Painting Stripes: 8 Expert Tips for Great Results

When decorative painter Patty Kramer created this wall for Decorating magazine's Fall 2008 issue, the "Ultimate Guide to Walls," she chose a bold color scheme and a design featuring horizontal stripes of varying widths. We were so impressed, we asked her to tell us how she did it. Read on for Patty's tips for a well-striped wall.

Draw an arrangement of lines on the wall, using stripe heights or widths of 3 to 15 inches. You can choose to paint stripes of uniform widths (as seen here), or go for some visual variety.

If you vary the sizes of your stripes, try to group some larger ones with a few thin ones. Random is best, but there is no right or wrong.

Choose one hue of your design to be the base color. If one color will be visually dominant, use that one as a base and you'll use less paint for the project.

Using low-tack painter's tape, tape stripes off one at a time. Seal each tape edge with a thin coat of the wall's base color; let it dry. This step will ensure your stripe edges stay sharp, keeping color from seeping under the tape.

Paint each stripe with the desired color--two coats if necessary. Step back to check your work with each stripe. Allow paint to dry completely after each coat. When you're finished, remove the tape.

Use a small roller to paint stripes--it gives you more precision and control.

Dip a small roller directly into a quart-size can of paint and roll the color onto cardboard before painting the wall. This process will minimize drips and save you from having to get a roller pan for each paint hue.

To avoid adding too many stripes, let your design sit overnight after adding a few. If you still think you need more, start by taping off the additional stripes and follow Patti's steps until your design is just right.