Tips on Painting Polka Dot Bedrooms

Design Your Polka Dot Layout

• While a regular pattern of uniform polka dots requires some planning and preparation to create, it is one of the simplest methods of creating a visually appealing result. A random scatter of polka dots requires less measurement, but can be difficult to lay out in a balanced and attractive manner. When designing your layout, you should also choose your colors and decide whether you want them to repeat in a regular pattern or to appear randomly. Patterns that include polka dots of variable sizes can be time-consuming, as you will need to make a stencil for each dot size. Freehanding uniform circles is extremely difficult, and stencils will make the job much faster and easier.

Make Precise Measurements

• Once you have designed your layout, you should mark the position of each dot on the wall with a pencil before painting. Do not use an ink pen or marker, as they can bleed through latex paint. Use a bubble level or laser level along with a straightedge to ensure that each polka dot is in line with both the horizontal and vertical axis of the pattern. If you are having trouble making the pattern line up exactly with the room's measurements, you should begin and end the pattern in an inconspicuous place near the ceiling, preferably above the entrance to the room. This will allow you to adjust the position of the first and last polka dots without drawing attention to the flaw in the pattern.

Making a Stencil

• Use a compass to draw your polka dot on a sheet of cardboard, poster board or thin plastic. Leave a thick enough border around the dot to allow you to paint in broad strokes. Cut the dot out of the middle of the stencil using a sharp utility or hobby knife. While painting, fix the stencil to the wall using painter's tape or a thin layer of low-strength spray adhesive. If you are using cardboard or other paper-based material for your stencil, coat it with a thin layer of spray lacquer or other waterproofing sealer. Latex paint is water-based, and will quickly soak into unprotected cardboard.

Painting Technique

• Paint over the stencil using a brush or trim roller. A high-density foam roller will allow you to quickly apply a smooth, uniform coat of paint on smooth surfaces. It is difficult to achieve crisp edges when using a stencil on uneven or textured surfaces. Do not remove the stencil until you have applied enough paint to completely hide the underlying paint. If multiple coats are required, you can use a blow dryer or heat gun to speed the drying process. Remove the stencil as soon as the paint has dried enough to prevent dripping, but while it is still tacky; when the paint has dried completely, it will form a skin between the paint on the wall and the paint on the stencil, which can damage the paint on the wall when the stencil is removed.