Here is a problem many of you might like to have an answer in your bag of tricks. You have just painted your walls the perfect (you thought) color to co-ordinate with the tile on the floor and backsplash. Once you have painted the entire room, it seems the color choice was a poor one. What do you do?
A reader has sent in a call for help….
Hello, I am building a house, we choose the paint and tile. Then we put them together in the masterbath, yuk.
The color of the wall is a golden color which is in the floor tile, but the tile next to the wall ( backplash) has a mix of small tile with lots of brown and bone colors.
My question what colors to wash or rag colors on this golden color? I thought toning down the gold with a bone color then adding random tan to brown. or do I have to stay within the color palet of the golden color?
Help. I am in a quandery and am getting a headache.
The answer is to wash on (not rag off) a watered down or glaze in off-white/pale cream. This will -frost- the golden color. If you try to add on darker colors they will seem to float on top of the gold and not blend.
The idea is to add this wash that will tone down the paint color without having to paint the entire room again from scratch.
The trick is to get the wash to go on with a nice blended look. This may take more that once around the room. …. And I would suggest that you use a Woolie to apply and blend the finish. You will also need a chip brush to get into the corners and ceiling line.
Hope this helps to fix a few rooms and get rid on a few headaches!
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
A recent question came in that was along the same lines as the question above:
On May 3, 2007 you addressed a painting situation…”toning down a paint color”…
The color was yellow/gold. I have bright orange walls that I would like to tone down to a burnt orange…
What technique/color paint/wash would I use?
I desperately hope you answer this question.
Thanks
On a bright orange wall that you want to faux paint and create a burnt orange color use a burnt umber wash.
You will find this color – Burnt Umber- In small 4 oz bottles at your local craft store. Mix this with a clear faux finishing liquid and water. All parts are equal. 1/3 water, 1/3 faux finish liquid, 1/3 paint.
If the mixture is too intense, add more of the water and faux finish liquid.
Pat this on with a woolie or rag. You will probably need to do two or more coats of this treatment to tone down the orange. It should come out a rusty orange color in the end.
Good Luck!
Debra Conrad
THAT Painter Lady
I truly appreciate your response.
Can’t wait to try it.
Deidre
HI i have recently painted my hallway yellow, with the lighting it looks bright yellow, how can I tone the yellow down, I have thought of sponge painting but not sure what color to use.
Hi Nancy…
The power of paint in small places! Amazing how a hallway magnifies paint color! Usually halls don’t have windows, so the lighting truly affects the color you choose.
If you love the color, but it is just toooo bright… you are wise to want to sponge over to tone it down. Sponging another layer is not only cheaper than applying another layer of paint… it is also much faster.
After you have carefully protected your floors, moldings, light fixtures and outlet covers… you may begin. This is a pretty messy technique so preparation is really key.
Purchase a small can of pale off white… not WHITE! Something creamy is good. You can water this down with just water, but I always recommend using a faux glaze in the mix. Some painters like to mix 1 part water, 1 part glaze and 1 part paint, but I just like to mix half glaze and half water… this gives you more working time.
Remember, even though you will be using this technique on all walls and ceiling… that you need to paint only one wall at a time. And – Start with the 5th wall the ceiling if you painted it yellow… (which is the designer way of decorating).
I would recommend that you use a Woolie to apply this liquid. It will give you a great soft texture… much better than a sponge. You can order them here:Woolie Lambwool Tool and you will get them in just a few days.
Hope this helps…
Debra
Thanks Debra
I used a burnt orange paint 3 parts water one part paint. It’s a little loud anyway to maybe mellow it out a little. Thanks so much
Hello -
I just bought a couple of bedside tables that have a stenciled shiney gold design over a dark brown. I’d like to tone down the gold but still be able to see it. Is there something I could rub over the top?
Great web site, by the way. Just added to my Favorites.
The best way to tone down & distress a stencil design that may be a bit to “new” looking is to use a fine steel wool. Rub gently over the stencil design. It will rough it up a bit and make it look as if it has been worn. You should then seal the entire surface with a clear varnish.
is faux finishing liquid the same as glaze. i have a bright orange wall and i want to use the burnt umber wash technique, but can’t seem to find “liquid”.
farhana
Yes… I use the words liquid as a replacement word for glaze. Sorry for the confusion.
Hi. Wondering if anyone can help me… I have shiney solid brass wall sconces in a bathroom with antique brass fixtures. Is there anyway to give the bright gold finish an antique look? Thanks.
Get to the craft store and buy some rub n buff. this works really well for toning down shiny brass on objects that are not going to be “handled”.
have fun with this!
Hello!
I have gone with a beach theme in my familyroom, but the caribbean blue wall color is much too bright and shiny. What can I do to tone it down? Thank you sooo much for your help!
Sponge over the top with pearlescent glaze from Lowes… it will soften/tone down the blue and give it a watery effect. :0)
I painted my daughter’s room the color of her choice: PINK. The problem is that it is so intense, like bright, bold Sleeping Beauty pink. What can I do to soften the color?
I have light pink counter tops in the bathroom and kitchen. What color paint on the wall can I use to tone down and compliment the pink in the color tops?
Thank you.
The color I chose for my kitchen unfortunately has too much orange rather than brown tone. I was thinking of using a sponge with a very pale color. Do they use sponge painting anymore? If not what is an easy way to faux paint the walls?
Hi
I just painted my bathroom walls
The color swatch was not yellow. It was more of a cream color.
After paintingit looks like its yellow. My daughter and
Grandgaughter dont see it. They say its cream. Why am
Iseeing yellow walls and how can i tone it down thru lighting
Your advice would be very much appreciated
Than You
Barbara