Want to try a decorative painting technique, but have little experience? Try sponge painting. Sponging is quick, impossible to mess up, and looks terrific. Change a wall from boring to wow with this easy technique. Even if you do mess up just a bit, it isn’t at all difficult to fix those little imperfections. Start with a shopping list:
*Two contrasting paints in a satin sheen or as a second choice, semi-gloss. If you want a warm, Autumnal look, try a rich pumpkin and a leafy brown.
*High quality clear latex glaze.
Painter’s Tape
*Paint roller for applying the base coat.
*Wide painter’s tape
*Two plastic paint buckets
Natural Sponges
*Paint stirrer
*Paper plates
*Two natural sponges
Trim Brush
*Old newspaper
*Cardboard
*Sponge roller or trim brush
How To
Here’s how:
*Apply a base coat to your clean wall (make sure it’s dry if you’ve just finished the cleaning part) with a paint roller, using the pumpkin-colored paint. Allow to dry and apply a second coat if necessary.
*Mask-off doors, windows, ceiling, and floor with painter’s tape.
*Mix one part of the brown paint with four parts of the clear glaze in one bucket.
Clear Water
*Fill the other bucket halfway full with water for rinsing your sponges.
*Pour just a bit of the glaze/paint mixture onto a paper plate.
*Dip a sponge in water and wring it out as best you can.
Blot Excess
*Dip the sponge into the glaze/paint mixture on the plate, blotting any excess onto the newspaper.
*Take a practice run on the cardboard. Dab lightly at the cardboard with your sponge, overlap edges, and turn the sponge to get a natural, random-looking effect. Once you find a color depth and texture you like, you can begin to sponge the walls of the room, starting with a high corner.
*Aim to cover an 8′ sq. section, dipping the sponge into the glaze/paint mixture as often as needed.
Wring Out
*If the sponge becomes heavily saturated with color, rinse it in the water bucket and wring it out before you continue.
*After completing an 8′ sq. section, take the second, clean sponge, dip it in the water and wring it out. Use the damp sponge to dab at the glaze/paint sponge marks. This should help the pumpkin base color to just peek through the brown sponged areas. Rinse your sponge and repeat as desired.
*Begin to sponge with the glaze/paint mixture the next 8′ sq. section, and repeat sponging off with the damp sponge, moving on to the next section of the wall as needed.