Monday, August 10, 2020

How to Paint Clouds on Walls

A great idea for a mural is to paint clouds on a sky blue wall to resemble an actual sky. The subtle clouds give the room a calming effect. You don't have to be an expert artist to paint this mural. It is possible to paint clouds on walls by following a few simple steps.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Priming Your Walls

  1. Purchase enough primer to cover the walls you’re painting. Stop by your local paint shop and purchase a white interior primer. For unpainted or white walls, use a latex primer. If the walls are already painted another color, pick up some oil-based primer. Get your other supplies while you’re at the store.[1]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • If you use an oil-based primer, repeat the priming process when you’re done to add two layers. You only need to apply latex primer once.
    • The amount of primer and paint you need depends on how big the room is. In general, you need of paint for every you plan on painting. For a single bedroom, you likely need .
    • Grab your blue latex paint, white latex paint for the clouds, drop cloth, paint tray, and 3 paintbrushes while you’re at the store as well. You’ll use latex paint even if you’re using oil-based primer. You’ll need 1-2 small quarts of white latex paint. For the blue latex paint, get the same amount as the primer you used. If you picked up of primer, get of blue latex paint.
  2. Remove any furniture and open the windows to prep the room. Go into the room you’re painting and remove any pieces of furniture that are easily removed. For bigger pieces that are a pain to move, simply slide them towards the center of the room to keep them away from the walls. Open the windows to keep any obnoxious fumes from bothering you as you work. Lay down a drop cloth on the ground to keep your floor clean as you work.[2]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 2 Version 2.jpg
    • When you start painting, keep the drop cloth under you wherever you’re working. Just move the cloth whenever you move from one section to another.
    • Latex paint isn’t toxic, but many people dislike the smell. Oil-based paint can be noxious, so keep the windows open and wear a dust mask if you’re going this route with the primer. You don’t need to use oil-based primer if your walls are unpainted or were previously white.
  3. Cover any edges you want to keep dry with painter’s tape. Remove any faceplates covering the outlets and light switches. Put painter’s tape over the outlets and switches. Then, lay down lengths of painter’s tape along any edges you want to keep clean. Cover the trim and baseboards, and run painter’s tape along the edges of your ceiling to keep paint off of it.[3]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 3 Version 2.jpg
  4. Pour a white primer into your paint tray and grab a ladder. Open your can of primer and mix it with a mixing stick. Then, carefully tilt the can over the paint tray to fill it halfway with paint. Attach the paint tray to the top of your ladder. Set the drop cloth underneath any corner of your room to start.[4]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 4 Version 2.jpg
  5. Cut the corners and paint the edges to coat them in primer. Start at the top of the first wall and work your way down. Dip your angle brush halfway in the primer and brush the bristles off on the side of the paint tray to remove any excess primer. Then, hold the brush up against the edge of the wall at a 45-degree angle. Slowly move the brush to add a thick length of primer. Continue repeating this process to cover all of the edges and corners in primer.[5]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 5 Version 2.jpg
    • You’ll typically need to reload your brush after every 2-3 strokes.
    • Work your way around the ceiling first. Then, cover the corners and edges around the faceplates. Finish with the area above the baseboards.
  6. Roll the remainder of your walls with the primer to finish prepping them. Clean your paint brush by washing it if you used latex primer. Then, put a roller with a nap or bigger on your paint roller and move it back and forth in the paint tray to load it up. Paint your walls in vertical back-and-forth strokes so that you overlap all of the edges and trim you painted. Cover each section 2-3 times to fill the walls completely.[6]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 6 Version 2.jpg
    • Reload the paint roller every or so to keep it from drying out.
    • If you’re using oil-based primer, the brush will be exceptionally difficult to clean. It’s much easier to just toss it.
  7. Wait at least 24 hours to give the primer time to totally dry. Primer takes quite a while to completely cure to the wall. Keep your windows open and turn any fans on to give the primer time to settle. Empty out any unused primer back into the container, close the lid, and wash your paint tray, roller, and brush out before calling it a day.[7]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 7 Version 2.jpg
    • The primer will fill in any pores in your wall and make your final paint job look phenomenal.

