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How To Paint A Chevron Pattern On Wood

It’s no secret that I love giving various paint treatments a try – like stenciling a pillow, two toning a chair, painting patterns on baskets, or even tracing raindrops right onto the wall – and I’ve been excited to share this one. Some of you eagle-eyes even noticed it in the background of Friday’s post and asked for details.

Now that Clara’s thrift store cradle is in heavy rotation (Captain Barnacle is often found being rocked, fed, or changed in there) and Clara has clearly established her love of red, blue, and pink, I used it to test drive a deceptively simple free-handed pattern. It’s probably the most “intricate” pattern I’ve ever freehanded, but it’s just a series of simple steps that anyone can do (it only took me about an hour to do all four sides). And this pattern could be added to the top of a table, the fronts of a dresser, the back of a bookcase, or even just a piece of wood (or canvas) hung on the wall as art.

Cradle After3

The first thing I did was use a red Sharpie paint pen and a ruler to make a bunch of vertical lines (use a yard stick if your item of furniture is larger). I just eyed these because I didn’t really want them to be perfect – I was going more for the imperfect-by-hand-looking effect.

Cradle Stripes1

Then I connected those lines with some free-handed diagonal lines (I didn’t use a ruler or anything for such short lines) that went up in one column, and then went back down in the next column. I started from the left and worked my way across each side of the cradle (from left to right).

Cradle Stripes2

When I had diagonal-lined all of my columns, I was left with a nice red and white pattern on all four sides. Then I went back in and added some blue paint to a few random parallelograms with a small craft brush (it’s the same test pot of paint that I’ve had for years called Embellished Blue by Behr, which I also used for this project, this project, and this project).

Cradle Stripes3

I also painted the top lip around the whole thing in solid blue, just to add a little “piping” to the look. Oh and I recovered the green pillow that used to be inside with some pink zebra fabric from my scrap bin (since pink, red, and blue is the color trifecta for Clara).

Cradle After2

The last step was adding a strip of fleece fabric that I had in my scrap pile to the bottom of each rocker on the underside of the cradle. When it was just bare wood it could scratch things up a little if Clara pushed it across the floor, so “felting” those with strips of fleece fabric (which I just crazy glued in place) did the trick.

Fleece Fabric On Rocker

I brought it back out for Clara to see on Christmas Eve day, which is also when she also got a few “real” gifts from us (that was a tradition in both of our families growing up). So along with some books and toys, she also got her “re-mixed” cradle.

Cradle After4

The new pattern didn’t go unnoticed and she even said “I love your paintings!” and wanted to know what each of those shapes were called, which led to her saying the word “parallelogram” about 100 times, and me beaming like a maniac every single time. What is it about kids and five-syllable words? They just sound so dang smart and adorable.

Cradle After5

So there you have it: a design that doesn’t call for a printer or a paper cutter or any decals or stencils – just a paint pen and an old test pot of paint. Have you guys ever free-handed an imperfect pattern like this? Was it surprisingly therapeutic? I was totally in the zone.

PS: Wanna give another pattern a try? Check out this DIY herringbone pattern we created on a secondhand desk using paint!

Comments

  4. Danielle Ferretti in Miami says

    LURVE this, Sherry ! Who said anything is safe from updates in your presence…? :)

    FYI – we are back in the high 70’s here in South Florida today… Just wanted to share our lovely weather with you, maybe entice you guys to come out again… :) xo

    Reply

  5. Laura @ Rather Square says

    Love this “remix”! Our 2-year-old daughter has a baby doll as well, but she “sleeps” in a cardboard box. Just last night I was thinking that we should do something about that. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  8. Janelle @ Two Cups of Happy says

    This turned out really great! I love the pattern you chose. I’m trying to think of what I can paint a pattern on now. Haha. I can totally see how it would be therapeutic. Some of my art has teeny tiny circles all over the page and I go into this meditative state when I do it. Completely in the zone.

    Reply

  13. Jess says

    So my dream was only partially prophetic … there was *kind of* a new crib for Captain Barnacle, but totally not one that transforms into a playhouse. :P

    Very, very cool effect!!

    Reply

  15. dawn says

    I love this pattern I just painted a wall in my daughter’s room using this same pattern but on a bigger scale. I also love your floor from yesterday. Now I know how to five my grout. Cheers.

    Reply

  16. Crystal says

    So cute! As part of our updates to our kids’ kitchen that we built (like yours), I used a Sharpie paint pen in White (on a black countertop) to draw four burners onto it. I used a ruler for the straight lines but freehanded any diagonal lines.

    It was my first paint pen experience – do you have to depress yours to get the paint to come out? It kind of made it a bit more sloppy but in a imperfect-by-hand way I think.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thankfully my paint pen was more like “depress it and shake it a ton to get it going on scrap paper” and then it didn’t need to be pressed really hard as I drew on the cradle. I think once it started coming out it had a nice flow.

      xo
      s

  18. Alisa says

    LOVE this! I have been collecting those test paint pots (they’re $0.50 in the oops section!) and this might be a perfect use for a few of them. Thanks for the idea!!

    Reply

  21. Lesley says

    I love Burger in the first pic, it looks like he conquered climbing an enormous cradle! Way to go Burger!

    I must locate some of these paint pens…. so many neat ideas.

    Reply

  22. Reenie says

    …”she even said “I love your paintings!” and wanted to know what each of those shapes were called, which led to her saying the word “parallelogram” about 100 times”…

    Oh, that little one of your’s is so smart…. and adorable.

