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.
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:
- 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remove the FrogTape immediately after applying your final coat. Your surface should look similar to the image below after you remove the tape.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I just brushed on one coat of Protect to give the surface more protection and even a bit of shine.
This table turned out more awesome than I ever dreamed. I fully realize that sounds corny and I fully don’t give a damn.
Ok, what are you going to plaid up?
You might also want to see…
How to Make Furniture Glaze in Any Color
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.
This is fantastic! Love this!
Thank you, Jennifer!
YOU are a genius with absolute SKILL! Gorgeous!!
Thanks, Shannon! Seriously, it was easy once I broke it down!
OMG! How totally awesome Jenna! Three cheers and a beer for you! ha
Oooo, I like the addition of beer to the cheers! 😉 Thanks!
I LOVE this. Soooo different and creative. You always make things look so easy
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!
That is gorgeous!!!! Totally Pinning
Thank you, Jillian!! I just love it!
Amazing! Awesome! ….and in the last pics, tell us about the matching lamp!! How DO you do that??
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!
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!
Wow! I almost peed my pants when I read that you painted this!! What a woman!
haha!!! I surprised myself!
Ok, you just totally.nailed. it. BOOM! Absolutely gorgeous. Well done! #PerfectPlaid
Thanks! I’m digging the #PerfectPlaid hashtag!
Jenna this is amazing! It looks 3D. You go girl!!! You are Mrs Frog Tape.
haha! Mrs. FrogTape!
Wow!!! that is amazing and you make it looks so simple!
Can you do mine please! 😉
Thanks so much for your awesome instruction!
I promise, Jan – it really is that simple!!!
I love this! What a fun makeover!
Thanks so much, Meg!
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!
Thanks, Amy!! Your life sounds so cool!
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!
Awesome!!! Yes, let me see what you make!!!
OH my gosh, that’s crazy cool!! Gotta find something to try it on!
Thanks, Angie! I know – I want to plaid everything now!!
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.
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!
Beautiful job……I love it!
Thanks, Terri!
Can’t wait to try!! THANKS I hate to measure and always give up in frustration!
Girl, me too! If it’s a lot of measuring, I usually end up having to call in the hubs.
This turned out fantastic.
Thanks, Debra!!! I’m so happy with how well it worked out!
Jenna, You’re a genius! Your tutorial makes this look so easy, I can’t wait to try it!!!
It really is that easy, Wendy! I couldn’t believe it myself!
BRILLIANT!
Thanks, Brigitte!
Holy Mother of all thing Good and Plaid. You absolutely killed it with this. Wow! I love this!! Thanks Jenna!!
Thanks, Kellie!! It’s one of my most favorites EVER!
I’m a no-measure gal myself and this is a home run!
Awesome, Cindy! No measure gals unite!
Love this project! Your tutorial is excellent and does seem to be simple and straight forward. Thank you for sharing!
It really is that simple, Beth!
Great job, looks amazing! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Thank you!
Hi Jenna! Your plaid pattern is my chosen feature for Totally Terrific Tuesday! This is so clever!
That is just awesome! Thanks so much, Sherry!
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!
This looks so fantastic. You have me eyeing a little table I have to make it plaid.
We love your creativity! This post is a Feature at the Merry Monday party! Sharing on our channels.
That plaid project turned out perfect!!! Great results.
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!