How to Color Wash With a Cheesecloth

Color washing is a faux-finish painting technique that applies a glaze of thin paint on top of an existing paint color. The top layer of the color wash is applied with a sponge or brush and softened using cheesecloth to create a textured appearance. The resulting effect is a paint job that looks slightly weathered. Color washing is most often applied to the walls of a home, but the technique can also be used on furniture or other items.

Tarp
Painter's tape
Base coat of paint
Paint tray
Paint brush or roller
Disposable gloves
Glaze in desired color
Cheesecloth

Instructions

- 1
  Place a tarp on the floor to protect it from paint splatters. Apply painter's tape to any area of the object or room that you do not want to color wash.
- 2
  Open the paint that you want to use as the base color. Flat paint is best since the glaze sticks to it better. Pour the paint into a paint tray and apply it to the surface using either a paint brush or a paint roller.
- 3
  Allow the base coat to dry for a minimum of four hours or overnight.
- 4
  Put on disposable rubber gloves to protect your hands from the glaze. Open the glaze and pour it into a clean paint tray. Dip the end of a wide paint brush into the glaze by approximately 1 inch.
- 5
  Apply the glaze to the previously painted surface using a light stroke and an "X" pattern. Reapply additional glaze as needed, painting an area of the wall that is approximately 4-foot by 6-foot wide at one time.
- 6
  Ball up a piece of cheesecloth in your hand and dab the glaze with the cheesecloth to soften and feather the edges. Turn the cheesecloth periodically to a fresh area so you do not reapply the glaze to the wall.
- 7
  Move on to a new section of the wall and apply the glaze in the same manner, dabbing it afterward with the cheesecloth. Continue until the entire area is covered in the glaze.
- 8
  Allow the glaze to dry overnight and then remove the painter's tape and throw away the tarp.

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