To paint stripes on a wall using tape, you first prepare the surface, mark the lines accurately (potentially using a story stick as described in the reference), apply painter's tape along the marked lines, paint the sections, and then remove the tape to reveal the crisp stripes.
Painting stripes on a wall with tape is a popular DIY technique to add visual interest and personality to a room. While the process involves several steps, the key to success lies in careful planning, precise marking, and proper taping.
Before you even think about paint, ensure your wall is clean, dry, and smooth. Fill any holes or cracks, sand them smooth, and prime the wall, especially if you're changing the base color significantly or painting over a dark color. Decide on your stripe pattern: horizontal, vertical, or even diagonal, and determine the width of your stripes.
Marking the Stripes
Accurate marking is crucial for straight, evenly spaced stripes. There are several methods, but one effective technique involves using a measuring tool like a story stick.
Using a Story Stick
As mentioned in the provided reference clip, a story stick is a piece of wood or cardboard marked with the desired measurements of your stripes and the spaces between them. Here's how to use it:
- Measure and mark your story stick according to your desired stripe pattern.
- Starting from one end of the wall (often a corner), align the story stick.
- Hold the stick against the wall with the Left End abutting the adjacent wall. And transfer the lines on the story stick to the wall. Use a pencil and a level to draw light, straight lines across the wall based on the marks on your story stick.
- Repeat this process across the entire wall, ensuring your lines are level or plumb (perfectly vertical) depending on your stripe direction.
Other marking methods include using a measuring tape and level to mark points and then connecting them with a straight edge or a chalk line.
Applying the Painter's Tape
Once your lines are marked, apply high-quality painter's tape just outside the pencil lines.
- If you want the stripe itself to be the color you are about to paint, place the tape outside the area you want to paint.
- If you want the base color to show as the stripe, place the tape inside the area you want to paint.
Press the tape down firmly with your finger or a putty knife to ensure a tight seal and prevent paint bleed. Pay extra attention to edges and corners.
Painting the Stripes
Now it's time to paint the sections between the tape lines.
- Apply your chosen paint color using a roller or brush.
- Don't apply the paint too thickly, as this can increase the risk of bleeding under the tape.
- For extra clean lines, you can sometimes apply a thin coat of the base wall color (or a clear sealant) over the edge of the tape first. This seals the tape edge, and any bleed will be the base color, not the stripe color. Once dry, apply your stripe color over this.
- Apply a second coat if necessary, allowing the first coat to dry according to the paint manufacturer's instructions.
Removing the Tape
The timing of tape removal is critical for clean lines.
- Remove the tape while the paint is still slightly wet or after it is completely dry, but avoid removing it when the paint is semi-dry or tacky, as this can cause the paint to peel with the tape.
- Pull the tape off slowly at a 45-degree angle away from the painted stripe.
- If any paint has bled under the tape, carefully touch it up with a small brush using the base wall color after the stripe paint has fully dried.
By following these steps, including the precise marking techniques like using a story stick, you can achieve professional-looking painted stripes on your wall.
