If you are looking for a fun way to spruce up your walls, try rag rolling. As the name implies, rag rolling is a painting technique that uses rags and a contrasting paint color applied in various patterns to give the illusion of texture. Here are some tips to rag roll paint a wall.
Prepare to Work
For this project, you need:
- rubber gloves
- safety glasses
- painter's tape
- paint bucket
- paint tray
- old T-shirts or lint-free rags
- construction paper
- water-based glaze
- paint roller (optional)
- base paint color ( optional)
- contrasting semi-gloss paint color
Ensure the wall is clean and smooth. Cover the floor and items that cannot be moved with a drop cloth. Open a window to ventilate the area.
Apply the Base Coat and Mix the Paint
Use the roller to cover the wall with two coats of base paint, then let the wall dry for 24 hours. You can skip this step if you don't want to change the base color of the wall.
Mix the rag roll paint using a rag and 1:1 ratio of the contrasting color latex paint and glaze in a bucket. The water-based glaze and latex paint produces a satin sheen to match the gloss level on the walls, and it helps make drying time slower. The base paint color is commonly a lighter color, such as eggshell, to enhance the glaze.
Rag Paint the Wall
You may prefer to experiment with assorted folds using old T-shirts and construction paper to get an idea of the effect you want. Apply painter's tape in 4-inch wide layers to areas of the wall you don't want painted., such as ceiling trim. Moisten the rag or T-shirt with water, and fold it in half.
Pour a small amount of the mixture in the paint tray. Shape the rag into a rosette. Spread the rag so it lays flat, then pinch it and raise it in the center. Rotate the rag in the middle with your finger until it forms a rosette.
Dip the rag in the mixture, and remove it quickly, since you don't need the rag saturated. .Apply the rag to the wall in random patterns; ensuring the rag stays twisted, and leaving white space. Dab excess paint with a another rag, if desired, to change the pattern.
Repeat the process changing rags as needed. Some glaze will be removed, but the idea is to make a random texture. Detach the painter's tape before the glaze dries for best results.
Remember to have fun rag rolling your walls. Don't think about the patterns too much. If you don't trust your skill, or you need the exterior of your home painted, consider hiring a painting contractor like Purser's Professional Painting & Pressure Cleaning.
