A marbling effect on your walls, counter tops or coffee table always looks classy. Create that marbling effect yourself with a few painting techniques using two or three different color paints. Check out some real marble blocks or photos of marble to see how nature did it before deciding the color you want to use in your marble painting technique.

Marbling Technique for Walls
Marbling involves applying one or two colors over another, but giving the impression that there is only one color. Enhance the marble look by using an acrylic paint in black or a dark green for the darker veins seen in marble, and following it with a darker-tinted glaze for a shiny topcoat, according to howtofauxfinish.com.

Apply an undercoating in a light color such as eggshell. Use an opaque glaze by mixing three parts oil based scumble, which is transparent glaze mixed with several different colors or tints, five parts of white eggshell paint and two parts white spirit. Mix the paint with the glaze and add the spirit, creating a creamy consistency.

Apply layers of tinted glaze, drawing the veins and mottling onto the basecoat. Work with gradual variations of green colors and tone of the background color. Dab an artist's oil paint, such as eggshell paint, on to the wall and use a natural sponge or brushes to vary the intensity of the colors.

To give the illusion of the natural shine of marble, use a translucent glaze with just a touch of light green tint and add extra coats of glaze in patches for a natural effect. After applying the clear glossy varnish on the walls, and finish by applying a coat of satin varnish to add depth and shine.

Another Marbling Technique
Start your marbling with a white gloss or semi-gloss coat as a base and let it dry for 24 hours. Roll two different colors of green in a patchwork manner. Overlap some areas. It's best to use colors seen in natural green marble.

Stipple or dab the color in some areas and use a large painter's brush to draw the veins to make them a little thicker. Using the edge and side of the art brush, draw in small veins or use a feather and dip it in the white spirit and brush over the area of the wall where you want your veins.

Marbling Counter or Table Tops
If you have a coffee table or other table to refinish, marbling techniques provide an elegant finish.

Purchase three green acrylic paints in light, medium, and dark green colors. Pour the paints onto a plastic dish or pallet. Use a sea sponge and dip the sponge into all three colors. Dab and smear the paint over the surface.

Add the veins of the faux marble by dipping a detail artist's brush into a diluted white or very light color paint and add fine lines for veins, going off on the sides of the table as well. Sponge on some lighter color to add depth and to soften the colors. Finish by applying a high gloss polyurethane or light varnish.