How to Cover Aqua Color on a Wall to Make It Lighter

Tone down the intensity of a jewel-toned wall with a lighter shade of the same color.

Changing the paint color on a wall is relatively straightforward. Armed with paint and painting implements and depending on the size of the room, the job can usually be accomplished in a day. To lighten a jewel-toned paint color such as an intense aqua, apply translucent paint on top of the existing wall color without having to start over with a white primer. This method can produce a satisfying result while saving you time and money.

Things You'll Need

• Sash brush
• 2-cup lightweight container
• Measuring cup
• 2-quart sealable container
• Paint-mixing sticks
• Paint roller
• Paint tray
• Paint
• Glaze

Instructions

1. Prepare the room for painting by removing furniture, cleaning the walls and covering the flooring.

2. Determine the appropriate ratio of glaze to paint by doing a few test runs (see Tips). The more paint you add to the glaze, the more opaque the mixture becomes. Once you have determined the ratio that produces the most satisfying result, multiply the quantities of paint and glaze by the same factor to mix a larger quantity of colored glaze.

3. Pour a measured amount of glaze into a sealable container. Referring to your ratio of glaze to paint, add a measured amount of paint. Blend thoroughly with a paint stick. Transfer some glaze to a lightweight, small container that is easy to hold. Using a sash brush, paint around door frames, window frames, room corners and where the walls meet the ceiling. Feather the edges of the paint to prevent demarcation lines between brushed and rolled areas.

4. Pour colored glaze into the well of a paint tray. Evenly distribute glaze on the roller by dipping the roller in the glaze, then rolling the paint roller on the inclined grate. Working in 3-by 3-foot sections, roll the glaze onto the wall in a large "W" shape to distribute the glaze across the section. Continue rolling until the entire section has been glazed.

5. Glaze in sections until the entire wall or room is completed. Since glaze is a slow-drying medium, allow at least 24 hours drying time before moving furniture back into the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Before applying glaze to the wall, paint a large piece of cardboard the same color as the wall and let it dry. Test glaze mixtures on the painted cardboard to determine the best mixture and technique for the walls. If you don't have any of the original wall paint, purchase 2 oz. bottles of craft acrylic paint that closely matches the wall color.

• Before purchasing paint for the glazing technique, do a few practice runs with smaller portions of glaze and paint, using craft acrylics.

• Measure and note ratios of glaze and paint used in practice runs so you can replicate the test results when you apply glaze to the walls.

• Applying a white glaze over a darker colored wall will lighten the wall but often results in a chalky appearance. Glaze that is a lighter shade of the original wall color or in the same color family produces a more pleasing effect.

References

• North Dakota State University: Painted Finishes for Special Effects
• Demesne: Faux Finishes and Specialty Painting