Painting a wall in your home can be a daunting task. Not necessarily the painting part, but deciding what color to paint it. There are numerous colors and there also has been a resurgence in painting techniques. Sponge painting is one that I particularly enjoy and its simplicity can make it a perfect project for anyone to do from young to old. It can be applied to existing painted walls and doest require any specialty paints, just a sea sponge.
Sea sponges come in a variety of shapes and designs. Thee cam be purchased from most home improvement centers. At most larger stores they have a display that shows what type of pattern each shape of sponge performs so make your decision based off of their diagrams.
There are two types of sponge painting. The first is the easiest and most common. It is called sponging on. It involves painting over a dry base color and sponging on the paint. The other technique is called sponging off. It is the opposite of the sponge on technique and requires more work. First you roll on the paint and using a clean sponge, sponge off excess paint.
To sponge on paint, first apply a base coat over the wall and let it thoroughly dry. Next immerse the sea sponge in water and wring dry. Leave a little moisture in the sponge so that it is slightly damp. Pout the second color paint into a paint tray. Rotate the sponge evenly in the paint so it covered well but not dripping with paint.
Lightly dab the sponge on a piece of cardboard or paper to test the pattern first. Once a pattern you have made is something you’re comfortable applying, begin on the wall. Dip the sponge in more paint as needed, and by varying the pressure you can create a lighter or darker pattern. Rotate the sponge to vary the pattern and overlap each application to prevent any pattern from occurring. You want to keep it random as possible.
Work in a small 2 or 3 foot area at a time. Start at the top of the wall and work your way down. Always remember to keep an edge of the sponge wet with paint to keep the pattern consistent. Too little or to much will definitely show when you look at the wall from a distance.
Once the wall is completed and has dried good, some people go over the pattern with a matching color. Choose a color that compliments the previous sponge color so as to not cause a contrast. You can do this easily by adding a little white paint to the same color as you applied earlier. This will lighten the color some what and give it a variation with out deviating from the original sponge coat color.
To do the sponging off technique, you will need a small roller. Roll out a small 3 foot section first. Working quickly, sponge off the excess paint with a clean and damp sponge. Rinse and wring out the sponge often. By adding a small amount of paint extender it will let you sponge off the wall quicker without letting the paint dry immediately.
With some practice and a good imagination, you can have a unique wall covering that will last for years to come. Its random pattern also helps to disguise marks or scratches that may be on a wall already or new ones that your children may put on over the years.
