Decorative Painting Techniques: Sponging

Choose your colors and decide if you want a subtle or dramatic effect, as paint and sponges can do both.

The sponging technique in painting is about the easiest thing to do when it comes to having a faux finish on your painted walls. It is simple and easy but still produces a very unique and pretty look. A painting technique, such as sponging, will add texture to your walls. Added texture gives your walls more interest.

Sponging technique looks best on walls, but can also be done on ceilings and doors. This technique can also be done successfully on furniture pieces. The great thing about sponging is that it will cover up any imperfections your wall or piece of furniture may have. The surface does not need to be perfectly smooth. In fact, it will look better if it isn’t.

Sponging technique takes a minimum of two colors. It is perfectly acceptable to use more than two colors. Use as many as you desire. Try something new and different. You can choose any colors you desire depending on the effect you want. You can have a subtle effect or a more bold effect. The subtler you want the look, the closer the colors should be to each other. For a bold, dramatic look, you can choose colors that are opposite on the color wheel if you want. Anything goes when it comes to sponging. Use your imagination!

The first color you will put on the walls will be your base coat. This base coat is applied to the walls using a brush and roller. The colors you put on top of that base coat will be your sponging colors. The base coat will show through. Each coat of color will not completely cover any area. The whole idea behind sponging is that all the colors will show.

The materials and tools you will need to sponge a wall is a sponge, a container for water, gloves, large plastic plates for the colors of paint you choose, paper towels and paint. A natural sea sponge works well for this technique. All of these things can be found at a home supply center. The paint is usually flat or satin finish paint but you can experiment with glossy paints if you want.

The sponging technique is very easy. Decide on the base color of your wall and paint the wall using a roller and brush, just the normal way. Let it dry well before applying the sponge colors you have chosen. Pour a small amount of paint into a plate. Get the sponge wet with water and wring it out well, as you don’t want drips. Lightly dip one side of the sponge into the paint. Be careful not to dip it in too much. Keep a light touch during this entire process. Blot the sponge on some paper towels first, to absorb any excess paint. Lightly dab the sponge onto the wall and rotate the sponge as you go to create variation.

You should get a few dabs with just one dipping. Then as you run out of paint that you have put on the sponge, you can dip it, blot it and dab again until the whole wall area is sponged with that color. It is best to work across the area and not vertically up and down the wall. Keep sponging until the entire surface has been sponged with each chosen color. Let the wall completely dry before starting with a new color. Keep sponging with the different colors you have chosen until the desired look is achieved. Your finished look should be a constant random texture.

(Featured article from: Home and Interior Improvement Textbook)