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Helpful How-To's
How to Oversize Plaid
An oversize plaid can liven up a space and looks great in spaces that are chopped up or have a lot of angles. It really is easy to do, but takes two days - one day to paint the vertical stripes, 24 hours of drying time, and one day to paint the horizontal stripes.
Only one glaze color is needed, but you can get more colors involved if you want. We recommend a 12" wide stripe for most rooms - never go less than 8". The wider the stripe, the bigger it will make the room look!
If you want to get more involved, it's a nice, subtle effect to let the plaid pattern dry for 24 hours then do a colour wash over top the walls. It gives the room even more depth!
Day 1
- Step 1: Collect Supplies
- measuring tape
- 2" natural bristle brush
- small #10 or #12 artist brush
- 24" plastic level w/ ruler (having a small and large size will be helpful)
- 2" brown paper tape (approx. 4 rolls needed for 400 sq. ft. size room)
- 1" blue tape if you have trim (1 roll)
- chalk (light colored)
- drop cloth
- ladder
- Step 2: Mark Horizontal Lines
- Choose an inconspicuous corner to begin.
- Measure 12" across from the corner and mark with chalk.
- Continue around the room, measuring 12" apart.
- If the last stripe is too wide or narrow, divide the distance between the stripe beside it and cheat it! Once the room is complete, you won't notice.
- Using the level, mark lines with chalk horizontally across the wall.
- Place a small section of brown tape on stripe that is not being painted to help remember which stripes to paint.
- If a painted stripe butts up at the ending corner with another painted stripe or a non-painted stripe butts up to another non-painted stripe split the difference between the stripes.
- Step 3: Tape Horizontal Lines
- Tape off trim of painted area using blue tape.
- Tape off one stripe at a time using brown paper tape.
- Lay out drop cloth under first wall you plan on painting.
- Step 4: Glaze Horizontal Lines
- Glaze stripes following directions on label starting at top of stripe working across.
- We like it best when the glaze is brushed on; this leaves brush strokes in both directions and makes a nice weave in the overlap areas.
- Step 5: Remove Tape
- Pull off brown tape after stripe is painted.
- Finish each wall in the same manner.
Day 2
- Step 1: Mark Vertical Lines
- Pick the most inconspicuous corner to begin.
- Starting at the ceiling, measure down the same width as the vertical stripes and mark with chalk.
- Continue measuring and marking until you reach the bottom of the wall.
- Using the level, mark lines with chalk horizontally across the wall.
- Place a small section of brown tape on stripe that is not being painted to help remember which stripes to paint.
- Step 2: Tape Vertical Lines
- Using the brown paper tape, tape off the first stripe at the top of the wall and glaze (this frames the room).
- Continue taping off every other stripe, as you did with the vertical stripes.
- Lay out drop cloth under first wall you plan on painting.
- Step 3: Glaze Vertical Lines
- Glaze stripe following directions on label starting at top of stripe working across. Use the same application method for the horizontal stripes that you used for the vertical stripes.
- We like it best when the glaze is brushed on; this leaves brush strokes in both directions and makes a nice weave in the overlap areas.
- Step 4: Remove Tape
- Pull off brown tape after stripe is painted.
- Pull off blue tape after one whole wall is complete.