How to Paint an Animal Print Design on Walls

Zebra Stripes

• 1

  Paint the wall with a white base coat for a natural, realistic effect, or a bright, bold color for a funky modern twist. Allow to dry.

• 2

  Measure the height of the wall. Cut the first piece of masking sheet to the height measurement. Masking tape sheet is self-adhesive and easy to remove like masking tape, but on a wide roll. Several lengths of masking sheet will be required to cover a whole wall.

• 3

  Study pictures of zebras and then draw the uneven stripe shapes onto the masking sheet. Cut out the areas inside the lines you have drawn, remove the backing from the masking sheet and apply it to the wall, starting at one edge.

• 4

  Paint the exposed areas with black paint and remove the sheet. Repeat the process with fresh lengths of masking sheet until the whole wall is covered.

Leopard Print

• 5

  Paint the wall with a warm, orange-tan base coat for a realistic effect, or a color of your choice for a kid's room or a brighter, more modern effect. Allow to dry.

• 6

  Study pictures of leopards to get a good idea of the shapes you need to create. Take a craft sponge, available from craft shops, and use scissors to cut it into an uneven oval shape that resembles a cloven hoof. Take a second sponge and create the same shape, but slightly smaller this time.

• 7

  Cut a third sponge into an uneven oval shape, but this time cut out the inside of the shape as well, leaving you with just an outline. Repeat the process with a fourth sponge, slightly smaller this time.

• 8

  Dip the sponges into black paint, and alternate between the four different shapes and sizes to apply the paint to the wall.

Giraffe Print

• 9

  Paint the walls with a light creamy-tan color for an authentic effect, or use a color of your choice. A giraffe print is suitable for a larger room where a small print like the leopard print would look to busy.

• 10

  Study pictures of giraffes to see the shapes the giraffe print features. Take several large craft sponges, and cut them into the various shapes that make up the giraffe's coat.

• 11

  Use an orange-brown color for an authentically colored print, or a color that complements a bright, bold base coat.

• 12

  Dip the sponges in the paint and apply to the wall, creating a realistic pattern as you go.