How to Give a Verdigris Look to a Tin Ceiling

Preparation

• 1

  Clean the tin ceiling using a brush or the rough side of a kitchen sponge to remove any grease, dirt or rust. Be careful not to scratch the tin. Dry the ceiling with a soft cloth. Wipe the ceiling with mineral spirits on a rag to remove all remaining grease and to prepare the surface for priming.

• 2

  Select the color of primer. For a true verdigris look, the primer should be the color of brass, copper or bronze. However, burnt umber or a deep green color will also produce rich finishes.

• 3

  Spray the matte anti-rust primer onto the ceiling, following the instructions on the can. Be careful to apply a thin layer of primer. Let dry, then spray a second coat if needed.

Painting

• 4

  Apply the dark blue-green paint with a natural sponge. The finer the sponge pores, the more detailed the finish will be. Adjust the pressure you use on the sponge and twist it slightly to obtain a range of effects. Make sure to leave some of the underlying color showing by covering only about 70 percent of the primer layer. Allow the paint to dry.

• 5

  Lighten the dark blue-green paint by mixing in a small amount of white paint. Apply this lighter-color paint with a sponge, again ensuring that some of the underlying colors show through. Cover about 15 to 25 percent of the paint previous layer. Use a paper towel to wipe some of the white paint off while it is wet. Let this coat dry.

• 6

  Sponge on an additional coat of white paint, wiping some of it off as you go. Cover only a small area of the ceiling, just to highlight the previous colors. Let the paint dry.

• 7

  Add water to the light blue-gray paint and dab it on the ceiling using a sponge or a brush. Wipe it off gently while it is wet with a soft paper towel, leaving just a hint of the color. Let this dry thoroughly.

• 8

  Use a kitchen scrubbing sponge to take off some of the layers of paint, leaving the lower layers exposed for a more distressed look.