How To Paint a Buffalo Check Pattern

How To Paint a Buffalo Check Pattern

Hey Creative Friends! Is it Christmas time already? I love this time of year because I spend it with family, enjoy the aroma of hot chocolate, and create cozy vibes by decorating my home for the holidays. And speaking of decorating, have you seen the buffalo check pattern trend lately? It’s everywhere! From throw pillows to table runners, this pattern adds a touch of rustic charm to any space. I wanted to share how to hand-paint a buffalo check pattern this holiday.

This DIY project is perfect for those who love to get creative with their decorating. Plus, these hand-painted decorations add a personal touch to your home during the holidays. You’ll love the pride you get when you proudly display your work. The best thing is that you don’t need to be skilled at painting to complete this project. I’ll show you all the steps and techniques you need to know to create a beautiful buffalo check pattern that will last for years.

So, grab your paintbrushes, and let’s get started! Whether you’re looking to add a festive touch to your mantle or make one-of-a-kind gifts for your friends and family, painting a buffalo check pattern is a fun and easy way to do so. Let’s get started!

Materials

How To Paint a Buffalo Check Pattern

Creating the Buffalo Check Pattern

Paint the wooden Dollar Tree ornament with red acrylic craft paint | How to Easily Paint a Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Grab your brush and paint that wood sign with a bold, vibrant hue – True Red.

Add painter's tape in vertical stripes onto the wooden ornament | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Let’s add some stripes to that ornament! Once it’s completely dry, we’ll grab some Painter’s Tape and make some magic happen. We’ll start by putting one piece of tape down the center of the wood sign, then add pieces on either side, so they’re touching. We’ll then keep pulling up the middle piece and placing it beside the others, repeating the process until the sign is covered in evenly spaced vertical stripes. It’s all about getting those rows just right!

Mix the red paint with a hint of black paint | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Let’s grab more of that True Red and mix it with a touch of black paint.

Paint between the painter's tape with the red and black paint mixture | How to Easily Paint a Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Make sure the edges of the Painter’s Tape are firmly pressed down. Then, it’s time to grab that new mix of True Red and black paint and fill in the stripes between the tape.

Remove the painter's tape | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Let that paint fully dry, and then it’ll be time to remove the tape.

 

*Optional:  If you want to speed up the drying process, you can use a hand-held drying tool.

Making Horizontal Stripes

Place the painter's tape in horizontal stripes across the wooden ornament | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Take more painter’s tape and repeat the taping process horizontally.  Starting with the center, put three pieces of tape side-by-side.  Then, pull up the middle piece.  Then put that piece of tape beside another and add a new piece of tape beside those.  Repeat until the entire sign is covered in horizontal stripes.  

Mix up a new shade by adding more of our True Red base color to the palette and just a hint of black paint. This time, we want the color to be lighter than our first mix, so make sure to add less black. 

 
Paint between the horizontal painter's tape with the new paint mixture | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Make sure the edges of the Painter’s Tape are firmly pressed down. Then, it’s time to grab that lighter mix of True Red and black paint and fill in the horizontal stripes between the tape.

Paint black acrylic paint over the exposed squares | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Making sure our sign is completely dry is essential before we move on. Don’t worry about removing the horizontal tape stripes yet. Now, it’s time to get creative with the tape again. We’ll add more vertical stripes, but this time only over the lighter squares. Make sure to press the tape down well. Then we’ll use some black paint to fill in the exposed squares. Let’s do this!

 
Finished ornament with Bufallo Check or Plaid Pattern painted on it | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Now that our sign has had some time to dry let’s give it a reveal! Gently pull off all the Painter’s Tape, and voila! You should now have a beautiful, hand-painted buffalo check sign ready to brighten up any room.

Decorating Your Wooden Sign

Paint the word "Joy" on top of the ornament | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

If you have a Cricut Machine, you could use that to create a decal using white vinyl. I decided to freehand paint my sign using white acrylic craft paint. I painted the word “Joy” in the center of my ornament. Before I painted it, I lightly sketched out my word using chalk to make sure of where I wanted to place them. Then, I used the stripes and squares to ensure I wrote my word straight.  

Make a bow to decorate your wooden sign | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Make a gorgeous bow with a wired ribbon and fasten it onto the sign with a pipe cleaner. And if you need to, you can always use a drop of hot glue to keep it secure.

Finished buffalo check or plaid sign with bow | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Buffalo Check?

Buffalo check is a popular plaid pattern with large, bold checks in two contrasting colors. It’s often used for home decor, clothing, and accessories and is known for its warm and rustic vibe.

Is buffalo check only red and black?

Buffalo check doesn’t have to be just red and black. It can be in various color combinations, matching any style you’re going for. 

Is Buffalo Check only for Christmas?

No, buffalo check isn’t only for Christmas. While the pattern is often associated with the holiday season due to its warm and cozy feel, it can be used all year round.

 

Want To Check Out More Christmas Ideas? No Worries.

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And that’s a wrap, my friend! I hope this guide on painting a buffalo check pattern was helpful and enjoyable. Who would have thought simple brush strokes and patience could produce such stylish results? I’m excited to see what you’ll create with this fun and trendy pattern. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your personal touch! And as always, if you have any questions or need help, I’m here for you. You can leave your questions in the comments below.  Happy painting!  Thanks so much for hanging out with me, and keep coming back because you never know what I’ll create next!

Pinterest Pin | How to Easily Paint Buffalo Check or Plaid Pattern

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