How to Paint a Diamond Pattern on Walls
Though the harlequin pattern has been used as a design element for centuries, it still maintains a fresh appeal and complements a variety of decors. This simple geometric pattern consists of repeated rows of diamond shapes, most often in two alternating contrasting colors. If you plan to paint a diamond pattern on walls, the key to good results is accurate measuring and marking of the pattern before you pick up the roller or brush. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Level
- Ruler
- Painter's masking tape
- Paintbrush or roller
- Lighter colored paint
- Darker colored paint
Instructions
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Paint an entire wall in the lighter of the two paint colors you've chosen. Consider painting the harlequin design onto only one focal wall, as this design can overwhelm when used on all of the walls of a room.
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Measure the width of the wall you wish to paint with a harlequin pattern to determine the size of each diamond in the pattern. In general, larger walls will look appropriate with larger diamond shapes, whereas smaller walls will require a scaled-down pattern. For instance, a wall that measures 150 inches wide will look appropriate with 10 diamond shapes that each measure 15 inches across. The height of a diamond should measure approximately twice the width, but you can adjust this measurement up or down to ensure that you end up with shapes that are not cut off at the bottom of the wall.
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Mark dots along the width of the wall at horizontal intervals that equal the width of each diamond. Continue by marking dots along the height of the wall at vertical intervals that equal the height of each diamond. Use a ruler and pencil to connect these dots and draw in lines that create a grid.
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Mark each box in the grid with the center point on each side. These center points are where the points of each diamond will be situated. Connect these dots with a ruler and draw them in with a pencil.
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Tape just outside of the lines of diamonds in the odd rows and paint these areas in the darker of the two colors you've chosen. Since the masking tape around the diamond in the first row will obscure a portion of the diamond in the second row, you will need to tape and paint diamonds in the odd rows and columns first. Remove the tape as soon as you finish painting each diamond. Repeat the process in the even rows and columns.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the same level of sheen for both colors of paint in your harlequin design.
Paint often bleeds through the edges of painter's tape. To ensure crisp lines, paint over the inside edges of the tape -- inside the diamond -- with your undercoat. This will seal the edges of the tape before you paint with the darker color.
Choose high contrast colors for bold harlequin walls or softer hues for a subdued effect.
To save time, use a chalk line to draw the diamond pattern onto walls.
Pencil lines may appear through lighter colored paint. Position masking tape just outside these lines and erase them before applying paint.
Use one length of tape to mask off each side of a diamond. Attempting to use one long piece of tape along the entire wall will result in crooked lines.
