How to Paint Mediterranean Style

Throughout the Mediterranean, traditional homes have plaster walls with a subtle patina of wear and time. Although typical wall colors vary from region to region, most hues take their inspiration from nature. Coastal areas, like the Greek islands, often feature shades of blue seen in the ocean and sky. Other colors, such as lavender, sage, ochre and terracotta, take their cue from the surrounding inland landscape. You can achieve the texture of timeworn plaster by rubbing glaze on a wall with a natural sea sponge.

Low-tack painters tape
White latex wall paint in eggshell finish
2 inch angled paintbrush
Paint roller
Roller pan
Water-based glazing liquid
Tints or acrylic paints
Mixing bucket
Natural sea sponge
Poster board
Rags

Instructions

- 1
  Place low-tack tape on the ceiling and trim, right along the walls' edges. Paint the walls white, using a brush around the edges and a roller for the rest of the wall. If your room is already painted a light color, you can skip this step and go right to the glazing process.
- 2
  Mix glaze with tints or acrylic paint to achieve the desired Mediterranean color. Test out colors on poster board. Add up to ½ cup of water per gallon, if glaze is too thick.
- 3
  Apply the color to the wall using a natural sea sponge dipped in glaze. Rub the glaze into the wall, spreading fairly thin to avoid drips and a runny glaze. Work outward in all directions from where you began to prevent obvious drying lines. Work quickly, enlisting a partner to help out if possible.
- 4
  Wipe off the edges of the adjacent unglazed walls with a damp rag if you got any glaze on them. Apply glaze to the next wall, being careful of the wall you just finished. Glaze all the walls using the same process. Take care not to get additional glaze on your first wall when finishing the edge of the final wall.
- 5
  Remove the tape. Wash brushes and tools with soap and water. Squeeze the water out of the sea sponge.

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