Livening up the environment you live in does not necessarily involve an expensive renovation or new furniture design. You can add some color to your home by following these simple tips and painting stripes on the interior walls.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Choose the motif you want to create
Stripes can be thick or thin, horizontal or vertical, or combined in various ways.
Step 2. Put masking tape on the walls to ensure perfect work
This is the hardest part because the paint tends to drip under the tape.
Use masking tape and seal each edge of the tape with a thin coat of the wall base color to prevent paint from getting underneath. Let it dry before you start painting
Step 3. Choose a color scheme
Consider which colors work well together and which ones are not suitable. Do you want a color to make the room bold, inviting, warm, cool, relaxing, or somewhere in between?
- Monochromatic schemes are combinations of similar tones that use different shades of a single color. You can achieve this style by adding black and white to the original color to change the hue slightly.
- Analogous schemes combine colors that look similar in hue, but are not. For example, orange, yellow and green would form a similar pattern that creates a soft contrast.
- The contrasting patterns consist of totally different colors in the tint. This bold yet balanced style could combine three shades equally spaced from each other on the color wheel.
- Complementary schemes use two opposite shades on the color wheel to achieve an intense variation that animates the whole room. An example of this pattern is blue and orange.
Step 4. Use a small roller to paint the strips rather than a brush
The smaller the roller, the more control you have over the paint. Rollers create a smooth, full finish compared to brushes.
Method 2 of 3: Add Vibrancy with Herringbone Stripes
Step 1. Add some sparkle to any room by painting herringbone stripes on the walls
The zigzag pattern is a classic technique used mainly to create a prominent wall, i.e. painted differently than the others.
Step 2. Choose the colors that suit your style
Zigzag stripes are extremely eye-catching, so if you want them to stand out in the room choose complementary colors or contrasting schemes. For a more delicate and sophisticated style, you can opt for a monochromatic scheme.
Step 3. Trace the points that make up the two ends of the strips with the pencil
Use a ruler to make sure you mark them correctly.
The points at the bottom should be halfway between the points, even if there is no precise rule. The shorter the distance between the peaks, the more pointed they are
Step 4. Put the tape on the outside of the marked points, sliding it perfectly from each tip to the lower peak and vice versa
Make sure the tape is tightly attached to the wall.
Step 5. Apply a primer to give the base color, paint over the strips and outer edges of the tape with the roller
This step allows the other colors not to run under the ribbon.
Step 6. Dab a color swatch between the ribbons before painting, to get an idea of the shade you want to paint on each strip
Step 7. Finally, paint the strips and allow them to dry completely overnight before removing the tape
Method 3 of 3: Create the Sense of Depth with Vertical or Horizontal Stripes
Step 1. Create the illusion of depth and openness with vertical or horizontal stripes
This type of strip is ideal for small rooms, as it opens up the space and makes the room seem larger.
Step 2. Choose the colors and paint the entire wall with a base coat
Let the paint dry.
Step 3. Decide on the width you want for the strips and mark using a tape measure and a green pencil, starting from the top of the wall
Continue to measure and mark the width of the strips by going down.
- If you want a few but large strips, keep a greater space between one and the other.
- If you want asymmetrical stripes, place the ribbon at different widths to create a different look with randomly sized stripes.
Step 4. You can use a traditional carpenter's level or a laser level, then join the marks with the green pencil to create the stripes
Step 5. Press the tape firmly to the outside of the pencil marks
Make a small X with the ribbon on the lines you want to keep with the base color.
Step 6. Paint a second coat of paint over the lines
This prevents the paint from seeping under the tape.
Step 7. Let this second base coat dry, then fill the strips with the other color (s) of your choice
Apply a second coat of paint if needed.
Step 8. Wait for the walls to dry overnight and then remove the tape to show off your new room
Advice
- If you don't like the effect (usually due to color drops), put the tape back near the edge of the damaged line. Then repaint that small area more carefully.
- To vary the size of the stripes, you can make them in larger groups by alternating them with smaller stripes in a seemingly random pattern.
- Use a tarp, plastic cover, or cloth to protect furniture and floors.
- Wear old clothes to protect your clothes.
Warnings
- The paint does not peel off the carpet. Use a cloth to cover it along with anything else you don't want to get stained.
- Keep the room ventilated. Paint fumes can be toxic if inhaled in large quantities.
- If you want to paint the stripes on a freshly painted wall, wait at least 48 hours for the paint to dry.
- Do not overload the brush or roller with paint. You don't want to let it drip or run under the tape.
- Don't fill the room with too many lines or bright colors. If the house is already full of accessories and decorations, choose a neutral, monochromatic color scheme.
