faux paint or faux finish are terms used to describe decorative paints that reproduce the appearance of materials such as marble, wood or stone.[1]​ The term comes from the French word: faux, meaning false, as these techniques began as a way to replicate materials such as marble and wood with paint, but subsequently came to encompass many other decorative finishes for walls and furniture including the simulation of popular textures and surfaces.

Imitation finishing has been used for millennia, from cave paintings to the tombs of ancient Egypt, but what we generally think of as imitation painting in the decorative arts began with plaster and stucco finishes in Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago.

Imitation marble and wood paintings and trompe l'oeil murals became popular in classical times. The artists were apprenticed for 10 years or more for a diploma of imitation painter, before working on their own. Important recognitions were given to those artists who could actually fool viewers into believing that their work was not an imitation. Imitation paintings continued to be popular for years, however they had a great resurgence in the revival of neoclassical "in the 1920s" and in the Art Deco style of the 1920s.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, faux paint made a resurgence as wall coverings fell out of fashion. At this point, faux paint became very popular in upscale homes, which led the trend. Although it can be a little expensive to hire a faux painting professional, many faux painting methods are simple enough that with a little instruction, the homeowner can create them themselves. People find the simplicity of faux painting so appealing. change an imitation paint, since it can be easily replaced by painting over it, compared to the problem of removing wall hangings.

In today's imitation paints, there are two main materials/processes used. "Varnishing work" involves the use of a translucent mixture of paint and varnish applied with a brush, roller, rag or sponge, and generally imitates textures, but is always soft to the touch. Plaster work can be done with tinted plaster, and is generally applied with a towel or spatula. The final result can be either smooth to the touch or textured.