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A children's jumper, two macramé wall hangings, and a few books sit on a wooden desk against a blue wall with striped wallpaper, reminiscent of painting wall stripes, and a foldable wooden wall rack.
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Painting Wall Stripes Without Tape

The complete guide to painting wall stripes without tape, with a simple freehand method and everything you need to know for beautiful results.
Keyword: painting wall stripes

Equipment

  • Tape measure
  • Laser level or spirit level
  • Pencil
  • Paint brushes (same width as desired stripes)
  • Scrap cardboard (for template)

Materials

  • Base wall paint
  • Stripe paint colors
  • Extra wall paint for touch-ups

Instructions

  • Paint Your Base Color
    If needed, paint your entire wall in your chosen base color and allow it to fully dry.
  • Make a Template
    Decide your stripe spacing (measure centre to centre) and cut a cardboard template to match.
  • Draw Your Guidelines
    Using a level, place the template vertically and draw a pencil line. Move across the wall, repeating to create evenly spaced guidelines.
  • Paint the Stripes
    Using a brush the same width as your desired stripes, paint directly over each pencil line, centring the brush on the guideline.
  • Add a Second Color (Optional)
    Repeat the guideline and painting process for your second stripe color.
  • Tidy Up
    Touch up any mistakes with your base wall color.

Notes

 
  • Choose brushes that match your stripe width.
  • Matte or flat paint gives the most wallpaper-like finish.
  • Freehand stripes create a softer, more organic look than taped stripes.
  • This method works for both vertical and horizontal stripes.