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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> Furniture Makeovers >> How to Paint a Plaid Pattern for Lazy Gals

March 10, 2016 By Jenna 57 Comments

How to Paint a Plaid Pattern for Lazy Gals

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That table is PAINTED - she PAINTED on that plaid pattern and it actually looks really easy. She even tells you how to do it without having to measure anything! How To Paint a Plaid Pattern | Furniture Makeovers | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Painting Patterns

This post is sponsored by Velvet Finishes, however all opinions are 100% mine. 

You guys. You guys. You guys.

No. Really. You guys.

I did something.

I did something I wasn’t sure I could do at all. I was sure it would be an utter failure. I held my breath with each brushstroke and removal of FrogTape.

But it wasn’t a failure.

It. Was. A. WIN.

That table is PAINTED - she PAINTED on that plaid pattern and it actually looks really easy. She even tells you how to do it without having to measure anything! How To Paint a Plaid Pattern | Furniture Makeovers | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Painting Patterns

You see that plaid beauty? I painted it. It’s not a stencil, it’s not contact paper, it’s paint!

And I didn’t measure one iota of a thing to do it….because I’m lazy…and bad at math.

How to Paint a Plaid Pattern Without Measuring

Affiliate links may be contained in this post.

Materials & Supplies:

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

  • A surface to be painted, of course. 😉
  • Ready Primer
  • Velvet Finishes Vivid 
  • Velvet Finishes Luxurious
  • Velvet Finishes Timeless
  • Velvet Finishes Minimalistic
  • 1″ Delicate Surface FrogTape
  • 1.5″ Delicate Surface FrogTape
  • A Yardstick (preferably one from the Home Depot – you’ll see why in a minute – or one that is approximately 1.5″ wide)
  • Protect
  • Paintbrush

Step 1:

Prep your painting surface. My little table had a leopard print I stenciled on it a couple years back. It had resided on the screened-in porch, but never really got used all that often. I didn’t want to part with the table as I really liked it’s bones, so I opted to re-do it with a plaid print. First, I used Ready to prime the table.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Just spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe down the surface. Ready will remove any shine the previous finish may have had and any dust or dirt as well.

Step 2:

Give the surface a few coats of Vivid.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Reds are always hard to even out in color, so it might take a few more coats than with other colors. It took three for my table. Let the final coat dry overnight.

Step 3:

Place your yardstick in the middle of the table. It doesn’t have to be perfect – I eyeballed mine. On each side of the yardstick run a piece of 1.5″ Delicate Surface FrogTape along the length of the table. The yardstick I have from Home Depot is almost the exact same size as the 1.5″ FrogTape, thus why I suggested it – it makes the spaces between your tape and the tape almost identical in size, thus no measuring!

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

You do want to make sure you use Delicate Surface tape as this paint is still relatively fresh. Delicate Surface tape is made for painted surfaces that are just a few days old.

After running two pieces of FrogTape along each side of the yardstick, remove the yardstick and place it on one side of either piece of tape, then run another piece of tape along the side of the yardstick that doesn’t have tape.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Continue moving your yardstick and running your tape until your table has strips of tape all across it as shown above.

After all your tape has been ran, firmly run your finger or a credit card edge along the edges of the FrogTape to seal it. Do not skip this step! If you don’t do this, you risk having the paint bleed through the tape.

Step 4:

Paint two coats of Luxurious in between the tape pieces on your surface.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Remove the FrogTape immediately after brushing on your final coat. Let dry overnight.

Step 5: 

Place your yardstick in the center of the surface perpendicular to the black stripes you painted. Once more, run two pieces of 1.5″ Delicate Surface FrogTape along both sides of the yardstick.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Just like you did before, move the yardstick to one side of a tape strip and then place another tape strip along the other edge of the yardstick. Repeat this over the entire surface until your surface resembles the image shown below.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Remember to firmly press down along the edges of the FrogTape after you have applied it to seal the edges.

Step 6:

Using the 1″ Delicate Surface FrogTape, cover the black stripes on your surface.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

The easiest way I found to do this was to take a piece of the 1″ FrogTape and run it along on edge of the black and then run another piece of tape along the other edge of the black. The tape will overlap in the middle. Repeat this until your Luxurious stripes are covered and you have lots of little squares. Once more, remember to firmly push down on the edges of the FrogTape to seal it.

Step 7:

Within the squares you created with the tape, paint a couple coats of Timeless.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Remove the FrogTape immediately after applying your final coat. Your surface should look similar to the image below after you remove the tape.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Let dry overnight.

Step 8:

Using the 1″ Delicate Surface FrogTape, run strips of tape just a little outside each black edge. This should create small lines of black within the tape as shown below. Once more, I didn’t measure this at all – I just eyeballed it.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Firmly seal the edges of the tape with your finger or the edge of a credit card.

Step 9:

Brush on a couple coats of Minimalistic between the tape where the black is.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Immediately remove the tape after your final coat. Let it dry overnight.

Step 10: 

Repeat the previous two steps above, except this time on the gray areas on your surface.