[Edit]Adding the Blue Sky

  1. Pick a shade of blue that you want for your sky and buy your paint. You can use any shade of blue you’d like for your room. Keep in mind, darker colors tend to make rooms feel smaller and less inviting. If you aren’t sure what color to choose, opt for a basic sky blue or pastel blue. Stop by a paint shop and pick up the paint you need for your room.[8]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    • For the type of paint, a water-based latex paint is ideal for your blue. Oil-based paints have a shiny, glossy texture that won’t look quite right for a blue sky.
    • It doesn’t matter if the primer was oil-based or latex. Use a latex paint for the blue sky. You can put latex paint over oil-based paint—you just can’t do it the other way around.
  2. Pour your blue paint into a fresh paint tray and get a new brush. Open up your can of blue paint and mix it thoroughly with a mixing stick. Grab your clean paint tray and fill it halfway with your blue paint. Then, grab a fresh or clean paint brush.[9]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 9 Version 2.jpg
    • Don’t reuse your paint tray or brush if you used an oil-based primer.
  3. Cover the edges, corners, and trim with your shade of blue. Grab your brush and dip it halfway in the paint. Brush the bristles against the sides of the paint tray to remove the excess paint. Then, starting at the top of your wall, cut the edges and trim. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle and apply a line of paint that is roughly thick. Cover the line around the top of the wall, paint the corners, and then cover the length around the baseboards.[10]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 10 Version 2.jpg
    • You’re doing this the exact same way you primed the walls. It’s an identical process.
  4. Mix your blue paint and grab a thin-napped roller. Once you’re done with the trim, corners, and edges, put a fresh roller on your paint roller. Use a thin-nap roller for the best results. Mix the blue paint with a mixing stick until the color is uniform and even. Pour the paint into a clean paint tray to fill it halfway.[11]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 11.jpg
    • For your roller, anything with a nap lower than will work well.
  5. Use the paint roller to cover your walls in an even layer of blue paint. Move the roller back and forth in your paint tray to load it up. Then, start painting the wall in smooth vertical strokes. Work back and forth across each length you paint to cover each section 2-3 times. Overlap your strokes with the trim and edges you painted. Continue working until you cover the walls in a smooth, even layer of paint.[12]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 12.jpg
    • You should be able to see any gaps in the paint pretty easily. If you see any white specks in the paint, re-roll that section to ensure you cover each area in paint.
  6. Wait at least 24 hours before considering a second coat. Wash your brush and roller thoroughly before shaking them dry and letting them air out. Give the room 24 hours to dry out. Once the walls are dry, inspect the paint. If it’s even and you’re happy with the color, you’re done. Otherwise, you can apply an additional coat to deepen the color and even out any splotchy areas. Apply your second coat the same way you applied the first coat and wait an additional 24 hours for the paint to dry.[13]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 13.jpg

[Edit]Using a Cloud Stencil

  1. Purchase a cloud stencil kit to make things easy. There are plenty of cloud stencil kits online. Look for a set of stencils with a shape that looks good to you and order them. These stencil kits only cost $10-20 and they’re great because they’re typically made of mylar, which won’t leave marks on your wall as you’re painting over the stencils.[14]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 14.jpg
  2. Cut your own stencils out of cardboard with a utility knife for a custom option. You can make your own stencils if you prefer. Grab a sheet of cardboard and draw out your cloud in pencil. Set the cardboard down on a cutting board and use a utility knife to carefully carve the shape out of the cardboard. You can use a single stencil for this, or make 3-5 different shapes to give the clouds some variation.[15]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 15.jpg
    • You can use cardstock if you prefer, but cardstock tends to curl up after it gets wet with paint. You may need to make several identical copies of your stencil if you go this route.
  3. Tape the stencil to the wall where you want to place the first cloud. You can start anywhere you’d like on the wall. Set the stencil against the wall and peel off a strip of painter’s tape. Tape the top and one side of the stencil to the wall to adhere it. Step back a little bit and inspect the stencil visually to make sure you’re happy with the location.[16]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 16.jpg
    • You can add clouds randomly all over the walls, add a row of clouds by spacing them out, or create a symmetrical pattern by measuring in between each stencil to space them out evenly.
  4. Roll the inside of the stencil with white paint. Open a container of white latex paint and mix it with a mixing stick. Pour it into a clean paint tray to fill it up halfway. Then, grab a small foam roller and dip it in the paint. Slowly and carefully roll the inside of the stencil to add the base layer of your white paint.[17]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 17.jpg
    • If you want fluffier, softer clouds, only use a brush to paint your clouds. Use soft, circular strokes to fill the stencil in.
    • You can likely add all of your clouds with 1-2 small quarts (or liters) of paint.
  5. Brush along the inside edge of the stencil to get a crisp outline. Grab a round brush and dip it in the paint. Wipe the excess off of the sides of the paint tray. Then, run the brush around the inside seam where the wall meets the edges of the stencil. This will give your clouds a clean, crisp outline.[18]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 18.jpg
    • You can lift the stencil up as soon as you’re done painting. Just be careful as you lift it up so that you don’t smudge what you painted.
  6. Repeat this process for each additional cloud you’re painting. Continue taping, rolling, and outlining your stencils. You can place the stencils randomly around the room to add a random set of clouds, or measure in between stencils to space them out evenly. If you’re going for a uniform pattern, use a spirit level to make sure each stencil is on the same horizontal or vertical plane before you tape and paint.[19]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 19.jpg
    • Wait at least 12 hours before reinstalling your faceplates, touching your walls, or putting your furniture back where it belongs.
    • If you’re adding the clouds randomly and want some variation in the shapes, layer the stencil on top of a previously-painted cloud and tape it over it after it has dried. Then, fill in an additional shape to add on to your previous stencil.[20]

