Rag Off Techniques & How to Choose Colors

Choosing Colors: Warm vs. Cool

• The first step in choosing colors for the rag off technique is to decide what kind of atmosphere you want in the room. If you choose a warm color, such as those you might associate with the sun, your room will be full of energy and stimulating hues. Reds, yellows and oranges are all warm colors.

  On the other side of the spectrum are cool colors. These are colors that you might imagine on a mountain retreat: blues, greens and violets. Each of these colors is associated with tranquility and quiet. If it's a playroom you're painting and energy is the name of the game, opt for warm shades. If you want the space to feel calm and serene, go with cool colors.

Choosing Colors: The Color Wheel

• That same color wheel that you likely first learned about in grade school art class is still the best way to find colors that work well together. They're available online for free or can be purchased in craft stores. There are a number of ways to choose colors that go together. Red and green are considered complementary colors because they're directly across from each other on the color wheel. Blue and orange are another example of complementary colors. Another option is to go the analogous route, choosing colors that are directly next to each other on the color wheel, such as yellow and yellow-orange, or violet and red-violet. A monochromatic color scheme is achieved when you use varying shades of the same color. For instance, you could use a creamy white base color and snow white glaze.

Technique: Necessary Supplies

• You'll need a latex semi-gloss paint in whatever base color you've decided upon and a faux technique glaze in a secondary color. Both are available at craft, home improvement and paint stores. The job will also require painter's tape, a 2-inch angled paintbrush, a paint roller and lint-free cotton rags.

Technique: Base Coat

• Use painter's tape to cover the areas around the ceiling, windows, doors and other woodwork. Use the angled paintbrush to cut in around ceiling and trim work and apply the base coat to the wall using a moderately-loaded roller. Wait four to six hours to apply the second coat, then wait 24 hours before beginning the faux technique.

Technique: Rag Off

• Use a paint roller to roll the glaze onto one section of the wall at a time in approximately 3-foot sections. Bunch a cotton rag up to create a random pattern. While the glaze is still wet, lightly blot the surface with the rag, being sure to wring any excess paint off the rag often. When the rag becomes too saturated, either rinse it out and wring it well before dipping it back into the glaze or begin with a new rag.

  You'll find that if you continually reshape the rag you'll create varied, interesting patterns. As you move from one area to the next, go back and blot the last area a bit to prevent lines from forming between the sections. Don't stop until you've finished an entire wall as it will be very clear where you stopped and where work resumed.