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You are here: Home / Paint and Color / How to Stencil an Accent Wall

How to Stencil an Accent Wall

May 8, 2014 By Karen Cooper 8 Comments

FYI: I was provided a stencil and brush for this product review, but all opinions are 100% honest and my own.

As a DIYer, I can do many things. I can paint, I can clear a clogged toilet, I can use power tools.

There are two things that stump me: hanging curtain rods and stenciling.

Leaving aside the curtain rod problem for now (that’s another story for another day), I decided to tackle using a stencil.

Accent wall in master bedroom behind headboard with stripes and stencil - thediybungalow.com

It’s not that I don’t like a good stencil. It’s that, for some reason, stenciling and I just don’t get along. I don’t know why – too much paint on the brush? The wrong stencil? Impatience? (Scratches head…)

So when Royal Design Studio contacted me and asked me to review a stencil, I had two options: (1) run, cowering in fear, or (2) face this challenge head-on, ready to rumble with my worthy stencil opponent. I chose #2. Game on!

Supplies

I chose a large stencil – the large Curved Connection Moroccan Stencil – figuring it would be easy to maneuver. Royal Design Studio also sent me a stencil brush. The stencil comes with detailed instructions, as well as links to the website which has great instructional videos.

The stencil instructions seemed easy enough - thediybungalow.com

I had the paint – I decided to stencil in the guest room which now has become the master bedroom. The base coat is “Gentle Rain” by Behr (the one in the middle of the paint chip above). I decided to paint stripes on top of that, for the background of the stencil, and that paint color is “Porpoise” by Behr. “Porpoise” is one shade darker than “Gentle Rain” on the paint chip, and I used an eggshell finish for both.

Base coat with stripes to prep for using stencil on the wall - thediybungalow.com

Stripes on the wall, pre-stencil.

I also used a small foam roller to paint the stencil. Because the stencil was large, I decided it might be easier to handle a roller for the main part of the stencil, using the brush around the edges and for touch-ups. I grabbed a paint tray and a paper towel and I was ready to go!

I used delicate-use painters tape to affix the stencil to the stripe on the wall. You can also spray a light coat of spray adhesive on the stencil, but I found that, for this limited area, the tape worked well.

The stencil came with the main stencil pattern and then a ceiling filler stencil, for filling in around the trim by the ceiling and floor.

I first taped the main stencil to the wall, with the top edge abutting the ceiling. I ran the tape along that edge so that it held the stencil right to the ceiling-wall line.

Tape the stencil to the wall with delicate-use painters tape to keep in place - thediybungalow.com

Then I started painting. I put paint on my roller – and keep in mind that less is more here. Do not overload the roller. Just add enough paint to wet the roller, then remove some of the paint by rolling it on the top of the roller tray. You can also blot it on a paper towel, if that’s easier. If you overload the roller (or brush) with paint, the paint will bleed under the stencil.

I then applied the paint with the roller, using nice, gentle, even pressure. Don’t press too hard, or you end up with lines in the paint.

A roller works well for wall stencil - thediybungalow.com

After I finished the first panel, I removed the stencil and grabbed the ceiling filler stencil. I taped it to the ceiling and wall using the same delicate-use painters tape; for this, you definitely want to use painters tape because it will prevent paint from getting on the ceiling. It’s easy to know where to place it, because it fits right in the pattern left from the main stencil! You can see how it lines up in the picture below. Easy as pie.

How to line up stencil to avoid getting paint on trim or ceiling - thediybungalow.com

As you can see from the picture, I used the brush on the ceiling filler stencil because it was easier to maneuver near the ceiling line. I didn’t want to get paint on the ceiling and I had more control over that with the brush.

When using the brush, add a little paint to it and then blot it off on a paper towel.

Use a dry brush technique for the stencil when close to the trim or ceiling - thediybungalow.com

Again, that ensures that you don’t have too much paint on your brush.

You can also use the brush to do touch-ups on the area done with the roller.

Using a brush to touch up the stencil work - thediybungalow.com

I then finished the rest of the stripe, moving the stencil down the stripe. Voila!

Stencil work in stripe on accent wall - thediybungalow.com

I did the same for the second stripe, then stood back and realized…I STENCILED!!!!!

I used a stencil to create a fretwork and striped accent wall in our master bedroom - thediybungalow.com

And if I can stencil, anyone can!

Thanks to Royal Design Studio for challenging me on this stencil project!

 

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Filed Under: DIY, Paint and Color 8 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

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Comments

  1. Eliesa says

    May 8, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    I tried a new stencil from them yesterday on my backsplash – but it didn’t come with that handy dandy edge filler! I got so frustrated with trying to wedge the stencil into the corners! Now, I see that I didn’t have all the pieces! LOL! Love your stenciling – very classy looking!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      May 8, 2014 at 1:22 pm

      Thanks, Eliesa! Just contact them about the edge filler. I can’t wait to see the backsplash!

      Reply
  2. Cheryl @ Artzzle says

    May 8, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    Okay, you’re gettin’ all fancy on us … stenciling … punching up the blog. Wow. Nice going. I’ve got my eye on a certain stencil from RDS. I’ll be back next time 🙂
    Great Mother’s Day weekend to all.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      May 8, 2014 at 9:57 pm

      Excellent! Next week – watch for the giveaway! Thanks! And Happy Mothers’ Day to you, too!

      Reply
  3. Marty Walden says

    May 8, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    It looks totally amazing! I have never done a stencil on a wall anywhere. Ever. You go, girl!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      May 8, 2014 at 9:56 pm

      Thanks, Marty! I appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. Elisha @ Pneumatic Addict Furniture says

    May 9, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Love it! Just the right amount of “fun”.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      May 9, 2014 at 11:51 am

      Thank you! I can’t believe I did it correctly! 😉 It was fun. Hope you are well!

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




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About Karen

A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

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