Thursday, February 11, 2010

How do you sponge paint a wall?

I do this for a living, and faux finishes are not only popular but can be an elegant addition to any room.





Two techniques are commonly used. Wet sponge/On and Dry sponge/ Off.





Decide on a color.





Using regular interior latex will work, though there are glaze paints and clear coats sold to add to the finish.





Apply a base color.


For most contrast allow it to dry.


Decide on a complimentary or contrasting second color/Top color.


Sea sponges are used for small areas at a time, or there are rollers designed for the purpose. I prefer hand sponging, as the patterns and effect vary more originally.


For Wet/On sponging use a paint tray or even a plastic plate, pour an adequate amount of paint into your working container and dip the sea sponge. I suggest starting light, not soaking the sponge, just dampening the high areas of the sponge cells.


Lightly dab the sponge, with the top coat, onto the base color. Change the position of your hand as you apply for better results in achieving a random pattern.


By taking the gentle approach one can always add more paint if the effect isn't what is desired.





For Dry/Off sponging, apply a base coat, allowing it to dry. Apply a top coat, and with a dry sponge use the same method as you would in wet sponge on but this time you are removing some of the second coat of paint.


How much or how little paint you add or remove is a matter of choice. The effect you want to achieve is a mild blending of two or more colors, not stark imbalances.


Clear coats can be applied, especially in areas that may be soiled easily.





Equipment:


paint roller tray or dinner plates, cookie sheets, etc.


paint


Sea Sponges, multiple


wiping cloths


masking tape if needed


drop cloths, tarps, kraft paper





Other techniques and effects can be discovered at a local library or a search in your browser under ';Faux Finish Techniques';How do you sponge paint a wall?
This was great, I want to do this in my kitchen and dining room it was already started and I think its beautiful a nice way to dress up just plain painted walls.

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How do you sponge paint a wall?
Good answers have already been given. Both Lowe's and Home Depot offer frequent ';How-to Clinics';. One of the most popular Clinics is the faux painting clinic in which many techniques are demonstrated. Call the stores for Clinic schedules. They are free to attend and are held frequently.





Good luck with your painting project.
you can buy a special sponge roller....or you can paint using an actual spnge.
You should get a sea sponge, they're brown sponges, oddly shaped, available in the paint section of most stores. You dip it in the paint and then gently dab it on the wall. I recommend getting a piece of cardboard and trying it on that first till you get the hang of it. Depending on how hard you press, how much paint you put on and whether you roll the sponge on the wall or not you will get different results. You can also try sponging 2 or 3 different colors on the wall and overlapping them. Like I said, practice on a piece of cardboard until you like the look you get and then you can actually do the wall. By the way, because its such a random look, people usually choose to sponge paint only one wall and leave the rest plain, otherwise the walls will overwhelm the room and furniture. But its a very neat process, much more fun than just painting with a roller!








You can use just regular indoor paint, any brand, just pick a color that you like and get a gallon or so depending on how big of a wall/room you want to paint.
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