HOME | Painting stripes: add some quirky style into your space.

For awhile now I have been eying off my dining room and the opportunity to create something eye catching with colour to eliminate at least some of my vivid white walls. I explored how to maximise the natural light and create a dining room space that embraces quirks and makes a feature you see when you walk up my entry stairs into it. It was also a good opportunity to practice what I preach to clients with paint selections. As always, I learn a lot when I get on the tools and create something (instead of being purely on the specifying side of things).

For anyone wanting to give the striped walls or ceiling a go, here is how I did it:

Step 1: Gather Inspiration and Plan Your Design

Before starting, it's essential to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Do you want to make the space feel bigger, smaller, longer? Are you looking for a feature that you see from another room? Browse through interior design magazines, websites, and social media for inspiration. As a starting point I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to my pursuit of stripes…find that here. Identify the style, colour palette, and stripe pattern that resonate with your taste and complement your room's size and layout.

Tip 1: Color Mixing and Light Perception

When selecting paint colours for your stripes, consider that lighter colours tend to appear slightly darker when painted en masse. To account for this, mix your chosen color with a slightly lighter shade to achieve the desired effect once it covers the entire wall. I ended up having to back my colour back to a quarter by mixing it half/half with vivid white. ALWAYS do a test swatch on your wall because no matter what you think the colour looks like, it will always adapt to the room it’s in. More on selecting paint like an interior designer here.

Step 2: Prepare the Room

Once you've decided on your design, it's time to prepare the room for the painting process. Remove any furniture, decor, or fixtures that might obstruct your work area. Cover the floor and remaining furniture with drop cloths or plastic sheets to protect them from “creative mess”. I always think “I’m not that messy of a painter” and I am always wrong.

Thoroughly clean the walls or ceiling to ensure a smooth painting surface (I used Sugar Soap and even though the walls were white, it’s surprising how much grit cleaned off so it’s totally worth it). Fill any holes or imperfections with spakfilla and sand them down until flush with the surface (then paint an undercoat over the spakfilla). The smoother the surface, the more seamless the stripes.

Step 3: Measure and Mark

Accurate measurements and straight lines are the keys to achieving professional-looking stripes (alternatively I have seen some great images of some rougher edged stripes that might be more up your alley). Use a measuring tape, level, and a pencil mark the starting point and width of each stripe on the wall or ceiling. Instead of marking with pencil the whole way, I marked a few key points and masked up the lines with painters tape directly, checking with the laser measurer as I went.

Tip 2: Stripe Layout and Disguising Fixtures

When planning your stripe layout, consider the placement of downlights and other fixtures that you wish to disguise. Incorporate lighter-colored stripes in these areas to help conceal them seamlessly within your design. I knew I wanted larger stripes (to make the space feel larger) but I did make sure that I had a roller that was narrower than I wanted the stripes to be so it was easy to paint. I also made sure that the room started and finished on white so I could disguise the less than straight join between ceiling and wall because sometimes these 100 year old beauties have a few imperfections.

Step 4: Masking Tape Magic

The secret to getting crisp, clean lines is using high-quality painter's tape. When applying the tape, pressing it firmly to prevent paint from seeping underneath. Double-check the alignment and secure any loose edges. I also used a laser tool from Bunning’s ($50 Ozito one) to get the lines on the ceiling spot on. While it was a great time saving tool, you do get what you pay for as I did have to keep checking the measurements of the stripes because at times there weren’t exactly right.

Tip 3: Removing Painter's Tape

To achieve cleaner lines and allow for slight tidy up of drips, remove the painter's tape when the paint is touch dry but not completely dry. This will help you make any necessary adjustments without pulling off the paint. I used a damp cloth with sugar soap and buffed the edges that had seeped a bit.

Step 5: Painting

If painting a wall from scratch or with a darker colour underneath, apply a high-quality undercoat to the wall or ceiling. The undercoat not only ensures better adhesion of the paint but also helps in achieving a uniform appearance. My walls had been painted Dulux Vivid White reasonably recently so I went straight to paint after they were clean.

Now, the fun part begins! With a roller or paintbrush, start applying your chosen paint color between the masking tape lines. Remember to apply thin coats to prevent drips and ensure even coverage. Allow each coat to dry completely before adding another layer.

Step 6: Unmask and Admire

This is the moment you’veI had been waiting for, nothing more satisfying than seeing a crisp line appear behind the blue painter’s tape. Once the final coat is dry to the touch, gently remove the painter's tape at a 45-degree angle. Stand back and admire your newly painted stripes, appreciating the transformation you've achieved.

Hopefully a few of my pain points along the way, such as color mixing, strategic stripe layout, and proper use of painter's tape, will make your stripe painting project smooth sailing. I hope this step-by-step guide inspires you to explore new interior design projects and experiment with different patterns and colors to infuse your home with charm and personality. All walls don’t have to be white…Happy painting!

Ready to get stuck into your own stripe painting? 🎨 Tap on the highlights on instagram to check out the process I went through.