colour washing technique

To make new cornices or mouldings look like old try a colour washing effect. You can use a cheese cloth or brush to achieve this look, the only difference is that the brush strokes are visible.

Ideally this technique requires two people, one person to paint on the glaze, the other to work the effect.

Step 1: Using low tack masking tape cover the area around the skirting boards, sidewalls and ceiling. This is necessary because you will need to work quickly with the glaze before it dries.

Step 2: Paint the basecoat with acrylic emulsion and leave to dry overnight.

Step 3: Prepare a glaze by mixing one part coloured emulsion with two part classic colour glaze in a pot.

Step 4: Before commiting to a full-blown painting extravangaza, test your colour glaze by painting a small section first. Practice the technique. Have a cloth and some warm water handy to wash off any glaze if you’re not happy with the effect created. Leave to dry before starting to colour wash.

Step 5: Starting from the top left corner, paint the glaze in 1 meter wide sections working your way down the wall towards the skirting boards, before working your way across and up towards the ceiling. Keeping the edge of the glaze wet prevents a tide line.

Step 6: Wipe the wall with the cheese cloth using strokes of different lengths and directions enough to expose the basecoat without removing all of the glaze.

Step 7: The cheese cloth may become saturated with glaze – simply refold and begin to wipe again.

Step 8: Remove the masking tape and leave to dry overnight before replacing furniture.

If you wish to hand this over to professionals: John Bradley Painting Decorating Contractors

will gladly help you.