How To Paint a Plaid Pattern WITHOUT Measuring - you will not believe how easy it is! Furniture Makeover | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Plaid Pattern

Paint Minimalistic between the pieces of tape. Remove the tape after your final coat. Let dry overnight.

Step 11:

Velvet Finishes paint does not always require an additional topcoat as there is already a topcoat built into the paint. However, if you have painted something that is going to get a lot of action and use, then an additional topcoat is suggested. I plan on this going into either the den/man cave or Bill’s room as a side table or night stand at the 70’s Landing Pad, so I opted for the extra protection.

how-to-paint-a-plaid-pattern-14

I just brushed on one coat of Protect to give the surface more protection and even a bit of shine.

That table is PAINTED - she PAINTED on that plaid pattern and it actually looks really easy. She even tells you how to do it without having to measure anything! How To Paint a Plaid Pattern | Furniture Makeovers | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Painting Patterns

This table turned out more awesome than I ever dreamed. I fully realize that sounds corny and I fully don’t give a damn.

That table is PAINTED - she PAINTED on that plaid pattern and it actually looks really easy. She even tells you how to do it without having to measure anything! How To Paint a Plaid Pattern | Furniture Makeovers | Furniture Painting | DIY Projects | Painting Patterns

Ok, what are you going to plaid up?

You might also want to see…

How to Make Colored Furniture Glaze: 11 Colorful Furniture Makeovers

How to Make Furniture Glaze in Any Color

DIY Tuxedo Bar | Learn how to paint a bar front or any piece of furniture with a mostly flat front to look like a tuxedo jacket. Awesome idea for a furniture makeover!

DIY Tuxedo Painted Bar

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How to Paint a Plaid Pattern | DIY Furniture Makeovers | DIY Painting Ideas | Painting Techniques | Painted Furniture Ideas

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Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with Velvet Finishes, however all opinions and over-excitement about painting a plaid pattern all by myself are 100% mine. 

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Filed Under: Furniture Makeovers Tagged With: plaid, velvet finishes

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    March 10, 2016 at 8:37 am

    This is fantastic! Love this!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:33 am

      Thank you, Jennifer!

      Reply
  2. Shannon H says

    March 10, 2016 at 9:04 am

    YOU are a genius with absolute SKILL! Gorgeous!!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:33 am

      Thanks, Shannon! Seriously, it was easy once I broke it down!

      Reply
  3. Julie says

    March 10, 2016 at 9:06 am

    OMG! How totally awesome Jenna! Three cheers and a beer for you! ha

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:33 am

      Oooo, I like the addition of beer to the cheers! 😉 Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Liz says

    March 10, 2016 at 10:00 am

    I LOVE this. Soooo different and creative. You always make things look so easy

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:32 am

      Seriously, Liz – this WAS easy. I really thought I would screw it up, but as long as you seal those tape edges, you are golden!

      Reply
  5. Jillian says

    March 10, 2016 at 10:04 am

    That is gorgeous!!!! Totally Pinning

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 10:32 am

      Thank you, Jillian!! I just love it!

      Reply
  6. Pam Scott says

    March 10, 2016 at 10:59 am

    Amazing! Awesome! ….and in the last pics, tell us about the matching lamp!! How DO you do that??

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:41 pm

      It’s real simple, Pam. I put the plaid table beside the black chair. I realized the table needed something on it. I looked around. I saw the lamp on the table opposite the plaid table. I threw it on the plaid table. Shockingly, it worked! haha! There is ZERO method to my madness – it’s all pure luck!

      Reply
      • Pam S says

        March 11, 2016 at 11:35 am

        Sweet! A while back, I bought a pair of chairs at an estate sale….thought they’d work in my den. Got ’em home…they’re in the living room. Just what it needed & a designer couldn’t have done better – HA HA!! Pure luck ~ yep, that’s my style!

        Reply
  7. Sally says

    March 10, 2016 at 11:02 am

    Wow! I almost peed my pants when I read that you painted this!! What a woman!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:40 pm

      haha!!! I surprised myself!

      Reply
  8. Marcia Banach says

    March 10, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Ok, you just totally.nailed. it. BOOM! Absolutely gorgeous. Well done! #PerfectPlaid

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:39 pm

      Thanks! I’m digging the #PerfectPlaid hashtag!

      Reply
  9. Shirley says

    March 10, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Jenna this is amazing! It looks 3D. You go girl!!! You are Mrs Frog Tape.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:38 pm

      haha! Mrs. FrogTape!

      Reply
  10. Jan B says

    March 10, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    Wow!!! that is amazing and you make it looks so simple!
    Can you do mine please! 😉

    Thanks so much for your awesome instruction!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:38 pm

      I promise, Jan – it really is that simple!!!

      Reply
  11. Meg @ Green With Decor says

    March 10, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I love this! What a fun makeover!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks so much, Meg!

      Reply
  12. Amy Villicano says

    March 10, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    LOVE THIS! I want to go find some furniture and repaint it all now!! we live in a travel trailer out in the country with plans to build a house within the next couple of years, and i am definitely coming back here when i’m ready to decorate!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks, Amy!! Your life sounds so cool!

