How to Paint a Wall With Geometric Designs

A bright colorful geometric wall .

An interior geometric paint design adds depth and texture to any space. Whether you’re targeting an accent wall or decorating the entire room in geometric shapes, the process is the same. Although somewhat time-consuming and very detail oriented, painting a geometric design on your walls is not difficult. Here are the steps you’ll need for a successful geometric paint job.

Step 1 - Apply a Base Color

A woman painting a wall blue with a paint roller as the base coat for a geometric wall project.

Putting down a base color allows you to create stripes where the tape lines were. However, you can also have the color of each shape meet directly up to each other. Most often, your base color will be white, but you can choose any color you like. If you won’t have a base color show as part of your design, you can move directly to step two. If you do paint a base layer, make sure it is completely dry before progressing.

Step 2 - Outline Your Design

Before you apply any more paint to your wall, make sure that you have a clear outline for your shapes. One way to make very clean lines is to start with a chalk line on your wall. Tack one end of the line and stretch it in any direction you like. Firmly hold the other end of the line, pull the center of the line out from the wall, and let it snap back into the wall, creating a chalk line. Then run the chalk line in a different direction, crossing your original line at random or calculated intervals to meet your needs. If you prefer a more free-flowing design, you can skip the chalk and head to step three.

Step 3 - Tape It

Frog tape or other painter’s tape is the secret weapon in a great geometric design paint job. Stick strips of tape to the wall to create triangle, trapezoid, and rhombus shapes. If you ran a chalk line, attach your tape using the chalk line as a guide. If you’re freestyling, simply run the tape in any direction that appeals to you. The more tape you crisscross, the more shapes you will create. If you paint the entire wall with the tape in place, you will have stripes between the shapes when you remove the tape. If that is not the look you want, you will need to paint one area and wait for it to completely dry. Then remove the tape and relocate it along the edge of the color you just finished. This allows one color to meet up to the adjacent one without space between them.

Step 4 - Paint Shapes

With the tape firmly in place, begin painting your shapes. If you’ve decided to leave white stripes between them, you can paint all of your sections at this time, either using all one color or several for the different shapes. If you want the shapes to meet up directly, you will need to allow each shape to dry and move the tape onto the dry color before painting the next design. Apply a second coat as needed.

Step 5 - Remove the Tape

Someone removing painters tape from a wall as part of a diy geometric wall.

To reveal your design, peel off the tape. You will want to remove it when the paint is dry, but still tacky to the touch. If you wait until the paint cures, it will adhere to the tape and can peel off with it.

Step 6 - Touch Ups

As a final step, do any touch-ups along the lines and edges of your designs and walls. Use a small brush to fill in any paint that peeled away or bled under the tape.

Tips:

  • After applying the tape to the wall, firmly press it into the wall on both sides so that it makes solid contact with no gaps.
  • To avoid paint seeping beneath your tape, do not push paint along the seam. Instead, apply a light amount of paint to your brush. Starting on the tape, brush outwards onto the wall. This will create a paint seal along the edge of the tape.
  • Pay special attention to where the design meets the ceiling and adjacent walls. Edge along the ceiling. Decide whether you want the design to turn the corners onto the next wall or cut off at the corner.