How to Paint Stripes on a Wall Like a Pro

Determine stripe spacing and size

Measure each wall you want to put stripes on from corner to corner. Use a calculator to work out the best size before putting anything on the wall. Divide the total wall length (all adjacent walls getting stripes) by your desired stripe width, then lay it out starting in the middle of the wall.

If you’re wrapping stripes around a corner, make sure the center of a stripe lands in each corner. If slight size adjustments are needed to your pattern, adjust the corner stripes. It will be less noticeable because half the corner stripe lands on each wall.

Measure and mark

Once you’ve determined the exact size of your stripes, transfer the measurements to the wall. Ours worked out to 10-in. stripes, so we started by measuring from the middle of the wall and making small, light pencil marks every 10 in. Using these marks as a guide, use a 6-ft. level to mark a plumb line from the top to the bottom of the wall. To further define the lines, use a chalk line.

Tip: Add baby powder to your chalk line to reduce the chalk’s color intensity. This makes it easier to wipe away and prevents a pronounced colored line from bleeding into the paint.

Tape the lines and burnish

Follow the chalk lines and apply painter’s tape to the wall. Be consistent in the placement of the tape — taping to the outside of the chalk line of the stripe being painted. This will allow you to paint over pencil marks and chalk. If you place the tape on the inside of the marked line, you will have to retouch to remove pencil marks. You will also have to wipe down the wall to remove chalk lines when you are done. Once you are satisfied with the placement, burnish the tape edge against the wall with a credit card, a spoon, or a plastic putty knife. This will create a good seal, prevent paint bleed, and reduce touch-ups.

Tip: To avoid confusion about which stripes to paint and which not to, place tape on the stripes you won’t be painting as a visual reminder.

Seal the edges with the base color

Use a 1-1/2-in. angled paint brush and paint along the inside edge of your taped-out stripe with the base coat color already on the wall. This will seal the edge of your paint line. If paint bleeds through, it will be the same color, making it impossible to notice. Consider this step insurance for crisp lines without wasting time on touchups.

Paint the Stripes

After the base coat sealing the inside edges of the tape lines has dried, use a roller to paint two coats of your stripe color between the sealed tape lines. Be sure to give ample drying time between each coat.

Tip: We used the same color paint to paint our stripes, but with a shinier semi-gloss sheen. Semi-gloss paint reflects the direction of the applied paint. To avoid showing texture or marks in your dried paint, pull the roller off the wall while you are still in motion. Keep a wet edge as you apply each new load of paint, and avoid heavy lap marks by lightly evening out the paint.

Pull the Tape

You have two windows to successfully remove the tape — when the paint is freshly applied and still tacky, or when it has fully cured and is dry (12 to 24 hours). Both will snap the paint edge cleanly. Pull the tape back at a 45-degree angle for the best results. Avoid removing tape when the paint is in between — partially dry but not cured — as this may produce pulls and tears in the finish.

Touch up as needed

Every striped wall will require a little bit of touchup. The goal is to minimize the amount. Use a small artist angled brush to clean up any bleed lines or imperfections along the stripe edges. Work with a steady hand and keep a damp rag nearby to catch any mistakes while the paint is still wet.

FAQ

What is a good size for painted stripes on a wall?

There is no steadfast rule about the size of painted stripes on a wall. It is more about the balance you want and how it divides out on the length of the wall being painted with stripes. For wider stripes, working with both an even number and an odd number in inches will help divide out the wall to a pleasing layout.  8, 9, 10, and 12-in. are a good place to start. The same theory applies for smaller stripes just do the math.

Should I paint vertical or horizontal stripes?

That depends on the effect you wish to create. Horizontal stripes will make a room feel wider, and vertical stripes give the illusion of tall ceilings. Vertical stripes are more traditional. Horizontal stripes give a modern feel and could lend themselves to a nautical theme. The paint color of your stripes will also have a huge impact on the effect they create.

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