Want to give your living room or hallway a fresh and modern look? Maybe you want your kid’s bedroom to look as fun, vibrant and full of personality as they are. It’s easy to create a dramatic effect by painting a bold accent wall! And the best part about this DIY project is that it’s fun and inexpensive!
Painting the interior rooms of your home can have tremendous impact, and it’s a great autumn project with a modest price tag.
Strive for a balance of linear elements and colors, and don’t be afraid to ask the experts at GNH Lumber for guidance and tips along the way. Get your painting project started!
Here’s how to create a bold accent wall with stripes!
What You’ll Need to Pick Up at GNH:
- FrogTape® Painter’s Tape
- Benjamin Moore Interior Paint
- Wall Primer
- 2-in. Paint Brush
- 9-in. Roller
- Drop Cloth
- Two Paint Trays
- 220-Grit Sandpaper
- Damp Sponge
Step 1:
Protect floors with a drop cloth, fill any nail holes and sand the wall. Wipe away dust with a clean, damp sponge.
Step 2:
Apply FrogTape® Painter’s Tape just beyond the corner of the adjacent wall to ensure a crisp, clean line.
Step 3
Prime wall if changing from a dark to a light paint color.
Step 4
Paint wall using a ‘W’ shape with a roller until the whole wall is covered evenly.
Step 5
Remove the painter’s tape when the paint is still wet.
Step 6
When the accent wall is dry, start decorating.
How to Paint Stripes on a Wall
Want to make a bold, unique statement? Stripes that go up-and-down make a room with low-ceilings look taller, where horizontal stripes give a smaller room a more spacious feel. And remember, the thinner the strips, the busier the pattern, too.
Here are a few tips to paint level, even stripes on your walls.
Step 1
Paint your base color across the entire wall using the lighter and flatter shade of the two colors you picked. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
Step 2
Figure out your stripe spacing. Choose a stripe width that can be evenly divided into the wall’s width or height. Generally, 4-12 in. is a good width. For vertical stripes, measure the width of the wall and for horizontal stripes, measure the height of the wall.
Quick Tip: Paint an odd number of stripes on your wall. This makes sure you’ll get a solid strip at the edges of the wall or ceiling.
Step 3
Create your outline. If using a level and pencil, mark your stripe widths across the wall. With your level, draw a light line continuously across, making sure the level is straight.
Step 4
Mark an “X” where you want your solid stripes to be.
Quick Tip: Create a guide the exact width of your stripes and use it to make your marks
Step 5
Apply the right FrogTape® product for your surface
Quick Tip: Place your tape on the outside of your pencil line so the paint will cover up any markings.
Step 6
Burnish or seal the edges of the tape. Run a plastic toll along the tape’s edge so paint can’t bleed through.
Step 7
Pull the tape off when the paint is still wet at a slow, 45-degree angle backward toward the wall. Don’t forget to control the end of the free tape so it doesn’t drag along the freshly painted stripes.
Painting stripes takes time and patience. Just follow these steps to prepare the space and you’ll be sure to make your stripes look crisp and straight.
Sources: https://www.frogtape.com/inspiration/tutorials/projects/update-your-room-with-an-accent-wall; https://www.frogtape.com/inspiration/tutorials/projects/how-to-paint-stripes-on-a-wall
Do you have a painting project in mind?
Stop in to your local GNH Lumber to learn more and to get that project started today. Get your painting project started!