Sponge painting is a quick, simple way to make dull interior walls dramatic. With just a sponge, a can of glaze and a few paint colors you can transform your house.
Tools Required
Paint roller
Paint tray
Paintbrush
Rags
Stepladder
Materials Required
Extender
Latex glaze
Latex paints for sponge accents
Low gloss paint for base
Painter's tape
Sponge Painting
Of all the techniques for creating special effects with paint, none is easier or produces more attractive results than sponge painting. You don't need a precise hand, expensive tools or exotic potions. You don't even need to put up with unpleasant, messy, oily paints. And, unlike other painting techniques, sponge painting is forgiving. For example, if a part of your wall is too light in color, you don't have to start over; you can simply go back and dab on some darker paint.
This article will guide you through the basics of sponge painting and give you a head start on the hard part: choosing the paint color (see "Color Experiment" below).
In addition to the primer, we used five colors and at some point scraped the walls to create a dented look. But depending on the effect you want, you can use fewer colors and do little or no scraping. You may even decide to apply only one color with a sponge. In general, using only one or two colors produces a bold, contrasting effect, while using more colors produces a subtle, muddy effect. Photos 1 through 8 show how the effect changes from dramatic contrast to soft, gradual shadows as we add more colors.
DIY Painting Brush
Sponge painting is not faster than other special techniques. You still have to protect the trim with masking tape, roll on the base color, and then add the other colors. The time required for the project will depend on how many colors you use on the sponge, but expect it to take at least a full weekend to complete a medium-sized living room or bedroom. Latex paint dries quickly, so even in a small room you probably won't have to wait long for it to dry before starting the next coat.
You can buy everything you need for this project at paint stores and most home centers.
You can get the best results with natural sponges. Natural sponges are more expensive than standard sponges, but they leave a more varied and random pattern than man-made sponges. Latex paint washes off natural sponges easily, so all you need is a sponge.
Latex glazes dilute latex paint to give it a translucent appearance. Oil-based glazes can also be used, but we do not recommend using them for this project.
DIY Art Sponge Roller Brush
We used a glaze extender, which is a liquid additive that slightly thins the glaze/paint mixture and slows drying.
You will also need a paint tray, a large plastic measuring cup, masking tape, and some scrubbing pads if you want to wipe down the paint.
You must experiment before painting a wall with a sponge, both to see how it turns out and to get a feel for what it's like to paint a wall with a sponge. Experiment on drywall, hardboard, or any other smooth surface. However, before you start buying paint, narrow down your color choices by trying paint chips or small samples, if available.
Children Painting Brush
Experimenting with colors can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, so we offer three sample combinations. Some paint manuals also show suggested color combinations. There are many variables in sponge painting (including how you hold the sponge and the shape of the sponge itself), so it is unlikely that you will be able to replicate our samples exactly.
However, using the colors listed will give you results similar to ours. You can also use our samples just as a starting point, using more or less, brighter or darker colors than we show. Whatever you do, don't let all these choices overwhelm you and discourage you.
Tip: Check your sample board in the room you are painting. The look can vary greatly under different lighting conditions
