How to Do a Multicolor Wash on the Walls

Prepare the walls for the multicolor wash by using painter's tape and covering the window frames, baseboards and electrical sockets with the tape. This prevents drips and splatters over these areas.

Paint the wall with the base color of paint and a quality paintbrush. Allow the wall paint to dry completely. If more coats are necessary for complete coverage, give the walls time to dry after each application.

Place a separate container for each different color on your work surface. Disposable plastic containers or aluminum foil containers work well for the color washing technique.

Add five parts of the wall glaze and one part paint color to the containers. Stir the mixtures with a clean paint stick.

Swipe one of the glaze color mixtures onto an area of the wall with a sweeping motion and strokes that crisscross one another. Use a soft bristle paintbrush, a sea sponge or a wadded soft cloth. Work in areas that are approximately 5 square feet for the best results. This is because the glazes blend easily while they are still wet.

Apply another color glaze to the section but not directly over the first color. It is appropriate to grab one color and drag it into the next when applying the glaze. This helps give it the muted effect. Repeat this with the third color.

Blend the three color washes together by using a clean, soft-bristle paintbrush. Work quickly to allow the glazes to blend well. Do this with a light sweeping motion. This also helps get rid of any brush marks on the glaze.

Step back away from the wall section. If you feel more of one color is necessary, add it to the area. Blend the area again with the paintbrush. Conversely, if you feel an area has too much of one color, blend the color in by sweeping the paintbrush over it until the color softens.

Go to the next section of the wall and continue applying your multicolor wash in the same manner. Allow the walls to dry completely before removing the painter's tape.