[Edit]Free-Hand Painting the Clouds

  1. Fill a paint tray with your white paint and grab your brush. You can paint the clouds by hand without any stencils if you’d like. These clouds will tend to be fluffier and less opaque than stencil clouds, but they’re more likely to resemble actual clouds if that’s the look you’re going for. Mix your paint and pour it into a paint tray to fill it halfway. Grab a clean angle brush to paint your clouds.[21]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 20.jpg
    • You can mix and match stencil and free-hand clouds if you’d like, but most people choose one or the other.
  2. Outline the general shape of your clouds to place them on the wall. You can paint your clouds to be any size or any shape. You can add a bunch of large clouds, or a few sets of smaller clouds only along a single wall or portion of the wall. Dip your brush halfway in the paint and just outline the general shape of your clouds. Don’t worry about making them precise or round enough—just get the basic outline on the wall.[22]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 21.jpg
    • Outline all of your clouds at the same time to keep track of the overall composition.
  3. Tap your brush over the outline to fill the edges of the clouds in. Reload your brush and start on any portion of your outline. Gently tap the bristles against the outline repeatedly to cover the outline in a soft, fluffy, sponge-like pattern. This will give your clouds their distinct, ethereal look.[23]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 22.jpg
    • If you want really fluffy clouds, use a painting sponge instead of a brush for this.
    • Don’t move your brush when you’re tapping the bristles into the wall. Treat each stroke kind of like you’re drawing a single dot on the wall.
  4. Use a rapid sweeping motion to add some texture inside the clouds. Reload the brush and wipe the excess paint off. Then, hold the brush like a pencil and lift it inside of your cloud. Move your wrist back and forth like you’re drawing an X over and over to start filling the cloud in.[24]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 23.jpg
    • Move your brush kind of quickly to avoid obvious brushstrokes on the wall.
  5. Continue building up the shape of the cloud with circular strokes. Once the cloud is filled up, start adding texture and shape to the cloud using smooth circular strokes. Build up a series of circular shapes in your cloud and use the tapping motion or sweeping motion to add some variety to each cloud.[25]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 24.jpg
    • Every cloud is a mix of these three strokes: the dabbing of the bristles, the sweeping X-motion, and the circular strokes.
  6. Feather out the bottoms of your clouds to give them that puffy look. If you want the clouds to look more realistic, grab an unloaded brush and gently run it back and forth along the base of the cloud. This will smooth out the shape of the cloud and make it look like it’s rising in the sky. This is a great way to develop some hyper-realistic clouds.[26]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 25.jpg
    • Skip this step if you want flatter, cleaner-looking clouds. Some people aren’t a fan of these fluffier, softer clouds.
  7. Pat the top of the clouds to soften them up a little. Use your unloaded brush to dab the top of the clouds and remove some of the paint. This will soften the bright edges and make your clouds look like they’re sticking out a little bit.[27]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 26.jpg
    • Don’t do this if you really like the bright color of your clouds.
  8. Repeat this process to add the rest of your clouds. Continue working through all of your outlines and filling the clouds in. You can work in any order that makes sense to you. Once you’re done with your clouds, take a step back and inspect your work to see if there’s anything else you’d like to add.[28]
    Paint Clouds on Walls Step 27.jpg
    • Don’t forget to reinstall your faceplates after the paint dries.
    • You can put your furniture back and rearrange the room after the walls have dried for 12 hours.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

  • White primer
  • Blue paint
  • White paint
  • angle brush
  • Thin-nap roller
  • Thick-nap roller
  • Cloud stencils
  • Paint tray
  • Painter’s tape
  • Drop cloth
  • Utility knife (optional)
  • Cardboard (optional)

[Edit]Related wikiHows

[Edit]References

  1. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-paint-a-room
  2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/388-how-to-paint-a-room/
  3. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/g151/13-painting-secrets-the-pros-wont-tell-you/
  4. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/g151/13-painting-secrets-the-pros-wont-tell-you/
  5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/388-how-to-paint-a-room/
  6. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/g110/interior-painting-tips-how-to-paint-your-walls-like-a-pro/
  7. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/the-8-painting-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-48420#for-more
  8. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-paint-a-room
  9. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-paint-a-room
  10. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/388-how-to-paint-a-room/
  11. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/388-how-to-paint-a-room/
  12. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/388-how-to-paint-a-room/
  13. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/the-8-painting-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes-48420#for-more
  14. ↑ https://youtu.be/XSTkyS1i8uA?t=4
  15. ↑ https://youtu.be/83kaJfbrLkE?t=81
  16. ↑ https://youtu.be/83kaJfbrLkE?t=68
  17. ↑ https://youtu.be/83kaJfbrLkE?t=115
  18. ↑ https://youtu.be/83kaJfbrLkE?t=138
  19. ↑ https://youtu.be/83kaJfbrLkE?t=160
  20. ↑ https://youtu.be/XSTkyS1i8uA?t=26
  21. ↑ https://youtu.be/NQH7HG568j8?t=33
  22. ↑ https://youtu.be/NQH7HG568j8?t=74
  23. ↑ https://youtu.be/NQH7HG568j8?t=165
  24. ↑ https://youtu.be/NQH7HG568j8?t=213
  25. ↑ https://youtu.be/fBwPswbde6k?t=74
  26. ↑ https://youtu.be/fBwPswbde6k?t=74
  27. ↑ https://youtu.be/fBwPswbde6k?t=90
  28. ↑ https://youtu.be/NQH7HG568j8?t=5


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