With a little paint, you can transform a room. Faux finishes add texture and interest to an ordinary paint job. Here is a basic overview of different types of faux finishes. I highly recommend this site for complete instructions.  Pay careful attention to surface preparation, and always try these techniques on a scrap or poster board before going for a whole room.

Leather Faux Finish

Dark browns, mahogany reds, or deep blues and greens can be used to create a very sophisticated look (home improvement stores have free brochures detailing color combinations). It requires special stippling tools and a faux glaze.

Marble Faux Finish

This popular finish uses different colors of satin paint to bring the timeless beauty of marble into your home. This is not for a large space, but for an accent decoration such as a mantle, pillar, or piece of furniture.

Parchment Faux Finish

A soft mix of creams, light browns, and golden colors is used to bring an antique “old world” look to a room.

Suede Paint

A popular finish using suede texture paint (some manufactures call it different things). It is great for showing off framed art. Because it can scratch easily, avoid using this in high traffic areas.

Denim Faux Finish

A fun finish great for kids rooms and family rooms. Colors range from a near white “stonewashed” look to a deep indigo.

Silk Faux Finish

The silk faux finish mixes tinted metallic glaze with untinted glaze to achieve the natural sheen and shimmer of silk.

Faux Brick Technique

“Bricks” are stamped using a cellulose sponge and glaze. Stagger the “bricks” and use two different red-browns to achieve a surprisingly realistic look.

Faux Clouds

A soft, wispy look that’s great for children’s rooms or any workspace. Lighter blues make a realistic look, but I also like lavender. The lighter the base color the more delicate the look.