How do I paint the tops of the stairway walls?

Painting a pattern on your wall can be very difficult if you want all the shapes to be the same size and level. But just like when you were little and had letter or shape stencils to help you draw perfect drawings, you can make stencils yourself for what ever it is that you want to paint on the wall.

Using a sheet of cardboard or a contact sheet draw and cut out the shape that you want to paint. If you want to make a pattern that goes all the way around the room then you should make two or three stencils so you can level them.

To use the stencils first prepare the wall you want to paint, you want to paint the base color before you use the stencil because painting around your design can be very challenging. When the wall is dry take your stencil and using painters tape, tape the stencil to the wall so it doesn't move. Making sure that you don't over load the paintbrush paint inside the stencil trying to be careful around the edges. When you finish filling the stencil carefully lift it off, make sure that there isn't any paint on the underside of the stencil because if there is and its wet it will leave unwanted marks on the wall.

Repeat the process of taping, painting and lifting until you have finished painting your pattern on the wall. When you are finished step back and enjoy your handiwork.