How to Get a Half-Painted Wall Right
See the easy painting technique that’s giving rooms a crisp and colorful edge
If you’re planning to repaint and want something a little different, a half-painted wall could be just the thing. It gives you the benefit of bold color without overwhelming your space, adds on-trend graphic edge, and can even be easier than painting the whole wall from top to bottom if you have high ceilings. This paint trend doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon, and I think that’s a good thing. Here are some do’s and don’ts of painting a bicolored wall, from choosing shades to applying paint to styling your space.
Do emphasize interesting architecture with a half-painted wall. Have a high-ceilinged room, double-height stairway or other interesting architectural feature you would like to emphasize? Follow the lines with a half-painted wall to draw the eye toward the special feature.
Don’t attempt a tricky application on your own. While a basic half-painted wall is easier to DIY than you might think (keep reading for painting prep tips), more complicated applications, like the one shown here and in the previous photo, are not so easy. If you have a tricky look in mind for your half-painted wall, consider sharing your inspiration photo with a pro and hiring him or her to do the painting.
Get tips on hiring a painter for your interiors
Get tips on hiring a painter for your interiors
Do hang art that crosses the paint line. Deliberately crossing the line between the two colors of your wall is a great way to make your painted wall feel like part of a well-thought-out design scheme. You can use artwork, a mirror or a textile wallhanging to cross the line. Just make sure it’s a good-size piece — a tiny frame won’t make the same impression.
Do go tone-on-tone with soft neutrals. If you would like to try a half-painted wall but are wary of committing to a bold color, this can be a good compromise. The closer the paint colors are to each other, the more subtle the effect. If you want a really subtle look, pick a lighter neutral for the top half of the wall, and one to two shades darker for the bottom.
Do try a painted wainscot in the bath. Don’t have a traditional wood wainscot but wish you did? For a quicker version, define the space in a small bath or powder room with a high-contrast painted wall. In the space shown here, crisp gray-and-white walls, patterned floor tile and woven accessories combine for a rich neutral look.
Don’t rush prep time. If you usually do your own painting, you can probably manage a half-painted wall too. Take your time, be sure you have a helper and gather all the necessary tools before you begin. Start here:
- High-quality painters tape is a must for this project because you will be relying on it to create a really crisp, neat line.
- A laser level (which usually costs $50 to $100) is a worthwhile investment for this project because it makes the process much quicker — and more precise.
- If you want to keep the existing wall color, you can move along to making your line. If not, you’ll need to paint the wall first and allow it to dry.
- Use the laser level to cast a laser line at the height you want, and have your helper trace the line in pencil. Once you have the pencil line where you want it, cover the line with painters tape. If you don’t have a laser level, measure up from the floor in several spots, mark each spot and then use a straight edge to draw a line between the marks. Check your work with a level before continuing.
- Cover the floor with tarps, cover and tape baseboards, and loosen any switch plates in the painting zone.
- Paint on one side of the tape line, allow it to dry and apply a second coat if using. Wait until the paint is dry to the touch (usually about an hour) before removing the tape.
Don’t be afraid to try a diagonal line. It may look tricky, but a diagonal line isn’t any more difficult to get right than a horizontal line.
The easiest way to do this (as with a horizontal line) is to use a laser level to project a line from one corner of the wall to the other while a friend uses a pencil to mark the line.
If the wall isn’t too long (like the one shown here), you can probably get away with going straight to the painters tape. Have your helper hold the roll as you pull the tape across the wall.
The easiest way to do this (as with a horizontal line) is to use a laser level to project a line from one corner of the wall to the other while a friend uses a pencil to mark the line.
If the wall isn’t too long (like the one shown here), you can probably get away with going straight to the painters tape. Have your helper hold the roll as you pull the tape across the wall.
Tell us: Do you have a half- or partially painted wall? Share a photo in the Comments!
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Houzz TV: How to Prime a Wall Before You Paint
Houzz TV: How to Stencil a Wall
Find painting pros near you
Don’t feel you must place the horizontal line in the exact center. Artists, photographers and designers all use the “rule of thirds” to create visually interesting compositions, and you can too. Imagine that your wall is divided into three equal parts horizontally, like layers of a cake. By placing your focal point (in this case, the paint line) where two layers intersect, you can create more visual tension than if the line was dead center.
Read more about this black-and-white nursery