How to Paint Stripes in Children's Bedrooms

Paint horizontal or vertical stripes on the walls in a child's bedroom. Stripes add visual interest to a room. Choose the colors carefully. The colors should coordinate with each other, not clash. For example, black and white can make people dizzy. It's possible to use several colors for stripes, but make sure that the selected colors work together. Also, keep in mind the size of the room. Brighter colors make a small room look more open, for example.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloths
• Two different colors of paint
• Paint rollers
• Paint brushes
• Paint trays
• 2 to 3 rolls of painter's tape

Instructions

1. Spread drop cloths over the floor and furniture. Apply painter's tape on the trim of the walls. Do not cover up part of the wall with the tape.

2. Pour the light color of paint into a paint tray. Use a paint roller and brush to paint all the bedroom walls. Let the paint dry. Apply a second coat of paint.

3. Clean out the paint tray, brush and roller while you wait for the walls to dry.

4. Starting at the top of the wall, place the end of a piece of painter's tape. Apply the piece of painter's tape from the top of the wall to the bottom to make a stripe. For thicker stripes, add another piece of tape adjacent to the first piece. Allow the edges of the tape to slightly overlap to avoid leaking. Apply another strip of tape 2 to 3 inches down for the first stripe. Repeat until all the walls have tape stripes. For horizontal stripes, do the same method; just turn sideways.

5. Pour the second, darker color of paint into a clean, dry paint tray. Paint over the walls showing in between the tape, using a small roller or paintbrush. It's okay for the paint to get onto the tape. Let the paint dry. Apply a second coat.

6. Wash out the paint tray, roller and brush while you wait for the paint to dry.

7. Remove the tape stripes to expose the other color. The wall is striped. Remove the tape over the trim.

8. Apply tape to the wall just above or below the trim. Pour paint into a tray and paint the trim with a paint brush. Remove the tape once the paint is dry.

References

• Decorating Your Baby's Nursery: Decorating Techniques-Painting Stripes on Walls