Color washing is a faux painting technique in which a glaze is applied over ordinary wall paint. Although the wash is frequently brushed on, you can achieve a somewhat softer effect by applying glaze with cheesecloth. A glaze tinted with a coordinating but lighter shade of the paint color will lighten the walls. Applying a glaze tinted darker than the paint color, followed by a second glaze tinted deeper yet, gives the wall a rich and complex appearance. Applying a second, lighter glaze over a darker glaze creates the look of an aged patina. The greater the difference in color between the base coat and the glaze, the more dramatic the wall’s appearance.
Place a tarp on the floor or carpet. Mask the ceiling, windows, doors, floorboards and any other trim you don’t want to paint, using painter’s tape.
Apply latex paint in a color of your choice to the walls. Keep in mind that although color washing can lighten, darken or enhance the color, this base coat of paint remains the primary shade of the wall. Allow the paint to dry completely.
Choose one or more latex glaze products, depending on the effect you are after. Pour some glaze into a paint tray. Wear disposable plastic gloves to protect your hands. Dip the cheesecloth in the glaze and use it to apply the glaze to the wall. Move the cheesecloth in a wiping motion, as if you were cleaning the wall. Continue applying the glaze until the wall is covered.
Continue glazing by moving to the opposite wall, rather than an adjacent wall. This way the glaze on the first wall has time to dry and you avoid smudging it.
Allow the glaze to dry. Apply a second glaze in the same manner, if desired. Allow it to dry before removing the tape.
Things You Will Need
- Painter’s tape
- Latex paint
- Latex glaze
- Paint tray
- Disposable plastic gloves
- Cheesecloth becomes saturated with paint rather quickly, so have plenty on hand. If you see that the cheesecloth is losing its effect or loading on too much glaze, use a new piece. Laundering the cheesecloth before using it for faux painting helps soften the fibers.
- Make a surface for practicing before you glaze the wall. Paint a board with the base coat paint. Once the paint is dry, apply glaze with cheesecloth. Experiment with various methods such as dabbing or scrubbing until you achieve the effect you want.