DIY Gingham Accent Wall

Painting the wall instead of hanging wallpaper allows the pattern to be scaled large enough to make a grand statement that’s still light and summery. Three separate shades of blue are required to replicate the colour gradations of gingham. For a combination that’s just right, select shades that follow each other on a paint chip. Plan for this project to take a full weekend, as each paint colour needs to dry before the next colour can be applied.

Materials and Tools

• Pencil
• Yardstick
• Level
• Painter’s tape
• Paint (three shades, plus white)
• Small paint roller

Step 1: Paint the base colour

To begin, paint the wall white and let dry.

Step 2: Draw the grid

For a crisp line, create a grid of 6″ squares, using a pencil, a yardstick and a level. Then, tape the perimeter of the squares with painter’s tape for a single shade of blue. When the paint is dry, peel off the tape and repeat for the next colour until the wall is complete.

Step 3: Begin with your darkest shade

Map out where the colours are to be applied. Place the darkest colour (A) in the top left corner. From this starting point, every other square vertically and horizontally should also be A.

Step 4: Apply your middle-tone colour.

Once dry, paint the middle-tone colour (B) in each of the squares directly below colour A.

Step 5: Apply darkest colour.

Once your middle-tone stripe is dry, paint the lightest colour (C) in each of the squares directly beside colour A.

Chairs, The Door Store; glass vessel, Sharon O’Dowd Antiques and Custom Furniture; wall colours, Straight Leg (P5157-75), Bell Bottoms (P5157-63D), Jean Jacket (P5157-52), white colour, Blanch (P5225-14D), Para Paints.