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NANDIX Tools · Painter

Wall pattern ideas

Arches, two-tone walls, colour blocks, stripes and more: where each one suits, how it is painted, and what you need. Try any of them on a wall in 3D.

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Painted arch

Suits: Behind a bed, a study desk, a pooja shelf or a mirror.

  1. Mark the centre line and the width of the arch with a level.
  2. Draw the curve with a pencil tied to a string pinned at the centre of the top.
  3. Tape the straight sides, then cut in the curve by hand with an angled brush.
  4. Roll the inside in two coats; pull the tape while the last coat is still wet.

You need: Level, pencil and string, masking tape, 1½" angled brush, small roller.

Make the arch about a third of the wall wide, and stop it 1–2 ft below the ceiling so it does not look squeezed.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF

Two-tone wall

Suits: Halls, staircases, kids rooms: anywhere hands and chairs touch the lower wall.

  1. Paint the whole wall in the lighter colour first.
  2. Mark a level line about 3–3½ ft from the floor (chair-rail height).
  3. Tape above the line and paint the darker colour below it.
  4. Add a thin line of a third colour, or a moulding strip, to hide the joint.

You need: Spirit or laser level, masking tape, roller.

Use a washable emulsion for the lower part; it takes the marks.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF

Colour block

Suits: One feature wall in a living room, a home office or a café-style corner.

  1. Plan the shapes on paper first, to scale.
  2. Mark the lines on the wall and tape the outside of each block.
  3. Paint the block, two coats, and remove the tape while wet.
  4. For a second block that overlaps, wait a full day before taping over fresh paint.

You need: Long straight edge, masking tape, small roller.

Pick colours from the same family as the sofa or curtains so the wall ties the room together.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Wide horizontal stripes

Suits: Narrow rooms and corridors: horizontal lines make a room look wider.

  1. Divide the wall height into equal bands (6–12 inches each).
  2. Paint the lighter colour over the whole wall.
  3. Tape every second band and paint the darker colour.
  4. Seal the tape edge with the base colour first so the line stays sharp.

You need: Level, measuring tape, masking tape.

Low-contrast stripes (two shades of one colour) look calmer than bold ones.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Tall vertical stripes

Suits: Rooms with low ceilings: vertical lines make the walls look taller.

  1. Start from the centre of the wall so both ends match.
  2. Mark plumb lines with a level or a plumb bob.
  3. Tape and paint every second stripe.
  4. Check each line is plumb before painting; walls are rarely straight.

You need: Plumb bob or level, masking tape, small roller.

Stripes 4–8 inches wide suit most Indian rooms; wider stripes for big halls.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Ombré fade

Suits: A bedroom feature wall or a ceiling-to-floor fade in a stairwell.

  1. Choose two colours, and mix a middle shade from them.
  2. Paint three bands: light at the top, middle, dark at the bottom.
  3. While wet, blend the joins with a dry brush in criss-cross strokes.
  4. Work one band join at a time so the paint does not dry.

You need: Three rollers, a wide dry brush, a helper.

Ask your painter if they have blended before; it needs speed and practice.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Checks

Suits: Kids rooms, play corners, a laundry or a utility wall.

  1. Mark a square grid with a level (12–18 inch squares).
  2. Paint the whole wall in the lighter colour.
  3. Tape around every second square and paint it.
  4. Pull the tape and touch up corners with a small brush.

You need: Level, measuring tape, lots of masking tape.

Keep checks to one wall; on four walls they get busy.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Lattice lines

Suits: Dining and living room walls, or behind a TV unit.

  1. Paint the base colour and let it dry for a day.
  2. Mark diagonal lines at 45° with a level and a long straight edge.
  3. Lay 6–12 mm tape on the lines, or paint the lines with a liner brush.
  4. For thin lines, tape both sides and paint between them.

You need: Long straight edge, thin masking tape, liner brush.

Thin lines in a slightly darker shade look elegant; high contrast looks busy.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF

Stencilled dots

Suits: Kids rooms, nurseries and a playful study wall.

  1. Cut a round stencil, or use a round foam dauber.
  2. Mark a grid of points with a pencil so the dots line up.
  3. Dab the paint on with an almost-dry dauber to avoid runs.
  4. Offset every second row for a softer look.

You need: Round stencil or foam dauber, pencil, level.

A small tester tin is often enough for all the dots on one wall.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Half panels

Suits: Studies, dining rooms and bedrooms that want a classic look.

  1. Fix wooden or PVC moulding strips at panel height (about 3½ ft).
  2. Fill the joints, then prime the moulding.
  3. Paint the lower part and the moulding in the darker colour.
  4. Paint the wall above in the lighter colour.

You need: Moulding strips, adhesive or nails, filler, primer.

A carpenter fixes the moulding; the painter finishes it. Plan both on the same week.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

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Texture finish

Suits: Exterior walls, a feature wall, or walls with small cracks and patches to hide.

  1. Repair cracks and apply primer first.
  2. Apply the texture coat with a trowel, a texture roller or a brush.
  3. Make the pattern while the coat is wet; do not stop in the middle of a wall.
  4. Finish with the top coat in the chosen colour.

You need: Texture paint, trowel or texture roller, primer, top coat.

Texture paint covers much less area per litre than emulsion: use the coverage on that product.

Try it on a wall in 3D →

Pull masking tape at a low angle while the last coat is still slightly wet, and let paint dry fully (usually a day) before taping over it. Colours on a screen are only a guide: check a tester patch on your own wall.