Looking to make a bold statement with your walls? A check-bordered half wall is a great way to introduce colour, structure and visual interest to any room (without overwhelming the space).
This style works especially well in spaces where you want to introduce personality without overwhelming the room. Think bedrooms, living areas or even hallways, anywhere that could benefit from a little extra love.
Whether you’re refreshing an existing space or starting from scratch, this is a project that delivers maximum impact while remaining DIY-friendly.
Follow this step-by-step guide to recreate the look with crisp lines and a professional finish.
What You’ll Need:
- Top half wall colour (we’re using Porter’s Paints Popcorn)
- Bottom half wall colour (we French washed the bottom half of the wall. Here’s how to achieve the same look)
- Base check colour. This should be lighter than your check colours to achieve the best finish (we’re using Porter’s Paints Majolica)
- First check colour (we’re using Porter’s Paints Dragon’s Eye)
- Second check colour (we’re using Porter’s Paints Potter’s Clay)
- Masking tape
- Drop sheets
- Roller
- Brush
How You Do It:
Step 1: Paint the top half
Start by painting the top section of your wall using your chosen colour. Cut in with a brush, then apply two coats with a roller for a smooth, even finish. Allow to dry between coats.
Step 2: Mark and tape the half wall
Use masking tape to define where your half wall will sit.
Expert tip - Planning this line ahead of time will help you create a clean divide between the top section and the feature area below.
Step 3: Paint the bottom half
Apply your chosen colour to the bottom half of the wall. Cut in first with a brush, then roll two coats for full coverage. Allow to dry between coats. Wait for the second coat to dry fully before removing any tape.
We French washed the bottom half of the wall using Porter's Paint French Wash.
Here is our step-by-step guide to French washing a space.
Step 4: Prep the border
Once both sections are dry, remove the tape. Next, tape the top and bottom edges of the border for the check pattern. This is the working area.
Expert tip - Use the width of your tape as a guide. This project uses a border height of four tape widths for consistency.
Step 5: Paint the border base
Apply two coats of your base check colour across the entire border area. Allow to dry between coats.
Expert tip - Starting with the lightest shade ensures better coverage and makes it easier to layer darker colours on top.
Step 6: Tape the bottom checks
Tape a line of masking tape above the halfway point of your border section so that the bottom of the tape lines up with the halfway point of the border. Then, use the width of your tape to mark out equal squares across the row.
Expert Tip - In our design, each square is two tape widths wide because our border is 4 tape widths high. This makes it quick and easy to keep the pattern consistent.
Step 7: Paint the bottom checks
Tape off every second square in the bottom row. Then, apply two coats of your first check colour to the border. Allow to dry between coats. Once the second coat is dry, carefully remove the tape.
Step 8: Tape and paint the top checks
Repeat the taping process on the top row, alternating the squares to create the checkerboard effect.
Then, apply two coats of your second check colour to the top half of the border. Allow to dry between coats.
Step 9: Remove the tape
Once the top half of the border is dry, carefully peel away the tape to reveal clean, crisp lines and a stunning check bordered half wall in your space.
A check-bordered half wall is a simple yet impactful way to transform a space, bringing together colour, structure and a touch of personality. By breaking the wall into defined sections and finishing with a clean, geometric border, you create a look that feels considered and design-led that any DIYer can achieve.
Visit your local Inspirations Paint store for everything you need to tackle this project.