Dragging works best with tone-on-tone color combinations, but the possibilities are endless, and you can try any color combination that suits your fancy. Also, dragging does not just have to be done on walls, in fact, it can be very nice on furniture as well, so experiment with it, and see if you can find color combinations that really make you say AWE!

Now that you know what dragging is, the real question is how to do it for the best results, and what it takes tools wise. In order to get the job done you need some basic tools, including, but not limited to a Latex paint for a base coat, a Latex paint for the glaze, tape for masking off areas you do not want painted, a brush, roller & tray for base coat, and a 4" Nylon/polyester brush, wallpaper brush, or dragging tool of your choice. You can use various tools to experiment and see what you like best and what gives you the results you want. Once you have your tools in place, it is time to start. So where do you start?

Well, first thing is first, you will need to prep the room for painting, and make sure your walls are clean, dry, and smooth, then apply your base coat, remember it should be a quality latex eggshell enamel such as those found on PaintingSuppliesDirect.com. Two coats may be necessary on some colors, use your judgment to decide.

Once you have your base coat you will want to formulate your glaze. You will thin and dilute as you feel necessary, but start with the following combination:
1 part latex paint
3 parts Blend & Glaze

Once you have the formula right it is time to prepare for glazing. Because the glaze can be messy this is where you want to make sure you tape off anything you do not want painted, and put a drop cloth down. Also, don't heat the room if you can help it, as it may cause the glaze to dry too quickly.

Once your walls are ready, and anything you do not want painted is properly covered it is time for applying the glaze. Dragging works best when 2 people do it together- one will apply the glaze and one will drag it off.

The glaze should be applied in a thin but uniform strip about 18" wide from ceiling to floor. As it is applied by person number one, person number two follows behind doing the dragging. This should be done at a quick pace as latex glazes dry quickly.

You want to blend the rows of glaze as you go, so if your glaze loses its wet edge before the next strip of glaze is applied, blot it with a damp sponge.

The dragging is done using a 4" nylon/polyester brush, steel wool, wallpaper brush or brush of your choice, which you will have already decided on from your experimenting. This brush will be dragged (hence the term dragging) through the wet glaze beginning at the ceiling, drawing continuously with even, relaxed pressure all the way to the floor. You want to be as consistent as possible for best results.

After each drag you will want to wipe the brush on a damp rag. This keeps it clean for the next row of dragging. You want to keep the pressure even, so take a few practice runs before you apply the glaze just to make sure you can do it. Sometimes ceiling to floor is too far for one continuous motion of even pressure, if this is the case for you, then try one stroke from ceiling to 1/2 to 2/3 down the wall, finishing from the floor. However, remember the best way to stay consistent is to finish what you start.meaning.once you start a wall be prepared to finish that wall.