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Single horizontal stripe in red racing stripe motif painted on a wall.
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5 from 14 votes

How To Paint Wall Stripes

A tutorial for painting stripes on walls. All the best tips for painting both horizontal and vertical stripes without bleeding. From accent walls to a single horizontal stripe, you can be confident in getting perfectly crisp paint edging lines!
Prep Time1 hour
Active Time1 hour
Total Time2 hours
Yield: 1 wall
Author: Rachel
Cost: $50

Equipment

  • Paint Brush
  • Foam Roller
  • Handi Pail optional

Materials

  • Painter's Tape *See Note for Brands
  • Paint

Instructions

  • Paint your base coat. This should either be the main color or the lightest and flattest color. For instance, if you are painting a flat color and a satin, paint the flat first all over the wall. Paint should dry at least a few days, but 7+ is optimal especially for high gloss or cheap paints.
    Horizontal painters tape stripes on the wall
  • Mark your Lines. Mark Your Lines with Pencil. The most ideal way to make a straight line is with a laser level and mark with pencil. If you don't have one, you can measure down from the ceiling for horizontal lines and use a level to remove any noticeable dips or bows. For vertical lines, a level is a great tool.
    Woman marking a wall with a pencil and level.
  • Tape along the outside lines. Work in long sections, at least 18 inches, to get visually straight lines. If your lines have corners, use scissors to cut the corners rather than tearing.
    Using Painter's tape to create a boy bedroom header
  • Paint the accent color. Make sure to burnish edges just before painting to eliminate bleed through. Use a brush or foam roller to add thin coats.
    Woman using her finger to burnish edges of tape.
  • Remove the tape. For satin or high gloss paints, don't remove while the paint is tacky. This makes the paint more likely to stretch and ruin the crisp line. Pull the tape back on itself, at an angle away from the line, and gently pull. Use a razor knife or box cutters to release the tape from trouble spots.
    Woman pulling painter's tape away from painted wall for sha4rp lines.
  • Allow to Dry. You can touch up any areas needed after the paint is entirely dry.
    Single horizontal stripe in red racing stripe motif painted on a wall.

Notes

What Tape to Use for Painting Crisp Lines?
While green Frog Tape is still highly recommended, Scotch Blue has improved their Ultra Sharp Tape and Sharp Tape lines. In our tests, they are almost imperceptible. Frog tape sometimes prevents bleeding slightly better than the Sharp, but the Ultra Sharp releases better with less chipping or tearing. Do not use Original or Stretch Blue tape.