The most recent comeback of faux painting was during the late 1980s and early 1990s when wallpaper began to lose its popularity. At this time, faux painting began to emerge in homes, with high-end homes leading the trend. Many painters and artist began faux painting services and businesses during this time but most of these painting techniques are simple enough for homeowners to create themselves.

Modern Day Faux Painting

In modern-day faux painting, there are two major types of techniques used. A glaze painting technique that requires the use of a translucent mixture of paint and glazes applied with a brush, roller, rag, or sponge, and often mimics textures, but it’s normally smooth to the touch. Plaster application is the other technique used in faux painting that can be done with tinted plasters, or washed over with earth pigments, and is generally applied with a trowel or spatula. The final product can be flat to the touch or textured. Types of faux decorative paint techniques include:

Color washing Rag rolling Strie Linen weave Mottling, Old World color washing, or tea stained Venetian plaster or other plaster effects Metals and patinas Crackle or weathered effect

Pronunciation: fō Also known as: fake, false, imitation, simulated, artificial, bogus, dummy, ersatz, factitious, imitative, man-made, mimic, mock, pretend, sham, substitute, synthetic Common misspellings: fuax