Sponging

Skill Level: Beginner

Time (not including painting base coat): 1/2 to 1 day

Sponging adds subtle effects to
any room.

• Paint for base coat
• Paint for sponging coat
• Natural sea sponge
• Paint tray and liner
• Paper bags or newspapers for blotting
• Cardboard for corners

1. For this project, diluted off-white paint was sponged over pale yellow walls. If you are painting a base coat, allow it to dry overnight. For best results, use two colors that are subtle and close to each other on the color chart.

Step 2.

2. Wet your sponge with water, wringing it out thoroughly. Pour a small amount of paint into a tray or pie tin. Dip the sponge into the paint and blot excess on newspaper. Cup the sponge in your hand and push lightly onto the surface.

Step 3.

3. Space the patches of color evenly, but change the position of the sponge for an irregular, mottled effect. Close, overlapping marks have the most subtle look; widely spaced sponging with little or no overlapping appears more casual. Try spaced first, then fill in.

Step 4.

4. Use a piece of cardboard, held up with one hand in a corner, to protect the opposite corner from being over-sponged. Use a small piece of sponge to work in corners.

For the most pleasing effect, choose colors without jarring contrast. Yellow and blue, for instance, would produce too much contrast. If you want to add second and third layers, consider choosing your colors from the same paint card for a pleasing subtle effect.

As an alternative, loosely rag on diluted paint with a lightly gathered, not rolled, cotton cloth. Blend as you rag for a different style.