Introduce a dramatic focal point into a room by stenciling an accent wall with a creative pattern.
Materials Needed:
- preferred wall color paint
- preferred accent color paint
- a level: any size will do, but a longer level will make work easier
- a stencil
- a paintbrush
- painter’s tape
- a pencil
- paper towels, or something to dab excess paint from your brush
Prepare Your Surface
If you painted your walls recently, there’s not much you need to do to prep the surface. If it’s been a few months since you last painted, a wash with some gentle detergent in warm water and a sponge should be enough to remove any dust or dirt. If it’s been a few years since you painted, and your wall has some wear prep it for a new coat of paint and give yourself a clean canvas to work with.
Applying the Stencil
Position your stencil on the wall at your starting point, and attach your stencil with painter’s tape.
Paint your design on the wall with a dry brush. Dip the tips of the bristles into your paint, then remove excess paint by dabbing the brush on a paper towel. Apply your paint by dabbing the brush against the stencil. Don’t brush paint over the stencil, this can lead to paint seeping under the stencil. To make sharp lines while you’re painting, put pressure around the stencil openings so the stencil lays flat.
Move The Stencil
Before you move the stencil, make a small mark at the corners of the stencil. This will allow you to place the stencil so the pattern repeats . Lift up the stencil and place it in the space defined by your pencil marks and press down on the painter’s tape. To make sure your stencil doesn’t drift, use the level to check the stencil placement.
Repeat
Continue painting the stencil design, marking corners, and moving the stencil across and down the wall until you’ve covered the desired area with your design. To create a seamless look that resembles wallpaper, paint the stencil design to the edges of the wall.
Are you looking for a stencil? Try one of ours! Just click the one you like to get a template to use on your wall.
