Wall Washing Technique: Add Drama to a Room
Using a wall washing painting technique is a fairly simply process, but the results can be truly dramatic. If you’re looking to provide a startling new look to a room with minimal cost, wall washing is a great way to do it.
To begin, you’ll want to select two colors—one as the base coat and one as the top washing coat. Usually your base coat will be the brighter of the two colors, which will allow it to be seen more readily through the top coat. A satin paint works best for the base, since it’s smooth and its slight gloss makes it easier to apply the top coat. However, nothing is etched in stone. If you want a slightly more rubbed appearance for the finished product, you can start with a flat base coat.
Regardless of your preference, let the base coat dry thoroughly and then tape off the baseboards, trim, ceiling, and adjacent walls (if you’re not doing the whole room). Then take a damp terry cloth or shop towel and dip it into the can of paint you’ll be using as your top coat.
Using a swirling motion, work from top to bottom and left to right across the wall. Make sure you have time to do an entire wall before you start, because if you have to come back later and pick up where you left off, you run the risk of leaving overlap marks. Step back now and then to see how consistent you’ve been with your swirl marks. You can put the top coat on heavier if you’re hoping to add more texture to a room, or you can go light if all you’re looking for is to create accent interest. You don’t want assembly line swirls—remember, you’re creating a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
Some folks think the best results are achieved by using colors that are near each other on the color wheel, but others believe that one of the colors should be white. If you use white as one of your colors, remember that using white on top softens the look, sort of like painting on clouds, which using white as the base coat brings the color you use into stark contrast, adding boldness to the wall.
Take your time, be creative, and have fun. Your results can add drama and excitement to a room without much work or expense—which is always a good thing!
If you would rather get the upscale treatment and have a faux artist redesign your home take a look at the faux artists and designers who worked on on home featured on Flip That House.
Here’s a sneak peek at one of the walls (washed with powder) by decorative painter Kari Barron as seen in the upcoming book…
Copyright © 2007 Jeanette J. Fisher