Looking for an inexpensive way to decorate your nursery? Try polka dots. All you need is ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape,
a little bit of paint, and a few supplies you may already have at home. With a few simple steps, you'll have a playful pattern that your
kids will grow to love.
TOOLS
- ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape
- Paints, brush, roller & tray
- 5-in-1 tool/putty knife
- Wax paper
- Utility knife
PREPARATION
Remove any wall hangings (pictures, nails, fixtures)
Fill nail holes, then use sandpaper to smooth the wall
Make sure wall is clean, dust-free and dry completely
Mask trim, baseboards and non-textured ceilings with ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape. Hint: use the chart on page 2 to find the right tape for your project.
Paint the wall your lighter base color, and let it dry for 24 hours.
Step 2: Draw Template
Overlap strips of tape on a piece of wax paper. Seal the edges with long strips of tape. Then trace a circle onto the tape using a coffee can lid or plate as a guide.
Step 3: Cut Out Circles
Cut out the circle with a utility knife. You now have one polka dot template and one polka dot center. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to create enough templates for each polka dot in your wall pattern.
Step 4: Lay Out Design
Tape the polka dot centers (the circles you cut out) along the wall to lay out your design.
This will allow you to easily adjust the pattern and make sure you like it before you set the template and start to paint.
Step 5: Set the Pattern
Place polka dot templates over polka dot centers, with the wax paper facing the wall. Peel the wax paper from back
side of template and press remaining tape to the wall. Remove polka dot center.
Step 6: Seal Edges
Smooth the inner tape edges by pressing with a 5-in-1 tool or flexible putty knife. Hint: to enhance your paint lines,
seal the inner tape edges with wall base paint. Allow 12-24 hours to dry.
Step 7: Paint the Dots
Apply the darker accent paint to the polka dot templates. Let the paint dry for 24 hours.
Step 8: Remove Tape
Carefully remove tape at a 45° angle. If paint starts to lift, use a sharp tool to cut along the painted tape edge.
Helpful Hints
SIZE AND SCALE SUGGESTIONS
Consider the size of the room as you determine how big or small your polka dots will be.
Larger dots may make a small room look and feel even smaller. If the dots are very small, they
may get lost in a larger room or get hidden in room full of large furniture.
Keep patterns to a minimum and low on the wall for a clean, uncluttered design.
PAINT POINTERS
When selecting a color palette for your nursery, consider non-traditional colors such as greens and yellows.
Choose colors that will complement or enhance the furnishings you already have in the room.
Before you buy, consider bringing home paint swatches or samples, to get an idea of how the
colors will look together in your space. It's a great way to avoid time-consuming painting mistakes.
TAPE TIPS
Run Tape in Circles
An alternate way to create the dots: use a template to draw circles directly on the wall. Then use small pieces of tape to mask around each circle.
Seal the Deal
To sharpen your paint lines and prevent seepage, seal the inner tape edges with a coat of your base color. Allow 12-24 hours to dry.
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