How to Sponge Paint a Bathroom

Co-authored by Patrick Coye

Last Updated: October 16, 2025 References

Sponge painting gives walls a pretty, textured finish that adds depth and decoration to your bathroom. Even first-time painters can achieve this look at home. First, apply a base of solid colored paint to the walls. Then, use a sea sponge to dab on another color. The base color will peek through the top coat, giving your bathroom walls a lovely two-toned look.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Applying the Base Paint

1
Apply painter's tape to the trim, switches, and edges of the shower or tub. Make sure to apply painter’s tape wherever the wall meets the ceiling or the floor. Tape door frames and light switches too. The tape will protect these areas from the paint and help make cleanup easier. ^{[1]
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- You may want to cover the floor, too. ^{[3]
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  Expert Interview} You can do this with a canvas drop cloth.
- You can remove the switch plates around your light switches with a screwdriver to protect them from the paint.^{[4]
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- Place tape over bathroom fixtures like towel bars and toilet paper holders (rather than removing them).^{[5]
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2
Make sure your bathroom is well ventilated. It’s damaging on the lungs to inhale paint fumes, so reduce your risk by making sure there is plenty of air flow. Open a window, and position a fan facing outside, so it will whisk away the paint fumes. ^{[6]
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- If your bathroom doesn’t have a window, wear a filtered respirator to keep your lungs safe.^{[7]
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3
Apply primer, if needed. Check if your wall is plaster by inserting a pushpin. If it goes in easily, you have drywall. You don’t have to apply primer for drywall, unless it is a brand-new, never-been-painted wall. If the pushpin does not go in easily, you probably have a plaster wall.^{[8]
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- If you have a plaster wall, apply one coat of primer with a paint roller. Allow the primer to dry completely, usually overnight, before applying the base coat of paint.^{[9]
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Select mildew-resistant paint for the base and latex glaze for the sponge coat. Use a low-gloss paint for the base coat. This will make sure that the shinier latex glaze of the top coat stands out.^{[10]
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Research source} Make sure your base coat resists mildew. The bathroom has a lot of moisture, what with the shower and the sink, so a mildew-resistant paint is best. You can ask at the paint store for recommendations about which interior paints best resist mildew.^{[11]
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- Make sure that your base color paint looks good with your top color. A simple way to do this is to pick 2 colors from the same color family (i.e. different shades of red).
- Alternatively, pick 2 colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, like green and blue. The base coat can either be lighter or darker than the top color. ^{[12]
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- If your base color is lighter than your top color, the 2 colors will look more blended. If your base color is darker, the top color will appear to be floating off of it. This is a lovely look but also shows flaws in the painting more clearly.^{[13]
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- Never use flat paint in your bathroom—always use something like satin or semi-gloss.^{[14]
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The tray is wide enough to fit a roller and so will be useful when you roll the walls. Refill the paint tray as needed as you paint.^{[15]
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6
Use a paintbrush to apply the paint to the edges of the walls. Paint where the walls meet each other, the floor, the ceiling, and wood trim. Although you will apply most of the base color paint with a roller, the roller can’t get into the tight corners, so you have to get into those little spaces with a paintbrush.^{[16]
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- A flat-tipped, 2 in (5 cm) polyester paint brush should work great for getting into the small corners and along the trim.^{[17]
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7
Dip a paint roller into the base color and roll onto the bathroom walls. Hold the roller at an angle to the wall, and apply slight pressure. Roll up and down, from floor to ceiling. Move to the side about three-quarters of a roller width each time, so you’re always slightly overlapping the previous roll.^{[18]
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- Remember to only paint the regular walls of the bathroom. Do not paint any tile or concrete.
Do not reload the roller with paint for this stage. Simply roll the roller up and down over the wall with very light pressure. This will smooth out any roller marks or paint build-up, leaving your base coat looking beautiful.^{[19]
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Weather can affect drying time. If it’s humid, let your base coat dry for an extra day after the first night of drying.^{[20]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Adding the Sponge Paint

