How to Paint Stripes on Your Walls

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Materials:

rag
painter's tape
self-priming wall paint (Benjamin Moore, Aura, Monterey White, HC-27; Burnt Russet, 42; Savannah Shade, 525)
paint brush
large foam roller
small foam roller
tape measure
laser level
pencil

Steps:

1. Clean walls and tape off the trim, baseboards and ceiling.

2. Apply the base coat. Start by cutting in the perimeter of the room with a brush and then roll out the rest. Allow the base coat to dry.

3. Determine the desired type of stripes. Horizontal stripes make a room feel wider; vertical stripes make a room feel taller. Also, decide the width of the stripes, keeping them four to 12 inches apart.

4. Use a pencil to mark dots on the walls where you want the edge of the stripes. Using a laser level will ensure your lines are straight. Make multiple dots for each edge.

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5. Align the edge of painter's tape with the pencil marks to create the borders of your stripes. Be sure to press the edges of the tape down firmly so paint won't bleed under.

6. Use a foam roller to fill in the stripe with your chosen paint color.

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7. To add a racing stripe effect, after your main stripe has dried, repeat the measuring, marking and taping process within the stripe. Use a small foam roller to fill in between the tape with a third wall color.

8. Allow the paint to dry for an hour, remove the tape and do touch-ups as needed

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