From home décor to womenswear to graphic design, chevron stripes are all the rage these days. Although it sounds simple, creating your own chevron pattern can be confusing, especially when you are working on a large surface such as a wall or a painter's canvas. However, with a little preparation and planning, the process can be greatly simplified.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Create a Paper Template
Step 1. Plan your chevron pattern
Before you start painting, it's best to decide how you want the stripes to look. For example, do you want them to be vertical or horizontal? You can also decide what their thickness, number and shape will be. The finer the stripes, the more stripes you can place on the wall.
Step 2. Draw a grid on a blank sheet of paper
For the cleanest and most accurate lines, draw a chart to trace your design before you begin. With a ruler and pencil, draw a straight vertical line in the center of the sheet of paper. Then draw two additional vertical lines on either side of the first line. Each line should be in the middle of the midline to the outside edge of the paper.
You should now have three equidistant vertical lines running down the sheet of paper
Step 3. Do the same with the horizontal lines
With the ruler, draw a horizontal line in the center of the sheet of paper. Then, draw two additional horizontal lines above and below it for 16 squares of equal size on the sheet of paper. These will serve as your reference points for the stripes.
Step 4. Begin to create an outline for the stripes
Starting at the square in the upper left corner of the page, draw a diagonal line from the upper left corner of the square to the lower right corner of the square. Repeat for each of the three squares directly below it.
- Then move on to the next column and draw a diagonal line from the upper right corner to the lower left corner.
- Keep alternating directions and columns until you've completed filling in the remaining squares. Next, you will have the outline for the chevron stripes.
Method 2 of 3: Paint on the paper template
Step 1. Use a base coat
An easy way to paint the streaks is to apply a base color all over the paper (then trace lines again if necessary). Then, after the base coat has dried, you can paint stripes of different colors on it.
- To keep the lines flawless when painting the stripes, use painter's tape around the edges.
- Keep in mind that you must mark which stripe receives which color, since it can be confusing. You can do this by tracing points on each line with the color you will give it or marking them with pieces of tape.
Step 2. Paint each line separately
This is a good method if you plan to paint each line a different color or at least more than two. For example, if you want to alternate shades of blue, you could start with a light blue at the top and then paint each line a darker blue all the way to the bottom. This will produce an ombré look.
Make sure the lines are clearly marked so that the colors don't overlap each other
Step 3. Wait for the paint to dry completely
Depending on the thickness of the paint, this can take anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. Once it has dried, gently pull the tape if you used it. You can also take the time to erase the remaining pencil marks from the original grid.
Method 3 of 3: Paint the stripes on the wall
Step 1. Plan your chevron pattern
Before you start painting, it is best to find out the size and style of your design. To do this, first measure the height and width of the wall you want to paint with a tape measure. Once you have made a note of both numbers, decide how many stripes you want to paint and in what way. For example, let's say you want 5 stripes on your wall with 5 peaks on each line.
This will help you chart the pattern of your design in the future
Step 2. Use a blank sheet of paper to establish your design
This drawing doesn't have to be exact, but it will help you figure out where and how to space your stripes. Simply draw a miniature version of your wall with the height and width clearly marked along the side and bottom. Next, draw the horizontal and vertical lines of your grid and make sure they have some uniformity.
If you're concerned about getting an exact number for the space between horizontal stripes, use this simple formula: ceiling height / 2x. For example, take the height of your ceiling divided by 2x to get the number of inches between each line. The "x" in this equation is the number of chevron stripes you want to put on your wall. So if the ceiling is 90 inches (23 cm) and you want to paint three stripes, the formula would be 90/2 (3) and the result would be 15 inches (38 cm) between each stripe
Step 3. Paint the wall a base color
Keep in mind that this base color will be the color of one of the stripes. You should also make sure to cover the wall with at least one or two coats and let it dry overnight. Depending on the condition of the wall, it may also be necessary to use a primer first before applying a color coat.
Make sure to follow the instructions for the paint you have chosen
Step 4. Mark a grid on the wall
Use a tape measure, a measuring stick, and a pencil to draw horizontal and vertical lines in a grid pattern across the surface of your wall. Then use painter's tape to mark the boundaries of each chevron stripe. You can also use extra pieces of tape to label which stripe it is colored in.
Check your drawing to make sure you separate the stripes correctly
Step 5. Paint the chevron stripes
Once the base coat has dried and you've established your grid, paint the areas between the painter's tape. These should be the lines that you have marked with pieces of tape. Go over each area with a thick brush or thick roller, then let it dry.
Once all the paint has dried, carefully remove the painter's tape and voila
Advice
- Using a ruler will help you ensure that the stripes look neat and even.
- Draw very light lines in pencil so that you can easily go back and erase them later.