The glaze will make the paint more translucent, which helps the base color peek through. Glaze also makes the paint dry more slowly, which will give you more time to sponge off excess top color paint and make adjustments. ^{[21]
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2
Wet a large natural sea sponge and wring it out well. You want your sponge to be damp, but not dripping. This will make sure the paint sticks to it, but it doesn’t drip water onto the wall, which could cause the paint to run.
- A natural sea sponge is more expensive than a regular sponge, but it’s worth it! The natural sponge has much more variety in the texture of its pores, and so will create much more interesting patterns.
3
Dip the sponge into the glaze, and blot off extra paint. This will make sure your sponge doesn't drip paint on the wall. A piece of cardboard is a great place to blot the extra paint.^{[22]
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- If you’re having trouble getting the paint onto an irregularly-shaped sponge, use a paint brush to brush the paint onto the surface of the sponge.^{[23]
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4
Tap the sponge on the wall, turning your wrist side to side as you go. Turning your wrist will vary which part of the sponge hits the wall, which will vary the pattern and texture of the paint. This will make the texture and pattern of each tap a little different, to avoid repetition and add visual interest.^{[24]
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- You can also try alternating which hand you use to sponge.
- Dab the sponge lightly to create more detail.
- Lift the sponge about 1 in (2.5cm) off the wall with every tap. Then turn the sponge slightly and place it on a nearby bit of wall.
- Overlap the edges of each sponged area slightly as your tap. This way, your wall will not look polka-dotted. Instead it will have an even top coat of sponged texture.
Rinsing gets rid of dried-up paint in the pores. Dried-up paint would make the pattern blotchy, so rinsing will keep it clear and crisp. Once you’ve rinsed the sponge, wring it out and reapply the paint, either by dipping the sponge in the paint or by brushing on the paint with a paint brush.
6
Continue sponging until you have completed an area of 3 by 3 ft (1 m by 1 m). Sponging only a small area at a time will let you dab off excess paint before it dries, which you wouldn’t have time to do if you painted the whole room.^{[25]
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- Leave your area with jagged edges to avoid lines when you join it up with the next area of the wall you paint. ^{[26]
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7
Dab the wall with a clean, wet sponge. Rinse a clean sponge in water and wring it out. The sponge should be damp, but not dripping wet. Dab off some of the excess glaze from the wall. This will allow the base color to show through.
- Step back periodically as you sponge, so that you can see the big picture and make sure you’re getting the look you want. How much of the base coat to reveal is up to you!^{[27]
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Again, sponge only a 3 ft by 3 ft (1 meter by 1 meter) section at a time. Repeat the same steps of sponging on the paint, and then dabbing with a clean sponge to remove excess paint. Tear off a small piece of the sponge and use it to get into the corners where the walls join. Continue until you have painted all of the bathroom walls.^{[28]
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Now you’re done with all the hard work! Your walls will need at least 12 hours to dry after you’ve finished painting them. This is a good time to clean your brushes, sponges, rollers, and any other tools. It will be easier to clean your tools when the paint is still wet. You can wash your tools in a bucket of soapy water. ^{[29]
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Once the bathroom walls are dry, peel off all the tape that you put around your bathroom. The places underneath should be clean of paint. You can also take away your drop cloth and put back on your switch plates.

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How do I re-sponge a wall?

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If you are unhappy with the results and want to try again, you will have to apply a base coat to cover everything up, then try the sponging again. If you like, you can change the colors or the type of sponge on your second try. A sea sponge will give a more mottled effect than the sponge pictured in the article.

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Tips

Press your painter’s tape with a putty knife to make sure it adheres securely. This way paint won’t sneak underneath it and get on your trim. ^{[30]
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Buy paint that has low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).^{[31]
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Make sure you choose indoor paint, not outdoor paint.^{[32]
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Warnings

Some paints and glazes contain high levels of VOCs; open a window or run the bathroom fan while painting to avoid overexposure to these fumes.

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Paint fumes are not safe for pregnant people or small children. Do not paint while pregnant. Allow 2-3 days after painting before a small child or a pregnant person enters the room. This will give time for the fumes to dissipate.

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