    :)

    Reply

  25. stephanie @ Housewife Mama says

    Fabuliscious! We have a similar white wood thrifted baby cradle. I never thought about painting/markering it but I totally will now. There are random crayon, etc. markings on it so I may have to get creative with how I hide them (if they don’t wash off).

    Inspiring, as always, Sherry!!

    Reply

    • Krithiga says

      I once came home to full wall crayon art by my son. basically he wrote 1-100 on the wall next to the dining table. I was able to clean it with the help on hair dryer (to melt the crayon) and just wipe it away. It was pretty easy and fast. Not sure if it will work on other surfaces, may be test a small part ?

  26. CandiceMcC says

    So cute, and I love those colors together. Go Clara! Yes, I have done crazy, intricate, free-hand painting. I wanted to stencil the back wall of our guest bath with an intricate, 3(subtle)-color Moroccan pattern? Yeah, what little texture that the wall had totally made it look like poo. So I drew it all on the wall. Then I went back and painted it all in by hand with a craft brush. Longest. Project. Ever. But it turned out well and was completely therapeutic. Made me think I always needed to have some sort of project like that on the back-burner to turn to when work was stressful, the dog was sick, or the kids were screaming. :)

    Reply

  27. Abby says

    Sherry, love this update! You’re so creative! My question is about the houseplant in the back….I have no green thumb, but am eager to fill a space in our dining room with something natural. Do you have houseplant suggestions or plants that can take some neglect and imperfect conditions? Just curious. We too just moved into a new home (about the same time as you all) and it has been great following your updates which parallel a few of ours. (timely kitchen update! – thanks for the great info!)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man, I wish I still had the tag for that guy. I got him in our last house and he survived the move and seems to like living in the window in the office, but I don’t know the name. Anyone recognize it? I’ve had luck with basic things like ivy, pathos, and even have some cacti that are doing awesome (I water everything once a week, but never water the cacti- literally never – and they seem to all stay alive somehow).

      xo
      s

  28. Shams says

    Looks great! Can you include a link for the last time you posted about the cradle? I’d love to see the before and after!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Shams, we love a before and after too! Here’s what it looked like when we got it for $11 at a thrift store. At first I just painted it white and added some pom-pom fringe for fun (Clara didn’t really have as many favorite colors/preferences back then).

      xo
      s

  29. Holley says

    I love how artsy people can make things like this seem so simple! I have trouble drawing a straight line (and am a bit anal about things like that), so this looks SUPER daunting. I might still try it on a small canvas, though – maybe I’ll surprise myself!

    Reply

  30. Jamie says

    Wow, that is awesome! I am huge fan of your blog, and you are pretty talented with your free handing! I would need to use a ruler for even the small diagonal lines :P

    Still, after seeing all your hand painted projects, it makes me want to try one also! Thanks for sharing.

    PS: I love Clara’s color combo. :)

    Reply

  32. Hailey says

    When I looked at your first picture – I thought – is there a baby in there?! Did she have the baby already?! Did a miss a major post somewhere?!

    Then I saw the baby doll. Whew…. :) The cradle is super cute.

    Reply

  35. Sarah D says

    I just recently free handed an ikat design onto 3 canvases to hang in our bedroom. Turned out great! Love this design, excellent job!

    Reply

  36. Ines says

    I really love that crib, it looks like you bought a new one. And the color combination is amazing. ;)
    Do you have some posts about color/colof combinations? I am about to move into my very first own apartment and am going crazy over color choices (e.g. are there colours that are calming, yet bright, warm and happy at the same time? ;)
    Greetings from Germany
    Ines

    Reply

  39. Meg says

    I would never think to attempt something like this — but it looks awesome! Very modern and fun. I’m a Sharpie fanatic and don’t mind the zen of coloring/painting in things, so I think I’d be all over something like this!

    Reply

  41. Nancy says

    The cradle turned out adorable. And how weird and fun and bonus-y that the pattern on the back turned into stacks of flattened round beads from the angle in the last picture!? I just scrolled thru comments quickly — is it just me? did any else notice that? I thought it was a great unintentional effect.

    Reply

  42. Mary Jo says

    Nice to see Captain Barnacles has a worthy bed of his own! With all that he & Clara do, he must be very weary by now – I love that pattern & am currently in my creative space ogling a few items that will benefit from that pretty tutorial. THANKS!

    Reply

  45. Steph Skardal says

    So cute! I was just about to order some herringbone custom fabric and this is good inspiration. Love the colors, too.

    Reply

  47. Marianne in Mo. says

    Really deceptively simple, and so cute! Have to comment on yesterday’s post, my back hurt just imagining all that floor time. Do not know why, but if I spend any more than 5 mins. on the floor, I can barely move afterwards! Guess it’s the age thing! That’s why having babies is left to the young! Hope you aren’t overdoing!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Marianne! I promise I did a lot of stretching on the floor (and getting up to bend throughout). Mainly my poor little ankle knobs were what hurt from being dragged around the tile. I’d totally pad them or wear thick socks next time!

      xo
      s

  50. Melissa@TheChicDream says

    That is so cute! She will cherish it forever. My grandfather built a cradle and highchair for my baby dolls when I was little(he was a cabinet builder so he had mad skills.) I still have them so I’m gong to paint them for my baby girl. I’m stuck on what I want to do though. Should I paint them each the same color? Solid or pattern? Decisions, decisions. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      So cool to have those built by your grandfather! I would look around in stores and online and stuff to see if any painted ones catch your eye (maybe a certain color like yellow will keep coming up – or polka dots – and it’ll help you pull the trigger).

      xo
      s

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