How to Paint a Thin Line on a Wall

Mark on the wall with a pencil where you want the line to start and where you want it to end. Use a measuring tape to ensure the marks are at the same height if you are painting a horizontal line.

Measure the width of the line on the wall. If, for instance, you want your line to be an inch wide, make two marks on the wall an inch apart where the line starts, and two more where the line ends.

Place your straightedge against the wall and connect the start points and end points with a straight pencil line. This will give you the outline of your stripe on the wall.

Lay down painter's tape so that its edge follows the lines you drew in Step 3. You will need two lines of tape, one above and one below.

Paint down the line. The paint will cover both the tape and the stripe area.

Wait for the paint to dry, then peel off the painter's tape. It will leave behind a crisp, straight line on your wall.