Creating a textured look with paint on your plain walls can be fun and easy. Here's a simple technique anyone can do.
Once upon a time, walls were useful as spots to hang art, and that was about it. We thought the idea paint job was to make sure our walls were a simple monotone color that would create a serene backdrop to whatever else was going on in the room. Colors and style were meant to be reflected by the furnishings of the room, not by the walls.
Times have changed.
While there is nothing wrong with a room painted with one simple color, more and more people are finding that dressing up their walls with different painting techniques is a lot of fun. There is still the sense of peace we all want to experience in our home sweet home environment. The difference is that now your walls can be interesting in and of themselves, and add unexpected dashes of color and texture to your living space.
One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is with a technique known as sponge painting. An easy technique for even the painting novice, sponge painting requires no fancy or expensive equipment, no long drawn out process, and is easy to change if you don't like the way your painting project is turning out.
One of the great things about sponge painting is how easily you can create your own pattern with as many colors as you want. A simplistic treatment with two colors may work well for you. If your instinct tells you that a treatment involving multiple shades of the same color or an eclectic mix of different colors will create the look you want, then go ahead and try it. For those who long to try several colors but are intimidated by the prospect of having to paint over an experiment gone astray, give your color scheme a test run by using a damp paper towel to dab a little of each color onto a board. Don't be concerned about the pattern at this point; concentrate on how you like the mix of colors. If it looks good to you, then move on to the wall. If not, remove or change components of your color combination until you have the mix that works best for you.
As with any painting project, you will want to prepare the surface of your walls. Make sure your surfaces are clean, smooth, and dry. Remove any picture hooks and fill in the holes. Also remove any outlet covers, as nothing is more tedious than trying to paint around them. One last precaution - take the time to protect your baseboards and window frames by using painter's tape to create a clear seam where the wall ends and your woodwork begins. Just as with trying to paint around outlet covers, it can be very frustrating to attempt to not get any of your wall treatment on your window frame. Invest the time and apply the painter's tape.
If your wall is a clean neutral color that will work well with the color palette you have in mind, then your preparation is complete. If not, apply a quick base coat of a shade that will. Usually a lighter color will work fine and no base coat is necessary. The darker your original wall color, the greater the chances you will need to apply a light color base coat before you begin the sponge treatment.
Once the walls are ready, cover your floor or carpet to avoid any stray paint marks that could ruin your carpets or leave ugly paint spots on your hardwood floors. Also make sure you have adequate ventilation in the room you are about to paint; open windows and doors and maybe even keep a box fan handy to circulate the air in the room.
A note on the paint itself: latex paint is a great choice for sponge painting. Each color will dry very quickly, which will allow you to move on to your next color application in much less time.
Make sure you have a clean sponge for each color selected. While any type of sponge will do, sea sponges work especially well. The difference in the texture of each sponge will add to the uniqueness of your wall, more so than a plain household sponge. However, if square or rectangular household sponges are what you have on hand, then trim them into more or less round shapes; the rounded shapes will create much more interesting patterns than a square of rectangle.
To begin applying your first color, don you plastic gloves and dampen your sponge. Make sure to wring it out thoroughly. The sponge should be damp, but without any water to drip and dilute the paint. Next, dip your sponge into the paint. Blot your sponge on paper towels or a paper plate. Then, lightly press the sponge onto the wall and lift up. Keep in mind that you are not trying to create perfect shapes on the wall, and the pattern will be much more interesting if some are heavier, some lighter, some a little more asymmetrical. Don't put a lot of effort into forcing this to happen; it will emerge this way as you move from spot to spot along your wall. Continue the process at random across the wall until you feel you have enough of that color to please you.
Repeat this process with each of the colors you have selected, making sure to not leave gaps between your colors. Every now and then, step back and see how your pattern is emerging, and how your colors are complimenting each other. Adjust as you wish, adding more of one color and less of another until you have the look that is right for your room. Remember to allow a little time for each color to dry before applying the next one. Otherwise, you may end up with some areas that include shades you did not envision for your treatment.
By having a little fun and not worrying about being the perfect painter, you will have a room that is both beautiful and unique in no time.
