Time
Afternoon
Cost
Low
Difficulty
Easy
  1. 1

    Prep

    Using a cloth or cellulose sponge dampened with water and a little mild dishwashing liquid, wipe down the wall(s) to be painted to remove dust and dirt. Rinse the walls with clean water to remove soap residue.


    Patch holes as needed. Scuff sand, then clean off dust.


    Place painter’s tape around the edges of the ceiling, windows, doors, floor trim, and any other woodwork or trim that is not being painted.

  2. 2

    Plan

    Decide on the size and direction of stripes you want to paint.

    Measure and calculate the total area of the wall(s) being painted to determine how many stripes on paper, tweaking the size of the stripes to suit the dimensions so that all stripes will be of equal size. Divide by an odd number to ensure your first and last stripe are the same color.

  3. 3

    Measure

    ​We created a stripe pattern that repeats every 16 inches. Make sure when taping off that you are taping on the outside of the line where you want to paint.

  4. 4

    Paint

    Use a roller if the stripes are thick or a brush if thin. Apply color between the taped-off areas using the W technique. Roll on a W pattern, and then fill it in without lifting the roller. Continue in sections until you finished.


    Remove tape while the paint is still tacky. Pull at a 45° angle away from the wall.


    Allow paint to finish drying. (2-4 hours)

Project Overview

Add a little dimension to any room with stripes. While they might not make your walls look slimmer, stripes can add a fresh and fun design element to any space. Have fun with color combinations and stripe thicknesses for dramatic results! Get started with these easy-to-follow instructions!

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