How to Add Color and Character to Walls

Plain painted walls, even if you paint them in bright colors are sometimes just that--plain. Wallpaper will definitely add interest to a wall, but sometimes it can be just too busy. Well, there’s another option to add some pizzazz to your walls using regular paint and a few simple tricks that anyone can master. All it takes is a little patience and some practicing ahead of time. Faux painting, using techniques called sponging, ragging and washing can give your walls some colorful interest without being overwhelming. Here’s how you can upgrade your own walls.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Latex paint
• Painting supplies (paint trays, drop clothes)
• Large pore sea sponge
• Cotton or linen rags
• Newspapers or paper towels
• Disposable gloves (Latex or vinyl)

How to Add Visual Interest With a Base Coat of Paint

1. Prepare your room for painting by moving all the furniture out of the room.

2. Lightly sand the walls and wash them with a mixture of trisodium phosphate and water.

3. Once the walls are dry, lay drop clothes around the perimeter and apply a fresh coat of your base color paint. Note: this color won’t be the dominant color in your room; it is the complimentary color. The dominant color will be the color of paint you apply using your faux painting technique.

How to Do the Sponging Technique

4. Dip your sponge into clean water and wring it out so it’s just damp, not soaking wet. Now dip the damp sponge into a paint tray filled with your dominant wall color. Blot the excess paint off on a paper towel or piece of newspaper.

5. Working in a small area (say 4 foot by 4 foot), dab the sponge against the wall gently. Don’t push too hard or you’ll just end up with blobs of paint on the wall.

6. Continue dabbing and lifting until your sponge needs more paint, then reload your sponge and move to another area working your way over the entire wall.

7. Add an extra color for even more visual interest (if you like) after the first sponged on color has dried. Simply repeat the process with a new sponge and your new color.

How to Do the Ragging Technique

8. Ragging technique is similar to sponging except you use a cloth or rag to apply the dominant color. The finished look will pick up texture from the cloth, so you want your rag to have some nap on it (for example a hand towel or a face cloth).

9. Apply the same technique; wet the rag and wring it out, then dip it into your paint tray and daub the paint onto the wall a section at a time.

10. Again, you can apply a second color if you want to add more visual interest to your wall.

How to Do the Washing Technique

11. This technique results in a finish with a thin wash of color over the base color and looks as if the wall has aged or worn over time.

12. Again, use a cotton or linen rag dipped in water and wrung out so it’s just damp.

13. Apply the paint in a circular motion as if you were actually washing the wall with soap and water. As the cloth gives up its paint, it will start to pick up wet paint from the wall, resulting in just a thin layer of paint remaining on the surface.

14. Once again, work your way around the wall a section at a time, ensuring the sections have equal paint coverage and blend together.

Tips & Warnings

• These faux painting techniques are relatively easy to master, but it’s a good idea to first practice on a piece of plywood or inside a closet before you actually take on a wall.
• Be sure to wear disposable gloves to prevent your hands from getting totally covered in paint.

[Ladybugblue]

on 5/31/2008 I've always wanted to try this type of painting. Thanks for the easy techniques!