Painting Techniques: Wall Stripes

·      Gives any room a light and sophisticated style with subtle wall stripes, which add a touch of texture and sheen for a soft, subtle look. The style goes well with pale-toned furnishings and rich fabrics or with luxurious accents such as large pillows and lush window treatments.

Step 1 - Prepare Your Surfaces 
Be sure any surface is properly prepared before you begin. Clean your walls thoroughly and repair any protruding nails or other imperfections. 

Step 2 - Apply Your Base Coat 
Paint your wall(s) with two base coats

Step 3 - Apply Tape
Before you apply the glaze mixture to your wall(s), apply tape to the ceiling and baseboards. 

Step 4 - Create a Glaze Mixture


Step 5 - Mark Your Wall Stripes
Determine how wide you want the stripes to look, and use a pencil to lightly mark your wall(s). To make sure you have straight marks, use a level as you mark.

Step 6 - Apply Tape
Apply one-inch painter's tape around the room. To ensure that every other stripe is 12 inches wide, apply tape on the outside of the marks with the first stripe, on the inside with the second, and so on.

Step 7 - Apply the Glaze Mixture
Pour your glaze mixture into your paint tray, and dip a cotton rag into the mixture. Apply the mixture onto your walls with a circular motion, taking care not to stray outside the 12-inch stripes.

Once each stripe is complete, remove the tape and continue painting the stripes around your room.

Meredith Woolfolk