Faux wallpaper using kitchen sponge

KellmarPark

🖼️

The project:

This was the first room I renovated when we bought our farmhouse. Here’s a pic from the realestate listing.

- Materials:

Taubmans paint in colours Elusive white and Scripted

Zinzer primer.

- Tools:

Paint roller, brushes, trays and a kitchen sponge.

- Step 1:

First thing I did was put a coat of Zinzer over the cornice, who would paint cornice that colour?

- Step 2:

I followed up with 2 coats of Taubmans paint on the walls and ceiling. I’ve used the same white throughout the house for a cohesive look (plus easier job)

- Step 3:

I painted the skirting and architraves in the same white but a gloss finish and then it was time for the fun part. The feature wall.
I put a small amount of paint onto a plastic plate and dabbed my kitchen sponge in (removing the excess) and then just went for it.

- Step 4:

In a close up you can see the “holes” of the kitchen sponge left a interesting effect.

- Step 5:

Years later it still looks great, and when anyone sees it for the first time they always assume it’s wallpaper.

JacobZ

Hi @KellmarPark,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

This is a clever and very budget-friendly way to create the look of wallpaper. The kitchen sponge has produced a soft, textured pattern, and the contrast between the colours works nicely without making the wall feel too busy.

It’s also great that the finish has held up so well over the years. Thanks for sharing such a simple technique that others could easily try in their own homes.

Jacob