painting stripes

In older homes – even mobile homes – old wallpaper presents a challenge. The question is always… how do I go about painting over wallpaper?

“I live in a mobile home, an older mobile home that is in fairly good shape, but I have to re-do the master bedroom and bath walls.

photo credit: A Touch of Glass

This is whats going on with those rooms…

Previously the walls have been papered. When we bought this place, the previous owner had started pulling the wall paper off the bathroom walls.

I would like a unique look for the re-do that I will do.

The bathroom is fairly good size and needs to be done in some lighter color.

I want the color to coordinate with the bedroom which is also papered, and the paper job is not too good. The seams show. I don’t know if I need to remove existing paper, or try papering over what is already there.

Check out this article where I discuss adjoining room colors < click here.

I want colors that are taupe, off white and or white. I love the neutrals that can be used with any color as an accent color.

I know its hard to have an imagination when you can’t actually see the rooms that I am describing, but I want something special in our bedroom. Do you have any ideas for me?” ~ Barbara

Let’s see what Tawn recommends for covering over wallpaper

Partially removed wall-paper problems – Not a fun thing to have to deal with. Let me say I’m sorry in advance!

Unfortunately, because the paper was pulled off – “some” – by the previous owner, I think you’ll have to finish what they started and remove it the rest of the way or you won’t have a good base to start from and that will make the final project end up looking uneven.

photo credit: CJ Sorg

Click here to read my 10 tips for painting over wallpaper.

So, remove the old paper and wash down your walls. Then you are ready to paint or paper or paint AND paper! If you want to make the room “light and bright” using taupes and whites is a great choice.

You could do a crystal paint affect on the top and a solid on the bottom with a wall paper boarder to tie it all in and add some flare.

To do a “crystal” affect on the top you take one color (let’s say you choose swiss coffee – a light tan almost white color) and you get it in three “finishes”.
One is flat, one is eggshell paint or semi gloss paint and the last one is GLOSS paint!
Paint the wall with a roller using the mid-tone/finish. In this case eggshell or semi-gloss.
Let it dry completely and then take a sea sponge and sponge the flat version of your paint over the semi-gloss.
Remember to move randomly across the whole wall and not in lines or from side to side. Random sponge painting gives you a more even finish when sponging a wall than working your way across the wall from side to side.
When you’ve finished with the flat version of your paint and you’ve let it dry it’s time for the gloss version.
Same process as will the flat paint but now with the gloss… that is highly reflective.
Most people would stop here but I tend to go back with my flat to dull some of the gloss areas and to give it depth.
Because you have used three different types of paint your wall will have depth even though it is painted the same color. The light will dance across it as it is reflected off the gloss sponge spots and absorbed by the flat.

I’d roll a solid color (taupe) on the bottom (since you have so much going on above it) and then find a nice wall paper board you can apply to the “seam” between the two.

Another option would be to paint stripes in taupe and white and maybe add a border at the ceiling line to draw the eye upward.

Painting over wallpaper with a solid color at the top and the bottom in stripes.

Click Here to see loads of articles about painting stripes.

So many options…so few rooms to paint.

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This is a question that I must be asked 20 times a day. How To Paint Stripes and Seal Tape to keep the paint from seeping under on a textured wall.

I am trying to paint stripes on a wall that has knock down texture on it. Is there a way to actually get straight lines -not jagged ones??? Please help- very frustrated. Kelly

Yes… Kelley, their is a Santa Clause! )

Their are tricks to get that tape to seal down… even on texture wall, so your stripes come out clean.

My two best tricks to prevent bleed under the tape:

Paint the stripes the base coat color of the wall first… then paint over that with the new color. The reason for this is… the first color will bleed into any areas that are missed by the tape, but this color matches the already painted area.
Paint the stripe with clear sealer. Any sealer that bleeds under isn't going to show.

These two tips accomplish the same thing. The gaps that the tape has on textured walls is sealed with something that won't show.

The best tape is the blue tape that has an orange cardboard core. The core is what the tape is wound around. It is called low-tack tape and it is especially made for freshly painted walls.

Also… burnishing the tape with a spoon or credit card does help to get the tape down into the grooves of the wall.

Now you know how to paint stripes seal tape!

More about Stop Paint From Seeping Under Painters Tape

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