Decorative Painting on Walls: Quick and Easy Decorative Paint Techniques for Walls

It’s easy to create beautifully decorated walls without buying fancy tools or expensive supplies. Try one (or all) of these easy techniques and quickly perk up any wall.

Decorative wall painting can add a dramatic effect to any room. You can learn some easy wall painting techniques that you can use today, even if you’re brand new to decorative wall painting. This five minute “faux finish school in an article” can get you faux finish painting in no time.

Tools You’ll Need:

Paint, painter’s tape, faux finish glaze, sponges, paper plates, plastic drop cloth, small containers (one for each color of paint), paint tray, paint roller.

Read Also:

• How to Paint a Room: Tips on How to Paint a Wall, Ceiling, Trim and More
• Key Considerations Before Hiring Wall Painters Gold Coast
• 5 Creative Pro Tips You Can Use to Paint Your Home
• Removing Wallpaper vs Painting Over It
• Learn How to Paint Doors Like a Pro

Translucent Rectangles

1. Using 4 pieces of removable painter’s tape (like the blue 3M brand tape) create rectangle outlines on the wall. Create rectangles of different sizes and stagger their heights on the wall. For best results, use a level to make sure your edges are truly vertical and horizontal.
2. Mix a three parts glaze to one part paint; one color in each container.
3. Dab the sponge (natural sea sponges work best but any sponge will do) into the paint/glaze mixture. Blot excess paint onto the paper plate. Keep dabbing until you can get a neat pattern without smears or blobs.
4. Using the sponge, dab the paint/glaze mixture inside the lines of the taped rectangle paying while special attention to getting paint in the corners and along the edges.
5. Add paint (put paint on the wall with the sponge) or subtract paint (by dabbing it off with a clean and dry sponge) until the desired effect has been achieved. Immediately remove the tape. Allow to dry.
6. Create a second set of rectangles which partially overlap the first set and repeat the technique.

Sponging

1. Paint the wall to be sponged with a solid background color. Allow to dry completely.
2. Mix one part glaze to three parts paint in a small container. Create one mixture for each color to be sponged.
3. Wet the sponge and squeeze out the excess moisture.
4. Dip the sponge into the paint mixture and dab a few times onto the paper plate to remove excess paint. Keep dabbing until you can get a neat pattern without smears or blobs.
5. Starting with a 3-foot-square area, lightly “pounce” the paint/glaze mixture onto the wall in a random pattern. Pounce by using quick movements and turning the wrist slightly as the sponge comes off the wall. Reload the sponge as the pattern begins to lighten.
6. Once all the sections are completed, stand back and look for gaps and uneven areas. Fill in and blend as needed.

Plastic Sheet “Ragging”

1. Paint the wall (or object) to be sponged with a base or background color. Allow to dry.
2. Cut several pieces of 1.5 ml sheeting plastic (or plastic drop cloth) into 18-inch squares.
3. Mix one part glaze to one part paint (either the base color or a complimentary color) in a small container.
4. Pour the paint/glaze mixture into a paint tray and, using a paint roller, apply the paint/glaze to an 18-inch square section of wall.
5. Place a piece of plastic over the glazed area on the wall, press down lightly in random areas, and then peel the plastic off the wall. Reposition the plastic over the area and repeat. When the plastic becomes saturated, discard it and use a new piece.
6. Repeat the technique until all areas of the wall have been “ragged.”

Using a few basic supplies and these simple techniques, anyone can create beautiful and interesting walls.