What is Rag Painting?

Are you looking to add a new touch of something to your home decor? While one way that you can do this is to hang some wallpaper, but that is usually a little overwhelming. Another option is to resurface your walls, but that can be even more overwhelming, and not to mention just a tad expensive. A great option that you can use to give any room a little extra oomph, and add a little color at the same time is to do a little rag painting. But what is rag painting? The answer to this question as well as a brief explanation of some of the methods used for doing this are found below.

• What is it? Simply put rag painting is a faux painting method. This particular method will leave an interior wall with a mottled appearance, which in turn gives it a nice textured feel. Generally speaking, this effect is achieved by using some bunched up rags to apply multiple colors of paint, thus the name rag painting.
• Traditional method. The most traditional method for applying paint in this manner is where you first paint the walls as you normally would. This is what you call your base coat, and it should be a color that will go well with the other colors you will use. Make sure that you allow the base coat to completely dry prior to adding the next layers. When you are ready to begin painting the next layer of color, put on a pair of latex gloves, and then dip a clean rag into the paint of your choice and wring it out until the rag is wet, but not dripping wet. Scrunch the rag into a loose ball and begin to dab it onto the wall. Since there is no set pattern from the rag being scrunched up there will be a different effect each time you apply the paint. Start on one side of the wall and work your way around the room. Later on, when the second coat has finished drying, go back over it all again (using the same process) with a different color and a new rag.
• Dabbing method. Dabbing (also known as rolling off) is where you apply the second color of paint with a paint roller. While the paint is wet, simply use a clean rag to dab or roll off the fresh paint. This will let the base coat show through, but not as much as with the traditional method.
• Rag rolling method. The rolling method is similar to what was described above, except that the rag is twisted and rolled up. After you have it twisted into a snake like rope, begin to roll it up and down the wall (like you would with a paint roller). Repeat the process around the room as described above.