Unique Decorating Ideas: Sponge Painting

Novices and veteran painters alike can enjoy sponge painting as a way to decorate their apartment. Why break away from the traditional paint brush and experiment with this unique way of decorating a room.  It’s even more fun when you can involve your children, family and friends, giving your apartment a personal touch that you’ll treasure for a long time. If you’ve got the “green light” from your landlord to give your walls a makeover, then you should give sponge painting a try.

Any Room

Sponge painting is not limited to certain rooms in your apartment. You can use it in any room you want. Sponge painting can also be used to accent tops and bottoms of walls without the need to sponge paint the entire wall. It does require you to prepare the walls as explained below, but after that, it’s pretty easy.

Application of Base Paint and Glaze

You can’t get rid of the paint brush altogether when sponge painting. You need it to apply the base paint to the walls. A semi-gloss or flat interior paint is fine to use. Satin base paints also work well. Once you apply the base paint, you can toss the paint brush aside, but you may have to use it to complete the job. After you apply your base paint, you’ll make glaze. Mix top paint with glaze, latex or faux glaze will do. The glaze is what you’ll use for the actual sponge painting.

Paint Sponges

Instead of that paint brush, you’ll need to use paint sponges for sponge painting. They come in a variety of textures, from fine to coarse and everything in between. Children may enjoy a more coarse texture in their rooms. On the other hand, a fine and more subtle texture might work better in the living room or home office. The shape and texture of the sponge will determine the effects you end up with on the walls. Buy multiple sponges and try two to three on the same wall to give it a great visual effect. You can purchase paint sponges at any paint supplies store, or the paint department of your favorite hardware or home improvement store.

Practice First

Before you start sponge painting your walls, practice on scrap boards first. This will allow you the opportunity to test your colors and textures first. You can also give others helping you out the chance to get comfortable with sponge painting before messing up, that is contributing, to your walls. You can find boards at the same place you bought your paint or an arts and supplies store.

The process of sponge painting is simple. Dip the sponge in the glaze, blot the excess paint on your bucket or tray and press the sponge on the walls. Keep doing this until your cover your walls. You can vary the look by twisting here and there or use your creativity to come up with pattern. It can be hard to spot minor mistakes, so don’t worry about it, and have fun.