I had told you that this spring was going to bring a LOT of painting in our home! Our whole house needs to be repainted (minus a few rooms like our dining room, guest bathroom, and half bathroom that have already been painted). It has been 10 years since the main areas have been painted, the paint has faded and doesn’t match to just touch up anymore, and honestly I am ready for a slight color change too. My main agenda is going to be lighten, lighten, lighten!
Here’s the before picture of my living room…
You can see I had already painted several paint swatches to find the perfect color (more on how to find your perfect paint color later).
I painted this dark brown wall with a free quart of paint I got 6 or 7 years ago. I do like the idea of using this floating wall in the living room as an accent wall, but I was over the dark color. I debated about adding molding, painting a lighter color, stenciling a design, but when ScotchBlue ™ Painter’s Tape challenged me to come up with a painted wall design using tape, I found the perfect design and knew it would be perfect for this wall.
First prep. I spackled all the nail holes, sanded, and removed the vent and outlet covers.
Then I painted the entire wall with Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint & primer in one in semi-gloss enamel in pure white.
It took 2 coats to cover up the dark brown. Already looked so much better!
Then came the fun part. For this you will you need a tape measure, pencil, and 1-2 rolls of ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape . I picked up the ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape for Multi-Surface with Edge-Lock™ Paint Line Protector at The Home Depot.
Then the measuring and taping began. I wanted my diamonds to be 24 inches high and 12 inches across. I think the general rule is to have your diamonds be twice as high as they are wide. I found the middle of the wall and started measuring from there. I measured over every 12 inches and made a mark – then measured down 12 inches and made a mark along that line every 12 inches (the “X” part of the diamond). I did this across the entire wall and down to the floor. I ended up grabbing a level too which helped as I used it to measure and make sure my marks were keeping level too.
I had to pull off and adjust quite a few of the tape lines – but even after that the tape still made sharp lines.
I used ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape for Multi-Surface with Advanced Edge-Lock(TM) Paint Line Protector #2093EL (green core) and am happy with my results. ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Advanced Multi-Surface is ideal for baseboards, trim, metal and glass.
You can get even better results painting wall designs, accent walls and stripes by using ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape for Delicate Surfaces with Advanced Edge-Lock™ Paint Line Protector #2080EL (orange core). ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Advanced Delicate Surfaces is designed to provide super sharp paint lines on smooth, delicate surfaces like walls, cabinets, wood floors and freshly painted surfaces (24 hours old).
Here’s the wall completely taped off and ready for my main color to go over it, which would create glossy white lines where the tape is.
After 1 coat of my main color – Behr Premium Plus Eggshell Enamel in Wheat Bread – a perfect greige color.
And then I painted a second coat. I waited about 10-15 minutes before I pulled the tape off since the tape was overlapping and it was hard to wrangle it all without getting wet paint everywhere. If you are doing just straight lines, you will want to pull the tape off right away.
Look at that beautiful wall!! I love it!
Here it is with the furniture and everything all put back in place. It adds so much interest, but yet it is subtle, and it completely lightens the room up!
I haven’t completely decided what I will hang on the wall. I find this wall hard to decorate because I either have to choose to center the objects on the wall or over the couch since the couch isn’t centered on the wall.
I do love a big, center object on that wall especially now that there is a design on the wall. You can find the tutorial for the DIY sunburst mirror here. If I was to leave this sunburst mirror here, I would probably paint it white.
Look at those crisp clean lines!
And just for fun here’s the before…
And here’s the after…
Using ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape is an easy way to create an accent wall very inexpensively! And look at the impact that it made.
Looking for some more ideas you can accomplish with the help of Home Depot and ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape? Check them out on their social media channels for ideas, inspiration, and product news.
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Have a project you need to tackle in your home this spring? How about a $50 Home Depot card to help with that?
Perfect to grab a can of paint, some tape, and supplies. You can enter to win the $50 Home Depot gift card in the Rafflecopter widget below.
In order to enter to win, sign up for The Home Depot Fan program here and leave a comment below.
I am proud to be a 3M- sponsored blogger, and, as part of my responsibilities, I get the opportunity to evaluate new products from ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape. Opinions are my own and additional product used in the project were selected by me.
LOVE the new look! I have to admit, it looks like it was complicated to do. 😉
I also spy your yard sale candle holders and they look great.
Huge difference!! I love the look!
Christina – that looks amazing!! What a great project!
Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG recently posted..Upcycling Patio Chairs to a Garden Swing Seat
Looks great! Love how the white pops against the wall color.
Gorgeous! Reminds of the design I did on my glass door.
MaryEllen recently posted..How to Take Great Pictures of Your Kids (Even When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing)
Huge difference! Im not sure I would have patience to measure and tape that much…KUDOS!
