Modern Sponge Painting | Semi Circle Pattern in Back of Locker Cabinets

If you're looking for a super cheap and easy way to add a stamped wall in your house or even some visual interest in the back of a cabinet or bookshelf, you're doing to love this modern sponge painting technique!

Do you remember the sponge painting from the 90’s??

Fun fact: I had a multi-color sponge-painted wall in my bedroom as a kid (along with a matching comforter and wallpaper border.) But it didn’t look anything like the modern sponge painting that I’ve been seeing all over the internet.

If you haven’t heard….Sponge painting is BACK!! But with modern patterns and fun designs. It’s super easy and unbelievingly cheap.

I knew when we were building our DIY mudroom lockers that I wanted to find a way to add some visual interest to the back of the cabinets. I tried my hand at wallpaper and whew, that is A LOT harder than it looks. It didn’t work out as planned. (P.S. I’ve since then tried my hand again at wallpaper – this time peel and stick and it worked out much better)!

So I pivoted and decided to try sponge painting a fun and modern design and I went looking for pattern ideas and inspiration!

12 Modern Sponge Painting Ideas

Collage showing rooms with sponge painted walls with text overlay that says 12 modern sponge painting ideas

I’ve seen so many fun stamped wall ideas and patterns, here are some of my favorites:

Sponge Wall Ideas (Stamped Patterns)

Modern sponge painting: video tutorial

I put together a quick video that walks you through the process that helps go along with the step-by-step tutorial below:

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This post also contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.

Modern sponge painting: step-by-step instructions

Materials needed

Tools needed

  • Scissors
  • Box or paper plate

Step 1. Figure out the stamped wall pattern you like best.

Testing out different sponge painting patterns taped up on the inside wall of a cabinet

Take a look at the patterns I mentioned above, take a search on Pinterest, and check out the #spongewallmovement and #spongewallchallenge hashtags on Instagram for so many ideas,

I found it helpful to test out a few designs on some paper and tape to the area that you’ll be painting. This is the best way to get a feel for how it will look in your space.

Step 2. Cut your sponges.

Before starting your sponge painted wall, cut out the stamp pattern using a sponge

I decided to go with a semi-circle pattern, so I used scissors to cut down the sponges.

Since the locker cabinets are a pretty small space, I wanted to go with a small semi-circle so I cut them out of the short edge of the sponge.

If you wanted something larger, you could cut the semi-circle from the long edge of the sponge.

I wanted a lot of variation in my stamped design, so I cut up 4 different semi-circles which are all a little bit different.

Supplies needed to sponge paint a design on a wall.

Step 3. Sponge paint design.

A semi-circle sponge coated in light gray paint
Modern sponge painting using a sponge cut into a half circle to stamp a pattern on a painted wall
Sponge painting a half circle design on the inside of painted mudroom cabinets
Making a sponge painting design with half circle sponges and light gray paint

Pour your paint into a paint tray (or the lid of a cardboard box like I used). The key when you’re stamping with sponges is to not get too much paint on the sponge before stamping. Dap off your excess on the tray, paper plates, or cardboard.

I worked my way up the back of the cabinet in rows. I was able to get at least 3-4 stamp repetitions off every time that I loaded up the stamp with paint.

A sponge painted wall with blue painters tape

Tape off any corners of your wall or furniture with painter’s tape where the sponge will only partially be stamped.

To get more variation on your sponge wall, press lighter on some and harder on others.

We created a modern sponge painting background in our mudroom cabinet with an easy sponge painting technique

I absolutely LOVE how the semi-circle pattern turned out. I think it added so much character to the back of the cabinet and is such a fun little “surprise” when you open the locker doors.

Sponge painting sure has come a long way from the ’90s. The modern sponge painting patterns are SO fun, don’t you think?

This modern sponge painting design is a great way to add some character to furniture and walls in your home

Stamping with kitchen sponges is a super cheap and easy way to add an accent wall to your home or add more character to the back of a cabinet, bookshelf, or furniture. It’s a great way to decorate a house for no money!

Where would try sponge painting in your house??

Let us know in the comments below!

shows a hand holding a half circle sponge with gray paint on it and in the background the wall is painted green with gray half circles with overlay text that says learn how to sponge paint

Room Sources:

How To Do Modern Sponge Painting

How To Do Modern Sponge Painting

Active Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $15

Love the look of sponge painting? Here's how to create a modern sponge painting design using simple sponges and paint, and create a fun mudroom cabinet!

Materials

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Box or paper plate

Instructions

  1. Figure out stamped wall pattern (take a look at the ideas shown at the top of post)
  2. Cut your sponges.
  3. Sponge paint design.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

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