How To Paint Harlequin {a simple DIY tutorial}

Today I am sharing a tutorial on how to paint a harlequin pattern in under an hour! From mapping out the pattern, to painting it! This is a simple paint pattern and much easier than you might think. In fact, I wanted to call this “Harlequin for Dummies” But I’m always afraid I might offend someone. Even though, I was really referring to myself!

This has got to be my favorite painted makeovers to date.

Mostly, because I surprised the hell-o out of myself that I could do it! On a side note, I find it difficult not to end every sentence with “!”.

Okay, back to the tutorial. I found this table at a thrift store for a whooping $5 — and because I don’t rush anything, and had no idea how I wanted to paint it.. I gave it a quick one-two with some sandpaper. (It was in rough shape! See?)

Slapped on a light coat of primer, and placed it in my living room so I could look at it daily and let it tell me what it wanted.

It was not very vocal. It sat there a few months.

I’m so glad it did. Because one day, it sat up and said; “SHANNON! I want to be Harlequin baby!!”

And I said, well alright.

By that time, I had become a Maison Blanche retailer, and I had nothing but  paint colored candy to choose from! (what a perk)

I ultimately decided on Magnolia and Miel, respectively. 

And then I figured, I can draw a straight line, I must be over thinking it!

After all my failed attempts, I ended up doing the whole grid, with a pencil and a yardstick in 15 minutes.

First you need to find your center. (Nope, this isn’t yoga — wrong blog)

How to get your center point;

I highly suggest the ease of a yardstick but you can use a tape measure.

• Measure the length of the table and divided by two. 

  Mark the center point lightly in pencil.

• Using the first pencil mark as an indicator for where to lay your tape measure or yard stick down, measure the width of the table, divide by two, and adjust your first mark to the true center you get with this measurement.

Next, I used my yard stick and working from the center, I drew first my diamond.

Your measurements will depend on the size of the diamond you want.

I wanted my diamond 18 high X 9 wide.

So from the center I went 4.5″ to the left and 4.5″ to the right and marked those off.

For the vertical marks, I went 9″ up from the center and 9″ down from the center.

Once I had my first diamond done, I worked off that, spreading out.

Using the fixed side as a guide, I lined my yardstick up to it and penciled in another line.

Working off the four sides of your original center diamond as a guide, pencil in lines and extend to those off the table.

Keeping in mind, you still have your two original lines that you used to find your center, measure over 9″ and make a dot.

Then, you’ll want to measure out the length of one section (mine were 9.5″) till you hit the pencil line and you’ll meet at the correct point to make your next mark.

See the perfect new line in red?

Just Keep Repeating The Formula.

And you’ll have a perfect grid! This one took 15 minutes to pencil out. And I had never done it before.

I penciled all my lines onto the base coat of Miel, then cut in and hand painted my white Magnolia in, following my pencil marks.

You can use tape if you want crisp lines. I didn’t use tape because I wanted a more casual, imperfect line and a hand painted look.

I don’t have a picture of this stage, because I got so excited it was working, I didn’t take any.  As a matter of fact, I was talking to my mom on the phone while I was doing it, that is how easy it was! Then “poof” I was done. 

Oops.

I went over each color again. For a total of two coats each. 

After doing that.. I knew I wanted a stronger line of delineation between the Magnolia and Miel.

I went ahead and did my distressing. Then I used my paint can opener with it’s perfectly curled end, the yardstick as a guide, and lightly “scored” along the line, with just enough pressure to remove the paint. 

And this is my beauty now…

The table top in Miel & Magnolia is finished with Cire d’ Antiques wax in Amber.

Table base and legs in Magnolia, were completed with Cire d’ Antiques finishing wax in Dark Brown.

Just a reminder of what I started with…

I never thought I would be showing a before & after painted makeover in a Harlequin pattern. That is for sure!!

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