Who says faux finishing should be restricted to your home's interior? Personalizing and decorating your gates, fences or other outdoor living spaces can brighten up your yard year-round. Decorating your fence or gate is an inexpensive way to personalize your yard and it requires only a creative idea and few gallons of paint.

Here are some ideas and faux finishing tools for adding decorative techniques and color to your outdoor environment:

• Sponging. Sponging is a quick and easy way to add a decorative finish to any surface -- including your gate. For example, if your fence is stained a light color, use a sponge to blot a contrasting darker shade on top. Or do the opposite if your fence is stained a darker color.
  
• Stenciling. Shapes, lettering and even landscaping can be created with the use of stencils, and it presents an excellent opportunity to personalize your gate. Use shapes or images that appeal to you. If you love the water, stencil sailboats or fish. Or consider pairing your design with the rest of your landscaping. For example, if your fence surrounds a Japanese rock garden, consider stenciling Japanese lettering up the posts. Check your local arts and crafts store for pre-made stencils or, if you are feeling creative, make your own. Learn more about Stenciling and the making your own stencils.
  
• Repetitive Patterns. A checkerboard, striped or plaid pattern on your gateposts might be the zip of color your backyard needs. Polka dots, diamonds or family initials are also great ideas for repetitive patterns.

Whatever technique you decide to do, make sure you prepare the surface properly before beginning your project.

1. First, wash the surface with a wood cleaner like Flood® Wood Cleaner & Brightener, a mild cleaner that can be used on all exterior wood surfaces. Wood Cleaner will brighten and clean weathered wood but won't harm plants or shrubs.
2. Be sure to fill any small cracks or holes with commercial wood filler. Sand when dry.
3. Any uneven or rough spots will show up on a flat painted surface, so be sure to sand the entire surface regardless of what type of paint is being used.
4. For these projects, using Solid Color Stains and Semi-Transparent Stains are ideal base colors because they are long-lasting outdoor applications.