While a steady hand and the proper brush can yield a charming hand-painted look, we recommend using painters tape to create crisp lines. Before you begin, grab some of your favorite paint samples, and test them out before painting stripes. Plan to keep stripe colors similar in value. For a high-end look, use closely related hues of the same color—two shades of tan or three shades of blue, for example. You can use a high-contrast striped wall in small areas, such as below a chair rail or on an accent wall. In addition to color, consider the design of your stripes. Vertical stripes can make a wall look taller, a desirable effect for most rooms. Similarly, horizontal stripes can make a short wall appear wider, causing the entire room to seem larger. The width of the stripe is key, too. Broad stripes in a small space might be overpowering but stylishly suit larger settings. Once you’ve chosen your paint colors and pattern, follow our simple steps to learn how to paint stripes. Coupled with expert advice, you’ll have crisp, clean wall stripes in no time. Editor’s Tip: Start in the least noticeable corner of the room so uneven stripes will be less noticeable. You might need to adjust the last few stripes, so you don’t end up with a narrow stripe at the end. When you reach a corner, you can adjust the stripe width or wrap the color around the corner. For a crisp line, tape before painting. Place a line of painters tape just outside each pencil line so the stripe will cover the pencil line. Using the back of a plastic tool handle or an old credit card, press the edge of the tape down to seal it to the wall. First, paint over the tape edge with the base coat and let dry to prevent the stripe color from bleeding underneath the tape. If any paint bleeds under the tape, it will be the base color and not noticeable.
