Striped Wall Paint Ideas for Every Room

Striped walls work in almost any room if you match the direction and width of the stripe to what you want the room to do. Vertical stripes make a ceiling feel taller, horizontal stripes make a narrow room feel wider, and a single stripe is the lowest-risk way to try the look.

If you've never painted stripes, don't worry. It's mostly tape, a level and patience. Here are ideas by room and color, then the method I'd follow.

Save

Do striped walls make a room look bigger?

They change how big the room looks, depending on direction. Your eye follows the lines, so the stripe pulls attention along its length.

• Vertical stripes draw the eye up, which helps a low ceiling feel taller.
• Horizontal stripes draw the eye sideways, which helps a narrow room or short wall feel wider.
• Low-contrast stripes (two close tones) read as texture. High-contrast stripes read as pattern and make the wall more of a focal point.

In a small room, I'd keep the contrast low and the colors light, because a bold pattern on every wall tends to make the walls feel closer.

Striped wall paint ideas for living room walls

In a living room, one striped accent wall behind the sofa or TV does more than four striped walls. Choose the wall your eye lands on first when you walk in.

• Wide, soft stripes in two neutrals (warm white and greige) give a calm backdrop that won't fight with art.
• Black and white stripes suit a modern room, but keep furniture and rugs simple so the wall is the only loud thing.
• A single horizontal stripe at chair-rail height in a deeper tone adds structure without the commitment of a full pattern.

If you have a dog that rubs along the wall, put the darker stripe low. Scuffs and nose prints show less, and you can touch up one band instead of the whole wall.

Bedroom and nursery stripes

Bedrooms suit quiet stripes. Choose two shades of the same color, or a color plus a soft white, so the wall is restful at night.

Pink striped painted walls are popular for nurseries and kids' rooms. A dusty pink with warm white feels gentler than bubblegum shades. Greens and soft blues work the same way. Behind a bed, a vertical stripe can also frame the headboard.

Save

Vertical, horizontal or wide: which should you pick?

Vertical stripes

Best for rooms with standard or low ceilings, hallways and entries. Painting vertical stripes on a wall takes more measuring because any lean shows over a tall run.

Horizontal stripes

Best for narrow rooms and short walls. Painting horizontal stripes on a wall is a little more forgiving, since a level line is easy to hold across a short span.

Thin and pinstripes

Thin stripes in tone-on-tone paint (the same color in matte and satin) give a subtle look that only shows in certain light. It's a good choice if you like pattern but not drama.

Single horizontal stripe

A single horizontal stripe on a wall, about at the height of a headboard or sofa back, is the easiest first project. It also works as a border above a wainscot-style lower wall. For more architectural wall ideas, see modern wall molding designs.

Save

Colors that work well for stripes

• Black and white: graphic and high contrast. Use a matte black to hide fingerprints.
• Pink: pair with warm white or a muted sage.
• Green: olive or sage with cream feels calm and works in living rooms and bedrooms.
• Blue: pale blue with white reads fresh in bathrooms and kids' rooms.
• Neutrals: greige with white is the safest choice if you may repaint later.

Test your colors on the wall and look at them in morning and evening light. Light changes how each stripe reads, and two shades that look distinct in the store can nearly merge at home.

What is the best way to paint stripes on walls?

The best way to paint stripes on walls is to paint the base color first, let it cure, then tape and paint the stripes on top. Here is the sequence:

1. Paint the whole wall in the lighter color and let it dry fully, ideally a day.
2. Measure the wall and decide on the stripe width. Adjust it slightly so you don't end with a sliver at the corner.
3. Mark the lines with a pencil and a level or laser line. Don't trust the ceiling or corner to be straight.
4. Apply low-tack painter's tape on the outside of each line you'll paint, and mark the stripes to be painted with a small X so you don't paint the wrong band.
5. Seal the tape edge by brushing a thin coat of the base color along it. Any bleed then matches the wall and disappears.
6. Paint the stripe color in thin coats with a small roller. Peel the tape while the last coat is still slightly wet, pulling at a low angle.

Use a satin or eggshell finish for stripes in busy rooms, since it wipes clean more easily than flat. Keep a small jar of each color for touch-ups.

Save

Stripes on ceilings, arches and headboard walls

Stripes aren't limited to walls. A painted headboard wall can have a stripe band roughly the width of the bed. Archways look good with a contrasting color on the inside curve. For ceiling ideas, see ceiling design ideas. Ceilings take more effort because of the angle, so I recommend a helper and a stable platform.

Paint or wallpaper stripes?

Paint is cheaper to change and lets you pick any color and width. Striped wallpaper gives perfectly even lines with less taping, and removable versions suit renters. If your walls are textured, painted stripes will have slightly soft edges, so test one section first. If you're in a rental, check your lease before painting either way.

Save

Want a related look with a softer feel? Shabby chic interiors pair well with pale, slightly uneven stripes.

Frequently asked questions