Combing Technique

The technique of combing is, basically, creating a striped effected on the wall.  To achieve this, you need special combs with rubber tines.  Of course, the thickness of the stripes and the separation between them will depend on the comb that you use. 

It is important to first paint a base coat and, when this is dry, paint another coat of paint that matches the previous one.  When you pass over it with the comb, creating the stripes, this will allow you to see the base paint contrasting with the top layer.

You should know beforehand the sense you want to give to the stripes.  You can make them vertical, horizontal, wavy or even zig-zagged.

It's not a difficult technique, but it is important to first test it to know the direction you want the stripes to go in because that will help you to achieve the desired result.

Sponging Technique

This also is not a complicated technique.  In fact, it is simpler than the previous technique, the combing one.  This technique, like the former, requires the application of a base coat of pain.  But there are two methods for this kind of painting.

The first would be wetting the sponge directly against the paint that you want to use, a paint that goes well with the base, and applying it directly to the wall.  The second would be applying another matching color over the base coat and, without allowing this second layer to dry, taking it up with the sponge.

Though this is a simple technique, you should be careful with the intensity and the amount of sponging you do as it can cause an excess or a defect in some part of the wall that will look very bad.  It should be uniform.