a marbling effect. When you use a sea sponge, you’ll need to draw the veins yourself with a thin brush.
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set, 18 Piece – $18.07



The Natural Sea Sponge – $9.79
If you want to see an actual marbleizing technique, you can watch this awesome youtube video.
Wood Finishes
If you love the color and texture that wood gives off, you can try different wood faux painting. Generally, all you need are paint, a paintbrush, and a wood grain tool. Before you start your project, find a wood that you’d like to replicate and get inspiration from there. First, you need to paint the wall with your base color then; you can layer it with the medium and then use the darker paint to make a glaze with the wood grain tool. For more detailed instructions, you can also check out Home Guides.

Venetian Plaster
This kind of painting technique used to be complicated and very time-consuming. Now, even beginners can do it. Prepare your materials, such as a Venetian plaster (this should be available in any paint or craft store), then apply it with a putty knife. After that, wipe the plaster at a 15 to a 30-degree angle. Apply a second coat once it’s dry at a 60 to a 90-degree angle.
Venetian Plaster Satin Topcoat – $23.95

Sandstone Finish
This faux painting technique creates depth and texture on your wall. As a beginner, this technique is also pretty easy. First, prepare all your materials: paint, paint rollers, various paint brushes, and a paint tray. Now, apply two coats of your base coat with your paint roller in zigzag blocks. For the molted look, add a cross-hatch pattern with the top coat color paint. Use the same brush to soften the edges of the pattern.
There are a lot more faux painting techniques you can try, all you need is a bit of patience and hard work. What do you want to see next? Share them in the comment section below.