Take Your Room to the Next Level With This DIY Sponge Accent Wall

5 Materials
$20
30 Minutes
Easy

I had a blank wall in my mudroom that was screaming for something special. I decided to create a sponge accent wall. Sponge painted walls were all the rage in the nineties, but nowadays they seem a bit outdated. By doing a geometric pattern with a sponge, instead of just sponge painting the entire thing, I was able to bring sponge painting into the 21st century! This technique is easy and doesn’t require any specialty tools or skill. Check out my step-by-step tutorial below to get started painting your own walls today!

Tools and Materials:

  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Painter’s tape
  • Sponge
  • Paint
Measure the Wall
Measure the Wall


I started by measuring my wall to make sure that I could create an even repeating pattern. I figured out how wide each pattern repeat needed to be and then marked on my wall where each would be sponged on. Each pattern repeat was eight inches wide, so I measured eight inches and then added another two inches for the painter’s tape which would separate each pattern repeat.

Stick on Painter’s Tape
Stick on Painter’s Tape


I would be using painter’s tape to separate each pattern repeat, so I stuck it in place on my wall before I started painting. Starting from the bottom, I taped a line as straight as possible and then pressed down to make sure that it was secure. I repeated this across the entire wall.

Taped Off Wall


Dip the Sponge in Paint
Apply the Sponge Pattern


For this sponge pattern I just used a simple kitchen sponge that you can pick up at any supermarket. I wanted it to be quite thick, so I chose a thick sponge, but you can use whatever sponge you like to get your desired effect.

Dab Off Excess

When sponge painting, it’s important to pick up as little paint as possible. You don’t want drips in your pattern, so make sure to dab off most of the paint onto a piece of cardboard or a scrap piece of paper. I like it to have a good amount of coverage, but still show that it is a sponge treatment and not a stencil.

Apply the Sponge Pattern

I used the painter’s tape as a guide for how to angle my sponge and how to properly space it. I repeated this process up the entire wall, occasionally dipping my sponge in more paint and dabbing off the excess.

Repeat

You really can’t mess up this technique and the end result is amazing! Once I had painted the entire wall I removed the painter’s tape and touched up any spots that needed it with my sponge.

Remove Painter's Tape


DIY Accent Wall

I hung up a cute sign and my mudroom was complete! How would you use this technique in your own home? Let me know in the comments below!

Resources for this project:
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  3 questions
  • Tracey Tracey on Aug 22, 2020

    I love this! Would doing all the walls in a powder room be too much?

  • Ukj50215598 Ukj50215598 on Jul 23, 2021

    Where we r e the pictures?

  • Larkatchi Larkatchi on Jul 24, 2021

    What color and brand is your wall paint?

Comments
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2 of 22 comments
  • Ann53783991 Ann53783991 on Jul 23, 2022

    Looks great.

  • C C on Jul 25, 2022

    I used a sponge painting with a different technique using two leftover acrylic paints that I watered down to make the color is light and fairly transparent.

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