Not hard at all. In fact, I hardly class color wash in the same category as I would interior painting. Interior painting, in my opinion, is tedious. Color wash is fun.
The theory behind color wash paint finishes is that you start with something quite boring, such as flat or eggshell finish white paint, and then you lightly brush a color coat over the top with a sponge. The white paint is merely the "canvas" that allows you to go wild with the color coat. Don't go into this thinking that color wash is an easy version of painting - no "outs" here. Color wash almost takes more time and patience because imperfections are much more prominent.
Color Wash Tools Needed
- Sea Sponge - not a synthetic sponge
- Paint roller
- Rubber gloves
- Flat or eggshell white finish latex enamel paint for the base coat (if not already on wall)
- Your Color Wash - consisting of one part of your chosen "top" or glaze color (latex or acrylic paint - not oil-based paint), plus eight parts water.
- Clean pail - to be used only for painting.
How to Color Wash with Paint
- Apply the base coat of eggshell or flat white just as you would normally do when painting your walls. Apply with the paint roller over entire area thoroughly, allowing to dry before moving to the next step.
- Soak your sea sponge in the color wash. Squeeze excess water out, but not to the point where it is dry.
- Practice in an unobtrusive spot, like a lower corner. Stroke the sponge in a four-foot square section, concentrating on making short curves overlapping each other.
- After finished with the four-foot square section, step back ten feet to see your work. Repeat the previous step to further smooth out the paint, but not too much. Remember, this is not about achieving a flawless coat. You want to aim for some texture, but not big blobs of uneven color.
- If satisfied, continue throughout rest of wall.
