Dramatic Striped Ceiling Update

The ceiling is a room's fifth wall. Give this often overlooked area a big dose of personality with an easier-than-it-looks graphic paint treatment.

Dramatic Striped Ceiling

The ceiling is a room's fifth wall. Give this often-overlooked area a big dose of personality with an easier-than-it-looks graphic paint treatment.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Related To:

Materials Needed:

laser level
pencil
spirit level
3 gallons of latex paint in 3 coordinating colors
paint roller handle

3 paint roller covers
metal or plastic paint pan
3 disposable paint pan inserts
painter's tape (1 roll for every 60 yards of surface area)
drop cloth

Mark Ceiling

Use a laser level to project straight lines onto ceiling approximately a foot apart, then lightly mark the laser lines with pencil and a straight edge such as a yardstick or spirit level.

Tape Off Stripes

Position painter's tape along pencil marks, being careful to match edges of tape with pencil lines, ensuring straight painted stripes.

Mark and Tape Ceiling

Use a laser level to project straight lines onto ceiling approximately a foot apart, then lightly mark the laser lines with pencil and a straight edge such as a yardstick or spirit level. Position painter's tape along pencil marks, being careful to match edges of tape with pencil lines, ensuring straight painted stripes.

Roll Accent Colors

Before painting, protect floor and any furnishings with a drop cloth. Starting from edge of tape, working inward, and paint each taped-off area with accent color. After two coats of first accent color are dry, place a new liner into pan before pouring next color. For side-by-side, two-tone stripes, reposition tape along inside line of completed stripe, then roll between newly positioned tape.

Before painting, protect the floor and any furnishings with a drop cloth. Starting from the edge of the tape, working inward, paint each taped-off area with the accent color. After two coats of the first accent color are dry, place a new liner into your pan before pouring the next color. For side-by-side, two-tone stripes, reposition the tape along the inside line of the completed stripe, then roll between newly positioned tape.

Apply Accent Paint

Before painting, protect the floor and any furnishings with a drop cloth. Starting from the edge of the tape, working inward, paint each taped-off area with the accent color. After two coats of the first accent color are dry, place a new liner into your pan before pouring the next color. For side-by-side, two-tone stripes, reposition the tape along the inside line of the completed stripe, then roll between newly positioned tape.