How to Paint Kids' Rooms in Polka Dots

Add fun flare to a child's room by painting polka dots on the walls.

Create a fun and festive look for your child's room by painting polka dots on the walls. Polka dots go well with various colors, themes and room decor. For an interesting yet subtle look, paint a few polka dots that are the same size and color on a focal wall. For a more dramatic look, paint polka dots in varying colors and sizes throughout the room. Ask your child about his or her preference when choosing paint colors and determining the size and placement of the polka dots.

Things You'll Need

• Acetate sheets
• Circular items
• Craft knife
• Painters tape
• Paintbrush
• Paint rollers
• Paint pan

Instructions

1. Choose a minimum of two colors, one for the base coat and at least one for the polka dots. You may choose as many colors for the polka dots as you'd like.

2. Paint the base coat on the walls. Using a brush, first paint the corners and the tops of the walls near the ceiling as well as around the baseboards, window frames, door frames and any other space difficult to reach with a paint roller. Pour the base-color paint into the paint pan. Roll the paint roller in the pan and apply the paint to the walls in up-and-down even strokes. Allow the base coat to dry completely and then apply a second coat.

3. Create stencils for your polka dots on acetate sheets. On each acetate sheet, use a magic marker to trace a circular object -- a plate, a roll of ribbon or the base of a thick circular candle, for instance -- that fits the size of a polka dot that you want to create. Cut out the circular stencils with a craft knife.

4. Attach the stencils to the wall with painters tape. Dip a paintbrush directly into the paint can that you have selected for your polka dot color. Run the paintbrush along the rim of the can to remove any excess paint. Create the polka dots by painting inside each of the circular stencils.

5. Let the polka dots dry. Once the paint has dried, remove the stencils. Reapply the stencils to the next section of the wall where you wish to paint polka dots and repeat Step 4. Repeat this process until you have painted all the polka dots that you want.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of making your own stencils, you can purchase them from a craft store. The drawback is that the polka dots you paint will be limited to the sizes of the polka dots on these stencils.

• If a child is helping you paint, provide close supervision at all times.

References

• Spray Paint Stencils: Making Your Own Re-Usable Stencils

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish