With a wealth of faux finishes available, you'll never have to serttle for the same old thing.  Faux effects can bring grandeur to an otherwise ordinary room and even a painting novice can complete a project successfully, if he or she is patient and willing to learn by trial and error.

Invest in some inexpensive rubber gloves for any of the faux techniques.

Combing - If your prefer walls with texture and are looking for a way to update a room by giving it a more modern, linear look, combing may be the right choice.  Cover the wall with Ace Royal Touch latex paint tinted to your desired color.  Select the color from more than 1,000 colors featured in Ace's Color Your Life palette, or bring in a sample of the color you'd like and ask a store associate to digitally match it for you.  Once this coat has dried, roll Ace Artistic Finishes Glazing Liquid - an oil-based glaze designed for faux finishing techniques - over 3 foot sections of the wall at a time.  This will allow time for combing before the paint dries.

Next drag a comb, wallpaper brush or notched window squeeguee down or across the newly glazed portions in straight, clean movements.  Dare to be different with a wavy effect or by integrating vertical and horizontal strokes for a plaid look.  Don't worry if it's not perfect - slight flaws give a room character.  When you've dragged the comb over the first section of glaze, roll glaze over another 3-foot section and continue as with the first.  Before you know it - voila! Your room will have a totally new feel.

Rag Rolling - This technique gives added depth to lackluster walls.  Choose a base color that is slightly darker than the overall color you are looking for.  Try Ace Royal Finest with Scotchgard Protector, with provides a beautiful flat finish that resists stains and is easy to clean.  a flat finish will help the ragging effect stand out once it is applied, but other paint finishes will work as well.  For those new to faux finishing, an eggshell or satin finish may provide a more cooperative base for the technique.

To begin, soak a cotton rag in a roller pan of eight parts Ace Artistic Finishes Latex Glazing Liquid to one part Ace Royal Touch Satin paint tinted to the color you want and blot out the excess.  (The more paint you leave on the rag, the more striking and solid the rag lines will be on the wall's surface.) Dab and roll the rag on a section of the wall, taking care to overlap sections to provide a seamless look.

You may want to test the shape of the rag and the impression marks on a piece of cardboard or newspaper before you start on the wall, especially if you're a first-timer.

Sponging - While is process is much like rag rolling, the final effect of sponging difers because of its more intricate and detailed design.  Begin with a base coat, as with rag rolling.  Once the coat is dry, dip a damp sponge into a roller pan of the glazing liquid/paint mixture.  For a superior design, choose a natural sea sponge for its many curves and contours.  Begin in a corner and gently press the sponge onto the basecoat, being careful not to squeeze the sponge which can cause drips or smudging.

For a hint of depth, you may want to use two glaze colors from the same color family.  For a bolder look, choose glazing shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

For a slightly different look, try rolling the glaze onto a small section of the wall and remove it with the sponge, Use Artistic Finishes Oil Glazing Liquid, which is easily wiped off and removed once applied.

Color washing - As with rag rolling and sponging, color washing will give your room the "pick-me-up" it needs.  Begin by rolling on a basecoat.  Once the basecoat is dry, dip a clean, dry brush into eight parts Ace Artistic Finishes Latex Glazing to one part Ace Royal Touch Satin paint tinted to the color you want.  Brush using short x-shaped strokes, overlapping as you go.  This technique will produce a hazy, warm feel once it dries.

For a more stylized look, try sectioning off the basecoat into uniform stripes.  Then, color wash a pattern of stripes.  This method is perfect for a more formal area such as a dining room or master bedroom.

Crackle - After allowing a basecoat to dry, use a brush to apply wall glaze crackle smoothly over the wall's surface.  When the glaze is no longer tacky, apply a topcoat of paint and slowly, as it dries, you'll notice small cracks, which will expose the contrasting basecoat color.

Metallic finishing - This effect can be used with any of the aforementioned finishes.  It creates even more depth, resulting in a finished, sophisticated look that slightly shimmers in candlelight.  Ace's metallic finish provides a rich, metallic finish over wood, metal, plaster and various other surfaces.  It's not only ideal for walls, but it can be used on arts and crafts projects, trim, picture frames and more.

Faux stone finishes - These designs can be almost as good as the real thing, if done the right way.  Use a kitchen sponge to "block paint" the illusion of old, painted bricks.  When painted along mantles and window sills, the effect can give your home a cottage-like feel.

Freehand projects - If you're feeling more adventurous, try a freehand project.  Paint an accent of ivy vines around a valence or at the corners of a shelf.  Attempt sponged clouds on a ceiling for some celestrial flare.  The important thing is to start small so you can gauge your work, repair small mistakes and learn from them while you're at it.  If you're not yet confident enough to try freehand design, a great in-between option would be rubber stamping.  This lends a slightly more manicured, but still delicate design.