top of page
Artist Easel and brushes

GLOSSARY OF DECORATIVE PAINTING TERMS

There are a wide variety of decorative painting techniques we offer.  Here is a glossary of some effects we do provide.  

Antiquing
Drawing

Mouse over images to see  description.

Chinoiserie
Antique Frame
ANTIQUING

Antiquing is where various methods are used to give surfaces the look of mellowed age or a weathered look.

Colorwashing
Color wash wall
COLORWASHING

Colorwashing is a decorative paint technique which consists of applying translucent paint (glaze) over a base color. Colorwashes can be given a variety of different textures and patterns.

Distressing
distressing finish on wood
DISTRESSING

In distressing, the object's finish is intentionally destroyed or manipulated to look less than perfect.  It is a rustic vintage look.

Embossed Stenciling
Embossed stencil of fern
EMBOSSED STENCILING

Embossed Stencils is a relief design that is raised above the surface, just barely more prominent than the background.

Faux Finish
FAUX FINISH

Faux is a French word meaning false.  Faux techniques started as a form of replicating materials such as wood or marble.  However, faux painting has become an umbrella term to describe a variety of products and methods for all decorative finishes.

Glass-Beaded Stenciling
glass-beaded stencil
GLASS-BEADED
STENCILING

Glass-beaded stenciling is a relief using glass beads to create shimmering texture which allows the colors and patterns of underlying layers to shine through.

Stone Plasters
stone decorative plaster
STONE PLASTER

Stone Plasters are trowel-on products that are used to create stone like finishes such as limestone, rustic stone textures or dimensional stencil patterns.  Stone Plaster are also used to create "Old World" wall effects. 

Chinoiserie
CHINOISERIE

Chinoiserie is a term for a style in art reflecting Chinese painting's qualities or motifs.  It is Europe's 18th century interpretation of Chinese composition. 

Crackle Finish
Crackle finish on furniture
CRACKLE FINISH

Crackle finishes simulates the look of paint that has aged and cracked and gives a multicolor effect because the top color is opened to reveal a different layer beneath. 

Embedded Stenciling
embedded stencil of dragonfly
EMBEDDED STENCILING

Embedded Stenciling is when the design is indented into the surface.

Fabric Finishes
decorative plaster
FABRIC FINISHES

Fabric finishes are techniques that duplicate the look and feel of fabrics like linen or denim to highly textural weaves of grasscloth.

Foil & Metallic 
Gold metallic plaster
FOIL & METALLIC 

Metallic paints & plasters have thousands of tiny metallic flakes that create a shimmer.  

 

Foil techniques involve the use of any variety of foils, from metallic to matt or antique finish.  Foils can also have complex textural patterns.  

Lusterstone
Lusterstone decorative finish
LUSTERSTONE

Lusterstone is a decorative trowel-on coating that produces natural reflective stone patterns. Sculptured shadows are created through its variety of sheens and colors.

Strié
STRIÉ

Strié, is French for "stripe" and it is a classic glazing technique that creates subtle thin streaks of color. 

Trompe L'oeil
Trompe L'oeil of utencils and food
TROMPE L'OEIL

Trompe L'oeil translates from the French as "trick of the eye" and is a method of decorative painting in which the artist employs light, shade and perspective to give flat-painted images a three-dimensional appearance.  The earliest examples date back to Greek and Roman times.

Wood Graining
Wood Graining Faux Finish
WOOD GRAINING

Wood Graining (faux bois) is painting surfaces to resemble woods. Wood graining can be almost impossible to distinguish from genuine wood. However, on a simpler level, it can be used to evoke the presence or essence of wood, without seeking to be an exact copy of a specific timber.

Venetian Plaster
Venetian Plaster
VENETIAN PLASTER

Nowadays the term Venetian Plaster is loosely used to describe a technique or a look derived from inexpensive synthetic plasters to costly lime & marble plasters from Italy.

Stenciled Venetian Gem Plaster
Lusterstone Embossed Stencil
Plaster Stencil Flowers
Gold Foil Olive Painting
Trompe L'oeil
Gold Foil Finish
Lusterstone Stencil
Lusterstone withFrench Script
Stencil
BRUSHES

CALL TODAY

OUR IN-HOME CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE

717-342-8864

FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION

  • Facebook Social Icon
  • LinkedIn
  • Yelp Social Icon
  • Pinterest Social Icon

Free in-home estimate

Divine Arterior Design
is fully licensed and insured #PA127070
 
Monica Marquette
319 W Sunhill Rd.
Manheim, PA 17545
717-342-8864
monica@DivineArteriorDesign.com

Copyright © 2025
Best of Houzz Badge
Venmo Logo
Credit Card Payment Options

SERVICE AREAS

Faux Painter in Berks County, PA | Faux Painter in Chester County, PA | Faux Painter in Dauphin County, PA | Faux Painter in Lancaster County, PA 

Faux Painter in Lebanon County, PA | Faux Painter in York County, PA

Painted Kitchen Cabinets Near Me | Cabinet Refinisher | Cabinet Refinishing | Cabinet Makeover | Kitchen Cabinet Painter | Professional Cabinet Refinishing Service

Adamstown | Akron | Bird-in-Hand | Blue Ball | Columbia | Denver | Donegal | East Hempfield | Elizabethtown | Ephrata | Gap | Harrisburg | Hempfield | Hershey | Intercourse | Lampeter | Lancaster | Leacock | Lebanon | Leola | Lititz | Manheim | Manheim Township | Marietta | Millersville | Mount Gretna | Mount Joy | Neffsville | New Holland | Paradise | Quarryville | Reemstown | Reinsholds | Ronks | Strasburg | Willow Street

Cabinet Painter in Berks COunty, PA | Cabinet Painter in Cheater County, PA | Cabinet Painter in Dauphin County, PA | Cabinet Painter Lancaster County, Pa | Cabinet Painter Lebanon County, PA |  Cabinet Painter York County, PA

bottom of page