Paint wall with border
In Painting - How-To · 4 min reading time
![](https://www.misspompadour.de/media/f6/73/57/1721990237/vivian-misspompadour-grau-mit-gruen-die-wertvolle-wandfarbe-sts-moebellack-01-quer.jpg)
Especially if you want to paint your wall with an intense colour shade, a white border, tone-on-tone with the ceiling, can have a sophisticated effect. This is because the light-coloured border makes the wall paint look even more attractive.
Table of content
1. Painting a wall with a border: effect in the room
2. Examples of walls with a border from our community
3. Instructions for a wall with a border with a clean, white coloured edge
4. Tools and tools for painting the wall with a border
5. Frequently asked questions about painting a white border
Painting a wall with a border: effect in the room
A white border that surrounds a coloured surface creates a precise and proper impression. This gives the accent colour a particularly attractive frame. But even if you paint your wall in natural colours and are therefore tone-on-tone, the effect of a wall painted with a border is remarkable: the subtle colour differences come to the fore and the wall paint stands out better thanks to the sharply defined colour edge.
However, it is important that the border has a very clear edge and not the slightest unevenness. But with the perfect tools and the right technique, this is easy to achieve.
Wall with border examples from our community
Take a look at the creative ideas for wall design that thousands of members of our community have come up with. They show their work in great Before and After pictures. You'll also find lots of examples of coloured walls with a white border
Instructions for a wall with a border with a clean, white coloured edge
Anyone who has ever used intensive wall paints knows that it is not that easy to achieve the famous clean edge. And especially with strong contrasts, the eye doesn't forgive the slightest imperfection. We'll show you how to simply paint the perfect edge
Correctly masking and attaching adhesive tape
The most important prerequisite for a perfect white coloured edge is high-quality adhesive tape. Choose the width of the adhesive tape according to the width of the edge you want. A border width of between 3 and 5 cm looks particularly harmonious. It is very important that you tape it off cleanly and make sure that the edge is well sealed so that the colour cannot run under the tape
Tip: To Mask, be sure to use a spirit level or a line laser so that your coloured edge is straight horizontally and vertically.
Instructions: Wall with a border - here's how!
How to paint your feature wall with sharp coloured edges
Step 1: Cleaning
It is important to remove any dust from the surface before applying the adhesive tape. This is because the adhesive tape cannot adhere properly to a dusty surface.
Step 2: Masking
If necessary, measure and mark where you want to attach the tape. Then stick it on in the largest possible pieces. Seal the edge of the tape by pressing it down firmly with a flexible spatula. The tape must not crease or tear.
Step 3: Pre-painting
Then apply a thin layer of your white paint along the edge. This will additionally seal the edge and prevent the colour from bleeding. Leave this coat to dry.
Step 4: Paint the colour
Now paint your wall in colour. Carefully remove the tape while the paint is still wet.
You can also use the same technique to create a striped wall.
Remove the adhesive tape in good time
To avoid damaging the fresh paint, you should remove the adhesive tape when the paint is still slightly damp. It should be slightly dry, but not yet completely dry. It is important that you remove the tape as slowly and evenly as possible
Tools and equipment for painting the wall with a border
As always when painting, you will need
- a paint roller,
- a paint tray,
- a paintbrush and
- possibly a line scraper for touching up.
To create sharp edges, you will also need
- a spirit level and
- really good adhesive tape.
Frequently asked questions about painting a white border
The questions that arise when painting a white border relate not only to the technique used to create the border, but also to the spatial effect that can be achieved with a white border
What effect does a white border have on the wall?
A white border at the edge of the ceiling is probably used most frequently. Depending on its width, it pulls the ceiling down slightly. This can be a desirable effect, especially in high rooms such as those often found in old buildings. With normal ceiling heights in new buildings, the border should not be too wide, otherwise it will make the room appear lower. If you want to paint your wall in colour with a border, a white border that surrounds an entire wall can have a very decorative effect. This emphasises and highlights the bold colour.
Tip: Make sure that the room walls are exactly at right angles to each other - this is by no means always a given
How wide should the edge be?
The width of a white border on the wall depends on the area of the coloured wall. Large areas can tolerate a wider border than small areas. A wider border looks more harmonious on high ceilings than on low ones. For normal room heights, a border to the ceiling of between 3 and 5 centimetres is ideal
If you would like to design your walls in two colours, take a look at our blog on painting walls half-height!
Paint a coloured wall with or without a border?
Surrounding a coloured wall with a white border is an interesting stylistic device. It is a good idea if all the walls in a room are painted in an intense colour. This makes the room appear brighter and more vibrant. At the edge of the ceiling, a white strip offers a way to visually increase the ceiling height.