This is a project I completed a few years ago: DIY Hand Painted Wall Stripes. I’ve never been much for wallpaper, despite how lovely some designs can be. In my previous home I used a rag-rolling technique with an iridescent pearl glaze from Lowe’s, painting the wall a base color and then adding subtle texture with the glaze. I liked the soft, elegant finish it created.
For this house I wanted a different effect, so I used the same glaze in a striped pattern on the inside wall of the staircase. I chose silvery and mossy green tones for this area and I’m very pleased with the result. It was a relatively quick project with a big visual payoff. Below I share the step-by-step process.
Start by measuring the width of the wall and deciding how wide you want each stripe to be. I made small tick marks across the wall — about four marks per side of each stripe — then used a yardstick to connect the marks and guide the painter’s tape. I avoided drawing pencil lines directly on the wall because pencil can show through the glaze and look uneven.
I taped the yardstick to the wall so I could use both hands to apply the tape and moved the yardstick up as I continued taping. Place the tape along the outer edge of the stripe you plan to paint. Take care here: it’s easy to tape the wrong side of the intended stripe, so double-check as you go. When finished you’ll see a pattern of thinner and wider strips — the thinner strips will remain the base wall color, while the wider stripes will receive the glaze. Don’t forget to tape the top and bottom edges of the stripes as well.
For materials I used Valspar Translucent Iridescent Glaze, a small roller, and a small brush for corners the roller couldn’t reach. I covered an old paint tray with foil to keep a clean surface and worked with a small amount of glaze at a time. Aim to load the roller with just a thin coat so the glaze applies smoothly and evenly.
When the glaze is wet it appears lighter and less pronounced. I waited until the next day to remove the tape so I could confirm coverage and re-roll any areas that needed additional glaze — I did touch up one stripe after removing the tape.
I love the subtle effect—it’s decorative without being overpowering. The glaze is highly reflective, so the appearance of the stripes changes throughout the day with the light. Sometimes they read lighter, sometimes a little darker, and the finish has an elegant, luminous quality.
In the final photo you can see a large open space above the staircase that still needs treatment. It took me a while to decide how to finish that area; I’ll share the plan and results in a future post.
