How to Paint a Wall Plaid
When most people think of wall design options in interior decorating, the most common option is a solid color or perhaps a few blocks of color. Some may also prefer a patterned wall paper. One unique and creative choice is painting a wall plaid. The effect is definitely eye-catching and makes a statement.
There are many different styles and varieties of plaid. For this reason, the exact technique you use to paint a wall plaid will vary depending on your preferred design. Once you learn this standard method for creating a plaid wall, you may consider altering it any number of ways - distance between taped segments, size of color blocks, etc. - to achieve a different plaid effect.
Items needed:
- Paint (three colors, one will be your primary base color)
- Paint brushes
- Paint rollers
- Translucent glaze
- Painter's tape
- Ruler or tape measure
- Straight edge
- Pencil
Instructions:
- Choose your main background (base) color and paint the entire wall.
- Let dry.
- Measure out a regular interval of length (for example, every six inches or every eight inches) of your choosing and mark each interval with a pencil on both ends of the wall (right and left).
- Connect each corresponding mark on either side by drawing a horizontal line with a pencil. Make sure the line is perfectly straight by using a straight edge or having a friend assist you. Do this with all marked intervals.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 (at similar or different measured intervals as the horizontal ones) going vertically (top to bottom).
- Over every straight line, both horizontal and vertical, cover with painter's tape. The tape lines should be very straight, creating a number of squares.
- Paint the squares the remaining two different colors, alternating every other square. The alternating painted squares should resemble a checkerboard pattern.
- Let dry.
- Remove the tape running vertically.
- Apply a coat of translucent glaze over every alternating horizontal section. This will give the wall even more contrast than the just the plaid pattern.
- Remove the remaining tape running horizontally.