Hope your day is EXTRA BLESSED 🙂
~Sherri
If I win, I might buy some white vinyl fencing. We need to replace our wooden one. Also, not sure what to enter in some places– like the one for following Home Depot on Pinterest– there was a blank, but not sure what to put there….
Liberty recently posted..Christmas Piano Recital 2013
It looks so much lighter and brighter with your “greige” wall. Love it!
Oh, and I would buy flowers and some veggie-starters with a $50 gc from Home Depot. It’s just about planting time here in NE Minnesota!
Wow! What a difference paint can make. I am also getting ready to paint our living room and kitchen. Thanks for the tips and ideas.
Your wall looks great! Totally changed the look in your living room. I love it!
Leah Coleman recently posted..Our Animals
I would buy some supplies for my bathroom makeover!
and your wall turned out great. it looks fabulous! so much lighter and brighter in your front room!
Jennifer @ Decorated Chaos recently posted..Working Around the Yard-Spring Yard Tour
Love the new wall. I like the sun-burst mirror as-is; brings out the tans in your sofa and pillows. 🙂
Looks fabulous! My daughter saw it and thought you had gotten new furniture! Beautiful job…makes the entire room look new!
I love the look of the new wall color and design! I think your sunburst mirror would look beautiful on that wall painted gold 🙂
If I won the gift card I would probably buy some flowers to spruce up our front yard.
That is amazing it looks grand. Brightens up your room amazingly!
Susie@homemaker-mom recently posted..Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Deep Clean
That is amazing it looks grand. Brightens up your room amazingly! I would buy items to make home decor crafts!!! Or stuff to organize in my new apartment.
Susie@homemaker-mom recently posted..Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Deep Clean
Christina the wall is beautiful. Can’t wait to see the mirror painted white. Great job!!
I really like the change! It brings out that wall without making the room look as dark. I am surprised the tape left clean lines–no bleeding over from one color to the other. If I won, I would buy some plants for my front yard.
I would buy paint for my laundry room. That wall is FABULOUS!! Great job!
Love the look.
The wall just pops behind your couch, Great Job! I would buy some polish to do my wood floors.
Very impressive. I’m not sure I could get the lines straight.
Hard decision…but most likely paint or a light fixture! We have lots of home improvement projects lined up for the summer…:) Thanks for sharing and I LOVE the diamond wall!!!
Blessings, Vicky
Vicky Hunt recently posted..Fluttering By with a Thrifty Spring Tablescape
The wall looks amazing. I would buy flowers and mulch for the garden. If it ever gets warm enough to do!
I love the wall! It looks great!! I would buy some plants or paint. 🙂
I am definitely impressed with the crisp lines!
I’m inspired!
If I won I would buy a new entry rug.
We are getting ready to sell our home, so a Home Depot gift card would really help me give it some extra curb appeal!
It looks awesome, Christina! Great job!
Looks nice and refreshing!
nice job!
Carol @arewethereyet recently posted..More projects!
Paint for my family room
Adore this idea! Might have to do something similar in my office!
If I won, I would probably buy supplies to recreate this look!
I have never tried a DIY project, but we were given some end tables, and a chest of drawers that need to be sanded, etc. so I would buy the things needed for that.
Wow! Great job and how it improves everything. Thanks for the excellent instructions.
This looks so great!!! It really brightens up the room and makes the accents pop. I love it! Great job!
Did you have any problems painting and eggshell finish over a semi-gloss? I want to do this but with the same color of paint in two finishes (the lines semi gloss or gloss and the main color flat)… I’m wondering if I will have any problem with that? Looks great!
no, I didn’t. I love the eggshell finish!
This is so helpful! Thank you, I will be blogging about this when I am done and will be sure to give credit to this helpful post! 🙂
We loved the concept and your wall looks beautiful, but we did not have such an easy time with the Scotch Edge Lock tape. We had a difficult time getting it to adhere to the walls and the paint seeped through. It also peeled away some of the paint. There was a lot of touch up to be done. The second wall we did the design we just used normal painter’s tape and had much better success.
Just so glad you have shared this awesome painting idea! We replicated the design at our home and I can’t thank you enough for that!
Keep inspiring.
Cheers
Sai
I am thinking about doing this in my bedroom with a bright color for the diamonds. What do you think?
Thanks for the idea! I did a wall in my bedroom and it looks awesome! Not perfect, but I will probably be the only one who notices that!
What width was the tape you used?
Your wall is still a classic, Christine! Love the temporary aspect and how it can be used in renter-friendly homes! I’m featuring your technique on a post that went live today. Pinned!
I didn’t know that Eggshell finish could be painted over a semigloss without being primed first.