Are Stripes the Answer for Your Plain Room?

Are you feeling like your wall needs a pop for little cost? Painted stripes might just be the perfect answer for you! Stripes can fulfill a need for a subtle or dramatic look depending on the colors you use. First of all, decide on a color scheme for your room. Next, do you want to have stripes throughout the entire room or just on an accent wall? How many colors do you want? Do you want all the stripes the same size or varying sizes? Is horizontal (used to make your room look larger) or vertical stripes (make your ceiling seem higher) more appropriate for your space? These are all questions to ask yourself before delving into this adventure!

When painting stripes throughout the entire room, I might recommend keeping the contrast subtle. First pick the main color you would like the walls to be in your room. Then take your paint fan deck and go up one or two colors on the page from your main color choice, or down one or two colors. This will ensure you have kept the colors in the same “family” because colors can play tricks on us when they get onto our walls, appearing to have an undertone that wasn’t quite expected such as a green or pink/peach. My other recommendation would be to pick the color you would like to use and paint one stripe in a matte finish and the other stripe in a semi-gloss or gloss finish. This will give you just enough effect to make an impact without overwhelming the space with lots of colors.

Are you looking for a more dramatic contrast? This can be achieved by combining coordinating colors to make a powerful impact in your room. Might I suggest choosing one wall or a focal point to achieve this look? Possibly even using the stripes as a focal point for a headboard, staircase, or fireplace. Finally, pick one of the more subtle colors in the stripes, such as a beige or gray for the remaining walls.

By now you are probably asking yourself how to do this? One way is to paint the entire wall the main color. Let this area dry for 24 to 48 hours. Then decide how thick of strips you would like to use, anywhere from 4” to 12” is standard. Don’t be afraid to mix widths, might I suggest 3”, 6” and 9”? Next, measure and tape the area you will paint in for your stripes. Allow yourself wide enough tape to be able to paint over the edge to guarantee that crisp line. Once finished, remove the tape and enjoy the pop your stripes have brought to your room!

How do you feel about stripes on your walls? Yay or nay? Thick or thin? Dramatic or subtle?