Choose horizontal stripes to make a small boring space look longer and chic (Before and After Transformation)

We spend a lot of time picking colors for the visible walls around our home, but we often forget about the closets thinking that they are not that important. In fact, we see this closed spaces more than we think. So yes, we should try to bring them to life with a pretty color that make us happy!

It’s even more important to pay attention to those details when our we have walk-in a closet that actually can be used as a functional room. For example, I was craving for a space where I could store my craft and sewing material. We have a closet in our living that is actually pretty big and we don’t use it as much as we should, so I decided to make it my own creative room.

There was one problem, and it was that this closet was painted in a yellowish beige tone and the walls really looked dirty and dark.

I wanted something fresh and clean, so I decided to use a color named Extra White (SW 7006). This bright color makes my new craft room look crisp and it has a modern touch that I really like. I also used Silver Peony (SW 6547) to highlight the horizontal lines on the walls.

TIP:

Horizontal stripes are an amazing painting trick to make walls long longer so they whole space look bigger. They also look really chic. Vertical stripes make the walls look taller, this works for spaces with low ceilings.

MATERIALS:

• 1 Quart of Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint. Silver Peony SW 6547. Matte

• 2 Quart of Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint. Extra White SW 7006. Matte

• 1 Purdy® White Dove™ Roller Cover

• KWIK-Release™ 9" Roller Frame

• 1 Mil 9′ x 12′ Plastic Drop Cloth

• 1 ½” Sherwin Williams Contractor Series® Extra Firm Angle Sash Brush

• Multi surface Scotch tape

How to Make a Closet Look Bigger:

1. Start by cleaning the walls with a dry cloth to remove dirt or dust.

2. Use painters tape around the wall moulding and tape a plastic drop cloth to protect the floors.

3. Paint the whole walls with the lightest color you will use to make the stripes, use a roller for the walls, and use an angle brush for the corners and other small areas. 

I used the color named Extra White (SW 7006) in the whole walls and ceiling, it looks really crispy and clean. It also makes this dark closet look so bright.

4. When the walls are already painted and dry with the white base color, measure stripes around the walls. Use painters tape to delineate them. Paint the stripes using the other color. Wait for a few hours until the paint dries to remove the tape. If the color is similar to the base color, you will need to apply just one layer, if the color is really different, like for example, dark turquoise lines on top of a white wall, you might have to apply two or more layers.

Now you are ready to start organizing your clothes, shoes, craft material and anything else you want to store in your new, fresh and crispy closet!

EXTRA TIP:

Pick similar colors in similar shades to paint the stripes on the walls. This way you will need to apply less layers of paint, and the effect will be subtle and chic.

That's one of the reasons I decided to use a white base with a violet hue that is really light and blends great on the whole space, but still make it look beautiful.

This post was created in partnership with Sherwin Williams. All pictures and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Live Colorful.

I hope this DIY project inspired you to transform a boring dark closet into something functional and bright that you can enjoy!