Checking In With Chelsea

DIY ideas, crafts, and tips for your home

subscribe and never miss a thing!

Receive Free Email Updates

  • About
  • Videos
  • Projects
    • Indoor Projects
    • Outdoor Projects
    • Craft Projects
  • House Tour
You are here: Home / Indoor Projects / Re(a)d All Over

Re(a)d All Over

April 8, 2016 By Chelsea Lipford Wolf 2 Comments

As promised, I’m back with the details on painting the lattice background from my bookshelf makeover.

Top Half of Bookcase with New Molding

My instinct was to do a solid color, again, but then I thought I’d add a little drama to the back of the overstuffed bookshelf. After stenciling an accent wall in my living room, I thought stenciling would be the way to go to get a neat pattern.

First I set it up in my garage with some plastic behind it so I could spray paint it white.

Back of Bookshelf Removed and Ready for Paint

I used flat primer since I had a few cans on hand. It really only required 1 coat to cover the blue with a 2nd coat for touch ups.

Back of Bookshelf After Spray Painting

Once it dried, I picked up my supplies and set the stencil in its first spot in the corner.

Stencil Paint and Brush for Background

You know the saying, “You get what you pay for”? Yea, that applies here. It was a cheap stencil. And it worked cheaply. It was self-adhesive which was nice. But it was very flimsy. So after I painted the first repeat, it was nearly impossible to get the wet stencil laid out for the next repeat without messing up the wet paint on the background or without spreading paint on the next area to be stenciled.

Plus it didn’t leave clean lines either.

Messy Background After First Stencil

So I wiped off as much wet paint as I could and sprayed that area again with white paint. I wasn’t too concerned with the red paint showing through since only a little white would be showing in my next idea for this background.

To create the lattice pattern seen in my “after” picture above, I used 1-inch painter’s tape. I started in one corner by putting a piece of tape along the edge of my speed square.

Using Speed Square to Tape Lines

Then I went to the left of the tape and down on the right side marking every 5 inches. These would be the marks for where each new piece of tape would start. I eyeballed it as I laid my next piece of tape from one side to the other, trying to have it hit the background at the same time along the entire piece of tape. Again, I wasn’t too concerned with it being an exact straight line since I knew you’d never be able to tell once the background was in place.

First Few Taped Lines

Once I ran out of marks to line up my tape along the top, I measured the distance between the tape lines to make the first mark around the corner. Then I went from there marking every 5 inches again.

When I completed the tape lines in one direction, I used my speed square again to make the first line going in the opposite direction.

Using Speed Square to Tape Opposite Corner

Then I did the same thing marking every 5 inches and laying one tape line at a time until I was done. Not a long process at all.

Background with Completed Painter's Tape

I used my stencil brush to apply my poppy red paint (Chili Pepper by Behr) in a pouncing fashion.

Background Painted Poppy Red

While the paint was still wet, I removed the painter’s tape at a 45 degree angle. I let the bookcase background stay flat on the floor while it dried.

Back of Bookcase After Removing Tape

Using the same nails that held it in place before, I reattached the background to the freshly painted bookcase.

Bookshelf with Red Pattern Background

It’s the perfect amount of color pop that this bookcase needed. It reminds me of a picnic blanket, which is perfect for a room made for eating! 🙂

Decorated Bookshelf After Upgrades

In hindsight, I wonder how laying a piece of actual lattice over it and using spray paint would have worked. If anyone tries it, let me know!

Top Half of Bookcase with New Molding

Thanks for Checking In! ~ Chelsea

Subscribe for Free Updates!

Stay up-to-date on Chelsea's latest projects, tips, useful resources and more.

Previous Post
Bookshelfie Makeover
Next Post
Weeds Be Gone

Related Content

Completed Hand Painted Pennant Flag Banner Kid BedroomDIY Pennant Banner for Kids RoomCompleted Large Lighted Two and Zero NumbersDIY Lighted Marquee NumbersBrick Retaining Wall How to Waterproof and PaintWaterproofing Vertical Masonry WallSitting on Back Steps After Finally Sealing BricksStripping Paint from Bricks

Comments

  1. Kim says

    May 7, 2016 at 9:51 am

    I like how this dresses up a basic bookcase and I love the poppy color.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lipford Wolf says

      May 9, 2016 at 10:27 am

      Thanks, Kim! I love the poppy color too! ~ Chelsea

      Reply

Please Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome!

I’m Chelsea. DIY
enthusiast who loves
sharing my victories
and mishaps!
Learn more
here.

CHECK IN WITH CHELSEA ON INSTAGRAM

Ask me how I know😑Whether you’re doing a smal Ask me how I know😑Whether you’re doing a small patch or a whole room, this drywall sanding hack will keep the dust at bay and keep the rest of your house looking good😎
.
.
#drywall #diyhack #tipsandtricks
A Spring Break to remember! Thanks to CeeCee and P A Spring Break to remember! Thanks to CeeCee and Pop Daddy for bringing the Wolfpack along on vacation! A long travel day ahead of us but it’s always worth it to spend time with family and get some r&r.☀️😴 Happy weekend!
9 years!✨Brandon and I will be celebrating 9 yea 9 years!✨Brandon and I will be celebrating 9 years of marriage this week. And how perfect we were invited to a wedding tonight walking distance from our home.🥰Sometimes reality is better than the movies and this weekend is one of those times. Enjoy, friends!☀️
What else do you use paper plates for besides eati What else do you use paper plates for besides eating?? Spray paint onto a paper plate and dab a small paint brush to do spot touch ups! Life hack when you’re working on a project but don’t need to paint the whole surface!👏🏻
.
.
#lifehack #diyhacks #spraypainting #painttips #paintprep #paintpro #shutters #craftsman #1940style
Didn’t mean for this to be #ASMR but here we are Didn’t mean for this to be #ASMR but here we are!🤷🏼‍♀️ I bought this orchid 15 months ago to use the flowers in our hair for my sister’s wedding. I’ve already repotted it once and it’s bloomed 3-4 times! Time to do it again with a pretty new pot that matches our new kitchen cabinets!🤩
.
.
Steps to repot an orchid:
1-large pot without drainage holes
2-plastic pot slightly smaller with holes
3-trim if needed so plastic pot is at or below outside pot
4-add layer of orchid specific potting mix (it looks like bark!)
5-add orchid, fill in around roots with more bark- don’t forget to add some mix under the leaves!
6-to water, soak bark and fill up outside pot, rinse the leaves too!
7-let sit for 5-10 minutes, then drain and dry the outside of your pot.
8-set in place and enjoy!🌷
New laundry, who dis? Our laundry room was a BLANK New laundry, who dis? Our laundry room was a BLANK slate after the kitchen renovation left it reconfigured too. So Dad and I tackled simple projects that make this space functional and of course visually pleasing too!👏🏻The full project airs this weekend on @todayshomeowner!
.
.
I love that the cabinets and hardware match what we have in the kitchen since the spaces are right next to each other! Synergy!
.
.
What do you love about your laundry room?
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Indoor Projects Outdoor Projects Craft Projects
Facebook Pagelike Widget
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Advertise with Chelsea
  • Media
  • Today’s Homeowner

Search This Site

Receive Free Updates Via Email

Copyright © 2023 Checking in With Chelsea • All Rights Reserved