How to sponge paint a room

Sponge-painting a room can transform a boring space into an exciting area. This is one decorator look that can be achieved without a great deal of experience or know-how. Here's how:

1. Because sponging adds the look of texture and depth to the walls, this is a good technique for walls that have some irregularities in the finish. Prepare your walls for painting and select your paint. Be sure to practice this technique with your color choices on a piece of board before applying it to the walls.
2. Paint the walls in your room with the base paint color of your choice. Choose a flat, eggshell, satin or semi-gloss interior paint.
3. Thoroughly mix 1 part of your second (top) color of paint with 4 parts of faux glaze in a big bucket. The more glaze you add, the more transparent the top coat will be. If you want the top coat to be darker or denser, use less faux glaze.
4. Using a damp, natural sea sponge, dip into the bucket of glaze and blot or wipe the excess off.
5. Start by lightly pressing the sponge into the corners. Tamp the sponge onto the wall in a random pattern, leaving a thin coat of glaze on the surface of the under coat of paint.
6. As you work do not press down too hard, or you will get too much glaze on the surface.
7. Roll the sponge over the surface to achieve a random appearance.
8. When the glaze is depleted on the sponge, re-dip it and continue working around the room. Work on a small area at a time, always keeping the edge of the painted area wet.
9. A small piece of sponge can be used to touch up small areas and help create a consistent and random finish.
10. Stand back from the wall to and make sure that the whole area has the same portion of undercoat and glaze showing.

(via About.com)