Looking for an easy tutorial on how to paint Chevron?  It’s easy.  Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint chevron using painter’s tape a little planning.

how to paint chevron on white potting bench with black paint and pumpkins

I just realized that somewhere along the way I gave birth to a planner.

Can you even believe it?

Me.

The one who painted the leaf chargers 30 minutes before this picture was taken.

The one who stuck and peeled a recipe on a wall without a level.

The one who painted numbers and hung curtains and stenciled armoires and added stripes and decorated mantels…..

….all without a plan.

But now?

I’m planning.

Here’s how to paint chevron with a plan and a tutorial.

black and white potting bench how to paint chevron

Yesterday, my little planner spent the afternoon getting ready for girl scouts.

She’s teaching a lesson on art.

She packed the bag with all the art supplies.

And repacked it.

And then packed it again.

And while I was taping off chevrons she had a 45-minute discussion with me on which paint brushes to use and should we bring paper and should she print out the instructions for the craft and do we need to refrigerate the cookies and would it be a good idea if she talked about art galleries.

And then spent the next 30 minutes laying out her teaching outfit and hair accessories.

*sigh*

And the entire time….I was being supportive and nodding and making suggestions….when what I really wanted to say was….

…..”What’s the rush?”

We still have at least 12 hours. 🙂

black and white potting bench with orange pumpkins how to paint chevron

How to Paint Chevron on a Potting Bench

Supplies:

  • potting bench
  • white paint
  • black paint
  • brush
  • painter’s tape

vintage potting bench before painting in farmhouse back yard

Step 1:  Start with a potting bench

This came straight out of an old garage we have.

I was using it to spray paint pumpkins on.

We washed all the cobwebs off and painted it white.

Step 2:  Start taping a chevron pattern

I used painter’s tape to tape off the lines.

I angled the tape in one direction.

And then angled it back the other way to create the pattern.

If you are a planner…..add an extra piece of tape in between and then peel it off and all your chevrons will be exactly the same size.

I didn’t.

I just guessed.

how to paint chevron using painters tape angled painters tape

When you are finished it should look something like this.

Looking good.

Close enough.

It is what it is.

how to paint chevron with painters tape and black paint brush

Step 3:  Start painting

I just painted the top with black paint.

This is how I started.

By the end…..I just ran the brush up and down vertically.

painters tape project how to paint chevron using tape

When you are finished it should look something like this.

Looking good.

Close enough.

It is what it is.

potting bench transformed with painters tape how to paint chevron

I absolutely love it.

It’s graphic and bold and makes the porch jealous.

And I saved so much time without all that measuring.

After all….sometimes the best things in life…..

….never even heard of a plan. 🙂

PS  Looking for some other painting tutorials?  Try this one.  Or this one.  Or this one.

how to paint chevron on a potting bench

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Comments

  1. Image for Melinda Melinda

    I love your philosophy and the chevron tutorial and bench are great! Having an organized daughter can be a blessing though. It helps me when the brain cells take a vacation, and sometimes never return, to turn to my oldest and say, "Now when is," or " where is" or any of the other information I might need. It gives a nice balance to the mama-daughter relationship.

  2. Image for Lorraine@MissFlibbertigibbet Lorraine@MissFlibbertigibbet

    I have one of those too! My husband is an over-planner, I am a quasi-planner and she is in between somewhere.....makes for interesting projects!! LOL I love the chevron bench and your eyeball measurement looks good enough to me....after all, you don't want it to look store bought machine made do you? It's now "handmade" and "artistic" and "rustic".....in other words....just perfect.

  3. Image for Trina @ afewmineradjustments.blogspot.com Trina @ afewmineradjustments.blogspot.com

    Ii have to say for most things in life I am a planner....an obsessed planner. However, when it comes to crafts, projects, photos, etc...I get the image in my head and then I wing it. Sometimes it is more fun to see what happens without a plan...sometimes it doesn't! Love the gardening station! {Trina}

  4. Image for Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life... Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life...

    Karianne... I would be willing to bet your eyeballed measuring is pretty good... I eyeball everything and my husband gets ticked with me because he insists we measure... and then has to admit I was right on target!! Your little planner is adorable... I have no doubt her art lesson will be amazing!! Perhaps she will be guest posting a DIY project here one day soon... how wonderful!!

