How to Paint Perfect Wall Stripes

SpiralConeLegs.com Thanks, I was wondering how this was done, to avoid paint bleeding under the tape, now I know.
I once saw a very nicely done checker board pattern, but with alternating paint sheen instead of different colors, like satin and semi gloss for instance.

michelleann1 Yes, thank you. I was needing a tutorial like this.

Anita Roll Murals Nice job of explaining the steps.

aklassicdiva Love it!

mrsben Excellent tips! For those who wish to speed up the process rather than using a paint brush (steps #3 & #4), I have found using a small 'sponge roller' and a light touch also accomplishes a job well done.

Casart Coverings Even quicker way to speed up the process-try individual stripes of repositionable, removable and reusable vinyl wallcovering in various sizes that can be installed horizontally, vertically and even crisscrossed on top of itself. No painting, no worry about "bleed". Just measure and apply. If not straight, readjust. No damage to walls when removed, and you can easily change direction, color and width. Pictures below and you can see a video of installation here http://www.casartcoverings.com/krc.html

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR A striped wall is such a bold statement. Looks great when done well. I like to see horizontal ones wrapped around corners and I also think it looks very cool to take a stripe up the wall, across the ceiling and down the other wall. Personally, I like taking that tape off immediately. Leave it too long and you'll start pulling your fresh paint off because it has all skinned over. If you're careful, you won't smudge. :0)

nandanirajesh Thank you for guidence.

llillygoggiespad We just did a striped treatment on a bedroom wall. Instead of paint to seal the tape edges, we used a thin layer of paintable caulk applied with our fingers. We let the caulk dry for approximately 30 minutes and then painted the stipes with a small roller. We removed the tape while the paint was still tacky and pulled the tape toward the stripe when removing. The stripes were perfect!

kennedytarheel i painted wide vertical stripes using blue painter's tape and there was some sticky residue after i pulled the tape off...which attracts dust.

pamzella The rougher the wall texture, the more you notice the difference between frog tape and blue painter's tape. Also... you might use a level, but if the room isn't perfectly level, you may have to adjust for perception more than reality, or the line will appear to be tilting in the room.

dakhalife love it

BeautifulRemodel.com Great advice Meg! and we've also had great results with the Frog Tape, so much better than regular blue tape. One tip I'd like to add for horizontal stripes in large rooms and especially on *curved* walls is to use a rotary laser level to lay out the lines. (They can be rented from tool rental stores)

You can either apply the Frog tape when the laser in is "active", or if its a manual laser, use a pencil to make small "dots" a few inches a part for curves, and a straight edge to connect them.

I've attached an example of where I've done this on curved walls on one of our projects. (I also like to use alternating paint sheens to make the curves stand out, the darker color is satin, the lighter in matte)

Thanks!

Steve

Mitchie I love the tip on how to prevent bleeding under the tape! Awesome!

mrsben (Note: My above comment.) Though not a striped wall but using the same technique/method, here is a sample of a colour-blocked wall that I did many years ago for my Grandchild's Nursery. It consisted of thirty blocks and six different colours. A laser level was used to align them, blocks were individually painted in sequence of colour (a lot of taping and re-taping was involved), a sponge roller was used for application etc. It was time consuming but not really difficult.
Tip: Regardless of the type of tape you decide to use (Painter's/Frog/Blue) let your paint 'cure' (not dry) prior to re-taping.

P.S: Anyone who seen it, thought it was wallpaper.

SpiralConeLegs.com Here a nicely done checker board pattern, but with alternating paint sheen instead of different colors, like satin and semi gloss for instance, though I'm not sure exactly which two sheens were used.

mrsben @spiralconelegs.com : Re your comment using different sheens. Great example! Rather than using different 'paint' sheens, I have also done similar which can give you a more tone-on-tone effect that is really quite nice.
Method: Use only one colour of paint in either a matte or eggshell finish. Following the same tips, apply your pattern (stripes, checkboard, harlequins etc.) using a semi-gloss or high-gloss, non-yellowing, clear acrylic Polyurethane finish (over it).
Tip: When you decide to re-paint, the Poly areas should be lightly sanded and primed before you do so.

P.S: I've been doing my own painting for at least 42 years now, so much has been learned through experimentation and a lot of trial 'n error but I am sure there are real experts out there that have even more ideas.

anni lissee We applied platinum silver stripes to a soft gray wall by using a laser level and 'frog' tape. The platinum silver paint need approx 5 applications to appear lustrious and streakless....but what a fabulous wall.....kindly view the wall via Lissee Interiors (Media Room) on the Houzz website.

mrsben @anni lissee: Very cool! Shall file that idea in my memory bank. :)
(Search: +anni lissee+media room+starwars and jazz)

Beth Morrow Used this technique recently when I painted my granddaughters room. She wanted a rainbow room...talked her into a different color on each wall. Used the colors that were in her bedding. And then the ceiling was also painted a torquoise blue...this method gave me perfect meeting joints in every corner and my ceiling looked perfect. I wish I had know this years ago!!!

Izeddin Ashour I like it , thanks

A. Peltier Interiors loved this tutorial, just pinned it to my DIY board. Thanks!

Lee Anthony I recently used the horozontal stripe by using just a glaze and its so soft looking. It's visable and invisable ! It plays with the light whether the light is from a window or a lamp. Absolutly beatiful, this is also great with a stencil design.

debart1 I used wide horizontal stripes (18") in our bedroom-white and a pale tan. I found that starting with the white at the ceiling, our 8' wall look much higher! We love our stripes

Anita Roll Murals I have had great success with stripes using the yellow frog tape. It worked better than the green for me.

blomq We need a tip for removing striped paint. We have powder room of dark purplish-brown striped with a gold metallic paint. There are definited ridges on the walls where the gold stripes are. Do we have to use sand paper?

Meg Padgett @blomq - I would say that a light sanding on the edges would do the trick - followed up by a good coat of primer.

blomq Thanks Meg, even though its a powder room, sanding two edges of every single stripe is a huge job. Was hoping for some magic trick. I guess we better stock up on sand paper. ;-)

anni lissee sand, sand sand

kennedytarheel if you are sanding, please wear a mask and have good ventilation.

hughjarse If you have a friend with one or feel like splashing out a little (around US$70), a Rotary Laser Level will draw a perfectly level straight line around your room that you follow with the tape. The type of level used here (Spirit Level) works but it is very easy to allow the line to wander off a bit. The Rotary Laser Level on a tripod in the middle of the room removes that problem. It is also really great for fitting shelves, pictures and kitchens.

patscats2 I love striped walls but would never have the patience to do it. The only thing I've ever striped was a little end table that I painted to sell on Craig's. It sold within the first 15 minutes of posting it.