How to paint perfect wall stencils in 5 easy to follow ways

If you are the person, who likes to make your home, apartment or RV look a little different, then start using stencils to give your walls an awesome look. All the tips on How to paint perfect wall stencils in 5 easy to follow ways make it easy for you to start using stencils in your home.

First I thought I would add wallpaper to make accents in my house and camper, but buying a classic wallpaper or something a little different can get pretty pricey. Therefore, and also because I wanted to make my walls look a little different, I started experimenting with a stencil and I am so in love with it.

Things you need to know when using a stencil

There are some rules you need to know in order to make your walls look awesome. Check out the 5 best ways to use stencils for an awesome look on your walls.

How to add one stencil as a focal pattern on your wall – easy tips and tricks – fast summary:

1. Select a larger stencil of your liking for your focal wall
2. Get a sample foam roller
3. Select the right paint color (sample size is normally enough)
4. Measure the center of your wall and position the stencil where you like it
5. Use Frog Tape to tape the stencil on the wall
6. Roll the paint without pressure over your stencil
7. Let the paint dry before you remove the stencil from the wall.

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Shopping list:

• Stencil (there are a lot of choices on Amazon or also available in craft stores)
• frog tape
• sample size paint color (this size is normally enough if you are only adding an accent)
• sponge or microfibre cloth to wipe off paint from the stencil
• sample foam roller

Here are some pretty stencil options:

How to paint perfect wall stencils in 5 easy to follow ways:

1.Select the right stencil

Make sure you are getting a stencil you can use for different projects. I am using my stencil as a backsplash and I am also going to use it on my fireplace. Often the simple patterns look the best on walls. I also used a Mandala stencil a couple of times to update my furniture. There are many ways to use them, so the investment is absolutely worth it.

If you are using a stencil for the first time, do not use a geometric pattern. It is very hard if you want to stencil a big part of your wall to get it completely straight. I would start with a random pattern, it is so much easier to get it right.

2.Make sure the stencil is rolled out and straight

When you order your stencil, it normally comes in a roll. That means, it is hard to use the stencil especially when you are using it on the wall as it rolls together all the time. Often you have to fight to get it straight onto the wall. Tip: One day before you are planning on using the stencil lay it straight and put something heavy on top of it. Makes your life so much easier when it is not rolling up constantly and doesn’t annoy you.

3.Don’t use the stencil on freshly painted walls

If you have just painted the walls and you are thinking of adding the stencil a couple of days afterward, you have to try it out first because it will probably mess up your wall paint. I used frog tape to tape the stencil on my wall and after removing the stencil, the tape pulled the paint right off the wall. So be very careful and try it out first at a non visible spot.

4.Use the right roller

How to stencil a wall without bleeding? You need to use the right foam roller.

Don’t use a brush or a big felt roller to add the paint to the stencil. For best results, I suggest you use a sample foam roller because the key for a great look is to use very little paint. If you use too much paint it will bleed or smear under the stencil and mess up your pattern.

Here is a short video on how to apply the paint to the stencil:

5.Clean your stencil after every use

After you have used the stencil remove it carefully from the wall and wipe the paint off from the backside of the stencil. You don’t want to mess up the wall with paint when you add the stencil again for your next pattern.

Top Tip: Don’t stop in between painting

Make sure to finish up the pattern you want to achieve and try not to get interrupted. If you want the best results you have to work concentrated and keep going until you are done. Often it is hard to get into the same rhythm after you have stopped working on your wall. So try to be consistent with applying the stencil to the wall.

Here are some pictures of my latest project:

I loved using this stencil. It is pretty big and easy to use.

Are you interested in learning about how I painted my ugly brown Formica countertops?

If you have been wondering how I achieved this awesome Marble look on my countertops, get all my tips on how to paint them here: How to update Formica countertops to look like new

But I have also used different stencils to update some of my furniture. For these two projects I used a Mandala stencil.

Summary of How to paint perfect wall stencils in 5 easy to follow ways

If you want to create an accent in your house, apartment, or RV without spending a lot of money but still be very original, use a pretty stencil. Use it as a backsplash, as an accent wall, or add it to dated-looking furniture. Here are all the tips for adding stencils to furniture.

It is easy and fast to do, you can add a stencil as a horizontal or vertical stripe, stencil the whole wall, or use the pattern as an artwork. It looks awesome if you do it the right way and I promise you – you won’t see this anywhere else.

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