  5. Image for Diana W. Diana W.

    As a compulsive list maker/checker-offer/planner I applaud you. I love a list. A plan? Not so much. In my salad days a list was a MUST HAPPEN, nowadays it's merely a suggestion, done mainly so I don't forget something that really does need to happen.....sooner or later. A plan was a MUST HAPPEN. Now I'm just excited to remember I had a plan and usually only remember if I wrote it down (see compulsive list making). My life is one big Easter Egg Hunt looking for the list and trying to remember if I forgot to write down something so I didn't forget it.....the applause for you is for finding your "Close Enough" while still young enough to remember to chill! It'll get done in time and it'll be close nuff!

    1. Image for Dianne Buquet Dianne Buquet

      Diana W. I'm totally on the same page (or list) with you! I can't function without my lists. I even add something extra to a list that I've done, just to be able to check it off! Half the time anymore I loose them and by the time they show up I've done most things on it. I'll be retiring soon and not needing as many lists............

  6. Image for Donnamae Donnamae

    Oh, what a great project...for eye-balling it! I'm an eye-baller..hubby is a measurer, and sort of a planner...one of my sons is an obsessive planner. I can so relate! So...where did you put the potting bench, if the porch is going to be jealous?? Enjoy this beautiful weather....wing it! ;)

  7. Image for Carmen H Carmen H

    Hi there, Remember that cute Frog Tape in a wavy pattern that we got at Haven? Can you come up with something cute for it? You have wonderful ideas! Thanks, Carmen H

  8. Image for Dianne Buquet Dianne Buquet

    Lovely project. I'm amazed that your black paint didn't bleed under the tape. I always get bleed so I never paint with this tape. Too much touching up for me. It appears that you didn't have to be too careful at the edges. Any tips?

  9. Image for Christine Christine

    Karianne, What a cute idea - I love black and white. I daydream about doing a black & white room but so far my home is mostly white or light blue.

  10. Image for Regina Regina

    Very nice! I'm so glad chevrons haven't gone out . . . I'm still waiting for the PERFECT piece to have in that pattern . . . ;) Planner? In the world of writer's, that's known as a "plotter," as opposed to a "pantser," (writing-by-the-seat-of-your-pants) which is what I basically am. :) Isn't it nice to have a planner in the family?

  11. Image for Mary Feguson Mary Feguson

    I love it! I think I will do my ugly bench the same way as I have black/white and grey strip material on my chair cushions. Thanks so much for the directions. Have a great creative week. Mary

  12. Image for Marian@Gathering Branches Marian@Gathering Branches

    Love it! I have been forced into becoming a planner because of the barn sale. But frankly, I'd rather just make things up as I go. Sadly, my life doesn't seem to like that. Boo. But the bench is awesome! I would never have thought of the black and white color scheme. Brilliant!

  13. Image for Jill Flory Jill Flory

    I am totally a wing-it and guess and it-is-what-it-is kind of gal! Clashes a bit with my it-must-be-level and it-must-be-hung-with-a-screw-in-a-stud man I married! If I can't do it myself I have to just stand back and be silent as I let him do it HIS way! LOL! Love the potting bench - and the chevron looks way better than if you had made sure those spaces were exact!

  14. Image for Pamela from Flower Patch Farmhouse Pamela from Flower Patch Farmhouse

    You have the patience of a saint! I would go nuts putting on all those little strips of tape. I spent the day painting in my studio but I only had to paint 4 stripes. Hats off to you. I too am always flying by the seat of my pants when being creative. There is nothing precise. But that is the essence of creativity, isn't it??? My husband is an engineer, you want to see a planner in action? Just ask him to cut an oval out for you (as I did today) and you will see an engineered marvel cut out of a pine board! Guess I should've photographed the process. It was worthy of its own story. Have a great evening. Pamela

  15. Image for Sheryll & Critters. Sheryll & Critters.

    I love it. I noticed that from the side it looks just enough off to look planned and has a very 'hip' vibe to it. (can you tell how behind the times I am?)

  16. Image for Sheryll & Critters. Sheryll & Critters.

    My click finger was a bit too fast...... I wanted to say that I am stealing your spider pumpkin...... just have to get up enough nerve to do it without a stencil....... grin. Or maybe I will use a magic marker to start the outline first? Yes, that is what I will do. As you can tell, I am still (always a bit late on reading and all).

Comments are closed.