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Sponge Painting for a Fresh Faux Finish
Author Jessica Ackerman
Sponge painting is certainly not a new idea, but faux finishes in general continue to grow in popularity. It seems that there is a constant flow of new or updated techniques designed to bring the latest look in wall décor to your home.
The problem is that some of the techniques require a little more skill and time than some are willing to invest. While you may be hesitant to attempt some of the more elaborate faux finishes, sponge painting remains one of the simplest ways to add some visual interest to your walls.
There are several ways that you can use sponge painting to create a faux finish,
and below are two of the simplest ideas. Both ideas involve the use of glaze, and the
techniques below can be completed by anyone - no special skills required!
Before applying the faux finish, be sure to properly prep your walls.
· Wash walls by wiping with a damp sponge. When dry, wipe with a lint free
cloth to remove stray particles.
· Tape off all areas that you don't want to get paint on such as molding and
window frames. Be sure to use a high quality painter's tape so that you won't
remove the finish from areas that have been taped.
· If you are applying a color that is lighter than the current wall color, you will need to apply at least one coat of good quality primer. Even if that isn't the case, you may consider applying primer so that the new paint will have a fresh foundation.
Once you have prepped your walls, you are ready to start. Glazing can be completed in any color you choose, so there are no limits on your creativity. This technique is simply a coat of glazing applied over a base coat to achieve a faux finish.
Once the base coat has been applied, apply the faux glaze in small sections. The glaze is made by mixing your paint color with faux glaze. To cover a room of around 400 square feet, you would mix one quart of paint to one gallon of glaze.
Glazing Idea #1
· Use a roller to apply the glaze to your wall, making sure that excess paint has been removed from the roller before beginning.
· Next, dab with a slightly damp sea sponge. First, dab at the edges left by the roller and then dab the entire area.
· It's important to finish dabbing before the glaze dries, so you will have to work speedily. When the sponge has a lot of glaze on it, rinse the sponge and continue. Use all sides of the sponge in order to achieve a random pattern.
· Continue, taking care to blend away all hard edges with the sponge.
Glazing Idea #2
This technique uses the same glaze mixture as the first, but for this idea you will not roll the glaze onto the wall. Instead, it will be applied with the sponge.
· Place a damp sea sponge into the glaze mixture, and remove the excess.
· Starting in a corner, dab the glaze onto the wall.
· You can apply as much or as little of the glaze as you want, just continue until you like the effect that has been achieved.
· Continue adding glaze to the sponge as necessary, being careful not to apply too much glaze. The sponge should not be soaked with glaze.
· As you work, be sure to blend each section into the other. You don't want to leave any hard lines behind.
· You can also opt to add a second coat of a glaze in a different color. This will add a look of depth to your walls.
These two sponge techniques are perfect for beginners who want to achieve a faux finish. Try it this weekend and see how you can easily transform your room in just one day!
About The Author:
Jessica Ackerman is a contributing writer for www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com where you can find a great selection of wall décor products such as metal wall art , wall candle holders and wrought iron wall décor.
Posted on www.painterforum.com
Author Jessica Ackerman
Sponge painting is certainly not a new idea, but faux finishes in general continue to grow in popularity. It seems that there is a constant flow of new or updated techniques designed to bring the latest look in wall décor to your home.
The problem is that some of the techniques require a little more skill and time than some are willing to invest. While you may be hesitant to attempt some of the more elaborate faux finishes, sponge painting remains one of the simplest ways to add some visual interest to your walls.
There are several ways that you can use sponge painting to create a faux finish,
and below are two of the simplest ideas. Both ideas involve the use of glaze, and the
techniques below can be completed by anyone - no special skills required!
Before applying the faux finish, be sure to properly prep your walls.
· Wash walls by wiping with a damp sponge. When dry, wipe with a lint free
cloth to remove stray particles.
· Tape off all areas that you don't want to get paint on such as molding and
window frames. Be sure to use a high quality painter's tape so that you won't
remove the finish from areas that have been taped.
· If you are applying a color that is lighter than the current wall color, you will need to apply at least one coat of good quality primer. Even if that isn't the case, you may consider applying primer so that the new paint will have a fresh foundation.
Once you have prepped your walls, you are ready to start. Glazing can be completed in any color you choose, so there are no limits on your creativity. This technique is simply a coat of glazing applied over a base coat to achieve a faux finish.
Once the base coat has been applied, apply the faux glaze in small sections. The glaze is made by mixing your paint color with faux glaze. To cover a room of around 400 square feet, you would mix one quart of paint to one gallon of glaze.
Glazing Idea #1
· Use a roller to apply the glaze to your wall, making sure that excess paint has been removed from the roller before beginning.
· Next, dab with a slightly damp sea sponge. First, dab at the edges left by the roller and then dab the entire area.
· It's important to finish dabbing before the glaze dries, so you will have to work speedily. When the sponge has a lot of glaze on it, rinse the sponge and continue. Use all sides of the sponge in order to achieve a random pattern.
· Continue, taking care to blend away all hard edges with the sponge.
Glazing Idea #2
This technique uses the same glaze mixture as the first, but for this idea you will not roll the glaze onto the wall. Instead, it will be applied with the sponge.
· Place a damp sea sponge into the glaze mixture, and remove the excess.
· Starting in a corner, dab the glaze onto the wall.
· You can apply as much or as little of the glaze as you want, just continue until you like the effect that has been achieved.
· Continue adding glaze to the sponge as necessary, being careful not to apply too much glaze. The sponge should not be soaked with glaze.
· As you work, be sure to blend each section into the other. You don't want to leave any hard lines behind.
· You can also opt to add a second coat of a glaze in a different color. This will add a look of depth to your walls.
These two sponge techniques are perfect for beginners who want to achieve a faux finish. Try it this weekend and see how you can easily transform your room in just one day!
About The Author:
Jessica Ackerman is a contributing writer for www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com where you can find a great selection of wall décor products such as metal wall art , wall candle holders and wrought iron wall décor.
Posted on www.painterforum.com
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