Paint by Numbers: How to paint stripes on a wall and ceiling

Discover Dulux's step-by-step guide to painting statement stripes on your walls & ceiling. Read our how-to guide on painting a ceiling stripe.

While painting your room in a brand-new colour is a brilliant way to transform the space, who says you have to stick to one shade? Take your interior to the next level and discover how to paint stripes on a wall and how to paint stripes on a ceiling.

Why you should say it with stripes

Painting a stripe between a wall and ceiling will add interest and character to any room and your bedroom or living room are great places to start. This tried and tested trend will also make the room appear wider and the ceiling seem higher.

Some stripy inspiration to get you started

Instead of reaching for fancy wallpaper or calling in the pros, we suggest reaching for some tins of Dulux paint and trying it yourself. Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to draw the perfect horizontal line – we’ll show you how to paint straight lines between a wall and ceiling. But first, here are a few ideas to inspire your next project.

Find the perfect balance

Colour your walls with darker, moody shades to add depth to the space. Then balance the look with a soft border using Tranquil Dawn. When tempered with our Colour of the Year 2020, you’ll create a sophisticated, yet soothing space.

Layer for high impact

Or if you prefer to paint your walls with neutral, muted hues, use stripes to tie the light and dark shades together. Layering warm, earthy tones like Spiced Honey, will create a peaceful and harmonious colour scheme.

Let us show you how to paint stripes on a wall and how to paint stripes on a ceiling.

Takeaway Tip: Allow enough time for your wall to dry before masking to allow for the masking tape to be applied properly

What you’ll need:

Your paint colour choices
A roller and tray
Measuring tape
Pencil
Ball of string
Chalk
Masking tape
Paint brushes
Scissors

Step-by-step guide:

Paint the wall with your chosen background colour, for example, Spiced Honey and allow to dry.
Measure the depth you want your ceiling stripe to be and mark it with a pencil.
With your chalk, pull your string across the length of the wall and tightly fix in place. Then, ping your string against the wall to leave a straight-line mark which you can then mask up.
Using your masking tape, mask along the line and mask the ceiling then paint with your other chosen colour.