Are you tired of a regular, white wall? Don't want any more solid colors? Follow these steps to paint stripes on your wall!
Step 1
Using a tape measure, measure the length of your wall.
Step 2
Cut or rip off pieces of blue painter's tape. Make sure the tape is as long as the wall, or as long as you want it to be. A laser level is a great tool for making sure the tape is straight.
Step 3
Evenly space the tape all along your wall. If you want more, smaller stripes, put them closer together. If you want less, but bigger stripes, space them farther apart. Press tape on firmly (very important for textured walls):
Step 4
Using as many colors as you want, paint in between (not on) the tape. Paint from the tape to the wall. Don't paint parallel to the tape. This will give you a nice sharp edge where the tape is.
Step 5
Remove the tape while the paint is still wet.
Tips
- To make it even more decorative, try doing it diagonally!
- Use a tarp, plastic cover, or old sheet to protect carpet, if any.
- Wear old clothing to protect your own clothes.
- If you don't like the way your stripe turned out (usually from drips), re-tape a short distance away from the bad line. Then repaint that small area more carefully. When you remove the tape, your stripe will look beautiful and it won't be noticed that it's a bit larger than intended.
- To keep paint from bleeding under the tape, paint a thin layer of verethane on the tape overlapping to the wall. Let it dry completely, then paint your stripes. You should not be disappointed with the results.
Warnings
- Paint doesn't come out of carpet. Use a tarp to cover it along with anything else you don't want to be stained.
- Keep the room ventilated. Paint fumes can be toxic in high quantities.
- If painting stripes on a freshly painted wall, allow the paint to dry 48 hours before striping.
- Don't overload your brush or roller with paint. You don't want paint to drip or run under the tape.