      Reply
  13. Skaie Knox says

    March 10, 2016 at 5:35 pm

    Hi Jenna!

    Okay…so…I just totally LOVE this tutorial! I will definitely let you know how I use this technique! Hopefully soon, cuz it’s just too darn darling!

    Awesome, girl!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 5:42 pm

      Awesome!!! Yes, let me see what you make!!!

      Reply
  14. Angie says

    March 10, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    OH my gosh, that’s crazy cool!! Gotta find something to try it on!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 10, 2016 at 7:57 pm

      Thanks, Angie! I know – I want to plaid everything now!!

      Reply
  15. Patty says

    March 10, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    Jenna, Jenna you flat out wore me down with all that taping. Then I get to come back and do it all again how many days in a row, Kidding this is so awesome I can’t believe how simple you make it seem.
    Isn’t it amazing how that little skinny white stripe adds so much depth and brightness.
    I went through my house looking for something I could practice on (you know something that belongs to my husband that I just hate,haha) not kidding.
    I really do love this and I am going to try it, I think it would be so pretty in an office, den, man cave or in a male bedroom, or change the colors up a little and it could be cute in a little girls room.
    you could use hot pink, pale pink, lilac, purple, white. I’m thinking of a table that would look good in anyone’s bedroom, periwinkle, turquoise, yellow, lime green, white. There are so many great color combos to go with any style age or sex.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 12:07 pm

      Ya know what, I almost didn’t add that white stripe – I am SO glad I did though. It really did add the perfect touch! Can’t wait to hear about how you use it – I do love the idea of using the pink and purples – that might be perfect for the Circus’ room!

      Reply
  16. Terri Hughes says

    March 10, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    Beautiful job……I love it!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 12:06 pm

      Thanks, Terri!

      Reply
  17. nancy says

    March 10, 2016 at 8:50 pm

    Can’t wait to try!! THANKS I hate to measure and always give up in frustration!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 12:06 pm

      Girl, me too! If it’s a lot of measuring, I usually end up having to call in the hubs.

      Reply
  18. DebraShoppeno5 says

    March 10, 2016 at 10:13 pm

    This turned out fantastic.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 12:06 pm

      Thanks, Debra!!! I’m so happy with how well it worked out!

      Reply
  19. Wendy says

    March 11, 2016 at 12:42 am

    Jenna, You’re a genius! Your tutorial makes this look so easy, I can’t wait to try it!!!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 12:05 pm

      It really is that easy, Wendy! I couldn’t believe it myself!

      Reply
  20. Brigitte says

    March 11, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    BRILLIANT!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 12:02 pm

      Thanks, Brigitte!

      Reply
  21. Kellie Smith says

    March 14, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    Holy Mother of all thing Good and Plaid. You absolutely killed it with this. Wow! I love this!! Thanks Jenna!!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 15, 2016 at 11:57 am

      Thanks, Kellie!! It’s one of my most favorites EVER!

      Reply
  22. Cindy diy beautify says

    March 18, 2016 at 7:18 pm

    I’m a no-measure gal myself and this is a home run!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 22, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      Awesome, Cindy! No measure gals unite!

      Reply
  23. Beth says

    March 19, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Love this project! Your tutorial is excellent and does seem to be simple and straight forward. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      March 22, 2016 at 3:32 pm

      It really is that simple, Beth!

      Reply
  24. creativejewishmom/sara says

    November 20, 2016 at 10:32 am

    Great job, looks amazing! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:44 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  25. sherry cole says

    November 28, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    Hi Jenna! Your plaid pattern is my chosen feature for Totally Terrific Tuesday! This is so clever!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 29, 2016 at 6:32 am

      That is just awesome! Thanks so much, Sherry!

      Reply
  26. Shirley Wood says

    August 15, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    Something in my house is about to get plaided up! Great tutorial and I am so glad you shared it with us at Merry Monday!

    Reply
  27. Debrashoppeno5 says

    August 17, 2018 at 7:37 pm

    This looks so fantastic. You have me eyeing a little table I have to make it plaid.

    Reply
  28. Shirley Wood says

    August 20, 2018 at 9:43 am

    We love your creativity! This post is a Feature at the Merry Monday party! Sharing on our channels.

    Reply
  29. Kippi says

    August 20, 2018 at 10:56 pm

    That plaid project turned out perfect!!! Great results.

    Reply
  30. Laura says

    March 31, 2019 at 8:26 am

    I am planning on painting a mismatched assortment of wooden chairs & rockers for my Sun porch. All the chairs will be different patterns in Gray & white. Now my new favorite pattern will be PLAID! I think will be awesome with my other stripes & polka dots – what about cool idea, thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
  31. Marilyn McCormick says

    April 23, 2020 at 10:30 pm

    I had no idea there was such a thing as delicate surface frog tape. Thanks for that tip. You must be equal right-brain/left-brain operative to have planned this out and executed it so perfectly. I’d be worried about screwing it up on the last step and having to cover it all up with a final coat of black!

    Reply

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