How to Add Horizontal Stripes to a Kid's Bedroom

Measure the height of the wall you intend to paint from the ceiling to floor – omitting any trim attached at the top or bottom of the wall – and write down the resulting measurement in inches.

Divide the wall height measurement by the ideal width of stripe you want to paint and adjust your desired stripe width until you get an even number with no fractions. For example, if the wall measures 96 inches and you want stripes 3 inches wide, then 96 divided by 3 equals 32. That is the number of stripes you will mark on the wall for painting.

Purchase blue painters tape that works best with that width stripe. For this example, you would need 3-inch wide tape.

Use a measuring tape and pencil to mark off 3-inch increments – or whatever width you have chosen – beginning at the top along one edge of the wall. Do this at both ends of the wall starting at the top on each end.

Hold one end of a chalk line to the first point at the top on one end of the wall and have a helper pull out the line to the other end. Snap a line by plucking the tightly held chalk line so that it leaves a colored mark straight across along the length of the wall. Repeat for each pair of marks on the wall.

Attach tape between the lines covering the entire space between every other pair of lines to mask off the areas you do not wish to paint. To prevent paint from leaking under it and spoiling your stripes, rub hard with your finger or piece of cardboard along the tape edges to ensure the tape adheres tightly to the wall.

Apply paint sparingly to a narrow paint roller or sponge brush and carefully coat all the areas between the masked stripes. Let the paint dry, then recoat according to manufacturer's directions until each stripe is uniformly colored.

Wait until the paint is completely dry, then carefully remove the taped sections, leaving a crisp line of alternating color between the freshly painted stripes.