Sponging is a stipple pattern caused by a natural sponge on a neutral colored wall. It is a very easy task which requires very little patience and is almost impossible to flop. It can even be a very joyful holiday assignment for the kids.
All you need is a neutral colored paint for the wall and one or two colored glaze paints for the actual sponging and a few pieces of old newspaper. First you have to paint the wall you want to sponge in a neutral color. Let it dry for at least 24 hours. Then, take your colored glaze and pour a little in a shallow bucket. Dampen your natural sponge and dip it into the bucket. Dab it on the newspaper to absorb excess paint. Once the pattern becomes delicate speckles, start dabbing it on the wall. If the speckles begin to fade, dab the sponge in the bucket again. Remember to always dab it in the old newspaper before starting on the wall to prevent huge smudges. After the paint has dried, fill in any gaps left open on the wall. After the first coat of speckles is dry, start with the next color. Do this color in the opposite direction than you did the first one to prevent repetition of patterns.
You do not necessarily have to use two colors. Two colors have a softer effect, so it depends on the effect you want on your walls. You can use two different shades of the same color or you can use two different colors. Sponging does not necessarily have to be done on walls. It looks nice on a kid’s toy box too. It can turn out to be a very enjoyable task for everyone.