Sponge Painting To Produce That Faux Finish- By: Damian Hatt

Description : Sponge painting is under no circumstances an innovative new idea, but faux finishes on the whole 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 a few of the techniques require a little more skill and time than some people are willing to invest. Whilst you might be hesitant to attempt a few of the harder elaborate faux finishes. Sponge painting remains probably the easiest ways to add some visual interest to your walls.

There is several ways 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 are generally completed by anyone - no unusual skills are required!

Before applying the faux finish, make sure you properly prepare your walls.
· Wash walls by wiping them with a damp sponge. When dry, give them a wipe using a lint free cloth to remove any stray particles.
· Tape off all areas that you don't want to get paint on for example molding and window frames. Make sure to use a top quality painter's tape so that you will not take off the finish from areas which were taped.
· In case you are applying a color that is lighter than the current wall color, you will need to use one coat of top quality primer. Even if that isn't the case, you may consider applying primer so that the new paint can have a fresh foundation. Once you’ve prepared your walls, you are able to start. Glazing can be completed in any color you choose, so you have no limits to your creativity. This method is simply a coat of glazing applied over a base coat to achieve a faux finish.

Once the base coat is applied, apply the faux glaze in small sections. The glaze is created by mixing your paint color with faux glaze. To cover a room of around 400 square feet, you need to mix one quart of paint to one gallon of glaze.

Method One
. Use a roller to apply the glaze to the wall, making sure that excess paint has been removed from your roller before beginning.
· Next, dab with a slightly dampened sea sponge. First, dab on the edges left by the roller after which you can dab the complete area.
· It is vital to finish dabbing before the glaze dries, so you’ll have to work quickly. When the sponge has a lot of glaze on it, rinse the sponge and continue. Use all sides on the sponge in order to achieve a random pattern.
· Continue, taking care to blend away all hard edges with your sponge.

Method Two
This method uses an identical glaze mixture as the first, but for this idea you will not roll the glaze onto the wall. Instead, it is going to be applied using the sponge.
· Place a damp sea sponge into the glaze mixture, and remove the excess.
· Starting in the 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 shouldn't be soaked with glaze.
· As you work, be sure to blend each section into the other. You do not want to leave any hard lines behind.
· You may also opt to add another coat of glaze in a different color. This will add a look of depth on your walls.

These two sponge techniques are perfect for beginners who want to accomplish a faux finish. Try it this weekend and see ways to easily transform your room in only one day!

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Author Resource : Interior painting is difficult work and by doing it yourself you may not pull off the effects that you’ve been expecting. If you are going to paint the inside of your house then check out painter london first. There is a lot of arranging to do, so you really have to to plan it carefully, otherwise you will end up wasting the paint you have bought.