Most people are familiar with sponge painting, where layers of color are dabbed on the wall. There are tons more faux finishes to try, and many are easier than sponge painting, which can be a lengthy process and takes a lot of practice to get right.

Faux painting can make a ho-hum room really fun, and many of the finishes are quite easy to apply. Go to your local paint or home store for ideas. Most have an extensive selections of applicators, specialty finishes and free how-to brochures. Simpler yet quite dramatic techniques include rag rolling, color washing and glazing. Leather and stone finishes require a bit of practice, although the end result will really impress your friends.

Whichever faux technique you decide on, your wall is the basic “canvas” and, as always, preparation is key to a good job.

Carefully tape off trim, ceilings and any adjoining surfaces. Since faux painting is often a messy process, be sure to use very wide tape, or several rows of tape, to be sure you don’t get dabs of paint on your ceiling. Blue masking tape will give you a clean line and is easy to remove when you are done. It is best to remove switchplate covers, drapery hardware and anything else attached to the wall rather than taping them off, if possible.

Paint the walls with your base color, making sure to fill holes and cracks. While many faux finishes camouflage imperfections, they won’t make them disappear.

A bathroom might seem like a tempting first project because it’s a small room, but bathrooms can be very tricky. There are so many edges, angles and things attached to the walls that are hard to work around. Consider a hallway, laundry room or bedroom instead. If you have a room with a chair rail, the lower wall is ideal for a faux finish.

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