Sponge Painting Ideas

Sponge On

• If you're looking to add texture and want a porous, somewhat-mottled finish on your walls, traditional "sponge on" painting works best. In order to achieve this textured look, pour a bit of paint -- in the shade you want on your walls -- into a paint pan. Cut a piece of sea sponge a bit smaller than the palm of your hand. The smaller piece of sponge will help you better control where the color is applied. Wet the sponge and wring it out well, then use a paint brush to paint a bit of the color from the paint pan onto it. The reason you're painting it on the sponge rather than dipping the sponge directly into the paint, is that the brush allows you to determine precisely how much paint you want to load onto the sponge. As you press the sponge against the wall and pull it away the paint will leave color and texture to your wall.

Sponge Off

• Using the "sponge off" technique will give you a more subtle, less-textured surface. To achieve this look, you will apply the paint to the wall using a roller, then use the sponge to remove the desired amount of color. You may find that the sponge-off technique works well in small spaces or in areas where you just want a hint of variation from the base color of the wall.

Sophisticated

• Sponge painting is a highly versatile decorating tool. For instance, if you wish to achieve a sophisticated look, you can paint the walls the color of your choice and wait for them to dry thoroughly. You will then sponge on or sponge off a second color, one or two shades lighter than the base color. It is the monochromatic approach that lends richness to the walls.

Playful

• You can use bright, playful pastels to decorate a child's bedroom or playroom. Start with a base color, and allow it to dry. Add a second color by sponging on or off. Feel free to add more than two colors to the walls, as long as you wait for each color to dry, before you begin sponging the next color.

Accent

• Another effective use of sponge painting is when it is used as an accent. It can make the area above a fireplace stand out in a dramatic way. For special emphasis, you can tape off a square on a wall, apply sponge paint to only that area and hang a framed photo in the center. You also can lightly sponge the same square on the wall, and have an artist paint a simple mural in the middle. Sponge painting does not have to cover an entire wall. It can be used to accent doorways, windows or other architectural details.