If you wanted to add a dramatic element to your walls in the early 2000s, you will probably be seen as sponge painting. Part of the attraction was that the technology is quite intuitive – the basic color and then dab a structured sponge into the second color and the second blot – and technically there is no wrong way to carry it out.
Nowadays, however, the lightness is not a mandatory reason to decorate our walls with it. For Cathleen Gruver, the leading interior design at Grout Cooley in North Virginia, the jewel tones were most problematic a few decades ago: That means she has never been a fan of technology in general, and here is the reason.
Getty pictures
Why sponge painting should stay in the past
Even in combination with modern elements, Gruver says that the technology requires too much attention from the eye. “Instead of adding depth and texture in a room, the walls look chaotic and non -polished,” she explains. If there is so much going on, you have a difficult time to choose the decor to complement sponge technology – it is more likely that the other elements will compete with it, which further increases business. In a room like a living room or bedroom where you want to relax, you have the opposite experience.
The same concept applies to the overall range of a room. “It locks people into a color scheme that is really difficult to develop,” explains Gruver. “The walls are loud and don't play well with others.” Depending on the combination that you can try, you may be limited to thoughtfully selected neutral. What if you are a sample lover? The involvement will prove to be even more difficult. (To be fair, it does not mean that they are completely out of limits. Something subtle, like a thin strip, can probably do the work.)
What to do instead
It is possible to add a dimension without using sponge painting. “I am all for it to use real materials,” says Gruver. Each approach has its own personality and resistance from plaster surfaces via beadboard and even Wallcoverings.
The latest to make a comeback? Picture frame shape. The best thing about this timeless, traditional accent is that it can be carried out with all budgets and specialist knowledge. For rookie-diyers, simple installation kits take care of the entire cut and most measurements (they even make tenant-friendly options!). If you have to spend money, you can opt for individual forms at any time and outsource the work.
Consider the color blocking or subtle contrast cladding if your heart is set to a mixture of colors. “Color should feel fresh and clean, not like a handicraft project that Rogue went,” emphasizes Grover. If you think of your walls like the backdrop for a set, you can look more intended and feel more.