Good-bye Stripes, Hello Polka Dots!
Last year I striped my hallway. I never was very happy with it. I kept adding more and more stripes, hoping I’d like it better and then finally decided to quit before it got worse. Not sure if it was the colour-combo or the stripes themselves, but I knew it couldn’t stay. A little while back I finally started deleting stripes. It took me a few weeks, using a few minutes here and there. First I had to sand the stripes. Two coats of great paint later, I could still see stripes. So I primed and put on another two coats of paint, this time flat paint. I was now up to 5 coats, if you’re counting! And you could still see some definition of stripes in certain lights.
I figured the only way to make the walls perfect, would be to have someone come in and replaster the walls. But this was probably not an option so I hoped that my next plan – polka dots – would be enough of an attention-grabber that the stripes would virtually disappear. And they did!
Polka Dot Hall
My original intention was to dot the walls from floor to ceiling, however, once I got started – and then stopped (using bits of time here and there), I kind of liked a bit of a haphazard look. So I went with haphazard! I can always fill in the rest of the dots later if I change my mind – or if too many people ask me “if it’s supposed to be that way” or “if I’m going to ever finish it…!”
Around the Corner with the Dots
The other day I was ironing and it hit me that my ironing board went with my new hall. (I have had a thing for dots for a long while. The other day I ran into one of my daughters at the greenhouse. I was wearing polka-dotted pants and a polka-dotted shirt. She gave me a look. I said I liked polka dots. She said, “That’s evident.” ) Well, now it’s more evident. Maybe I’ll get a shot of me in some of my polka-dotted outfits in my polka-dotted hall for my next post. (9 more days of school and then I’ll have a bit of time again!)
The Ironing Board Matches!
In case you’re interested, the walls are Chantilly Lace Aura by Benjamin Moore. The dots are Folk Art acrylic paint in licorice. I used a 4″ dotted stencil, purchased online, and a small foam roller.
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I personally think there cannot be enough polka dots in the world, they make me happy! I love what you did, looks so fun!
I LOVE the dots! They make the hall look so crisp! I don’t think you’d like it solid. This is perfect!
Thank you! They make me happy too. I’d dot my bug if not for the attention it would draw!
I love your hallway and especially the beautifully arranged layout ( lol)
I think to just spot regimentally over the whole hallway would take away the lovely happy feel Makes you feel like dancing and laughing all at the same time
Thank you!
It looks awesome the way you have it. I too, love polka dots. I adore your creative ideas!
Paula,
Your decorating skills are truly an inspiration to me! And I have to say that I am AMAZED at the alignment of your polka dots. I don’t think I would have been able to do that without a grid covering the wall. Thanks for sharing the things you do!
There is actually a screw-up on the wall, but fortunately the pattern is busy enough that it’s hard to find!