How to Stencil a Wall

How to Stencil a Wall

 

Simple Made Pretty has been compensated for this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Find the original “How to Stencil a Wall” Article published on Hometalk here.

 

The first time I stenciled a wall was around 20 years ago. My brother was selling his first home and he asked me to help him stage the house. The main bathroom was completely colorless and stark white, so I painted a beautiful green stencil design on the wall to enhance the style of the room. The home sold very quickly and I will never forget how easy it was to add character to a home by using a stencil. 

 

In this tutorial, I share how to stencil a wall with a large stencil with tips on how to stencil a wall without bleeding. Keep reading to learn how to stencil a wall and watch the video showing more details to stencil a wall with a roller.

 

 

In case you’re in a hurry…

 

✅ This is the wall stencil I used on our office wall. This stencil is a large stencil so you can paint a large area very quickly!

 

How to Stencil a Wall Border

 

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to stencil a wall border. If you have never stenciled before, I suggest practicing on a small area and deciding what paint color(s) you’d like to use.

 

In this tutorial, I stenciled a large border area on our office wall and you can use this same technique with any size stencil. I measured the area I wanted to stencil and painted the rest of the wall a solid color to create the wall border. 

 

Easy Wall Stencils for Painting

 

I’ve found the stencils from Stencil Revolution are easy to work with and come in various sizes so you can finish a project quickly.

 

Stencil Revolution has craft stencils, wall stencils, floor stencils, and more. The patterns and images at Stencil Revolution are beautiful and complement any style of decor.

 

I used the Scandanavian Palm Leaves wall stencil to update our office wall. This project took less than 30 minutes to complete. 

 

 

 

How to Stencil a Wall without Bleeding

 

Paint bleeding is a common issue when stenciling. Here are some tips to reduce paint bleeding:

 

1. Don’t apply too much paint. Less is more!
2. Use a dabbing motion to apply paint with a stencil brush. Do not stroke the paint up and down.
3. Make sure your stencil is completely flat against the surface. This is most difficult when working in tight spaces or corners, but I suggest purchasing an extra stencil to cut to fit those difficult spaces or be prepared to touch up mistakes. 
4. Remove the stencil immediately after applying the paint. 

 

Many paint stencil mistakes happen if you rush. Take your time, let each section dry, and don’t use too much paint.

 

Do you let the paint dry before removing a stencil?

 

I remove the stencil right away so it doesn’t get stuck to the surface or cause paint bleeding. 

 

How do You Stencil a Wall with a Roller?

 

In this tutorial, I share how to use both a stencil brush and a paint roller, however, I completed a majority of my wall stencil with a foam paint roller. 

 

Supplies:

 

• Stencil (I used this Scandanavian Palm Leaves wall stencil)
• Painter’s Tape
• Stencil Brushes or Small Paint Foam Roller
• Paint Roller Tray
• Paint (I used a dark green color)
• Rags

 

Directions:

 

1. Gather Supplies. Please watch the video with more instructions.
2. Use painter’s tape to secure the top and bottom of the stencil to the wall.
3. Use the paint roller to apply paint to the wall on top of the stencil. Remember, less paint is more.
4. You can also use stencil brushes to dab the paint over the stencil.
5. Once all the spaces are painted inside the stencil, carefully remove the stencil.
6. Place your stencil in the next area you would like stenciled. I overlapped my stencil over the painted area to continue the pattern.
7. Repeat this process until the wall is complete.
8. If you have any bleeding or unwanted spots on the wall, use a wet rag to carefully wipe those mistakes away. Many paint stencil mistakes happen if you rush. Take your time, let each section dry, and don’t use too much paint.
9. Clean your stencil right away by using warm water and a dish brush. I used a hose outside since this stencil is very large, but smaller stencils can be cleaned in a sink. For more information to clean stencils, refer to this post. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to stencil a wall in your home. I love stenciling the walls in our home because it’s cost-effective and there’s less commitment than wallpaper to add a fun design. 

 

You can use stencils on many other home decor items too! Try using stencils on furniture, pillows, banners, and more.

 

Finding the best wall stencil can be overwhelming because there are so many design options available, but you’ll find quality stencils and beautiful wall design ideas at Stencil Revolution.

 

Don’t forget to grab the stencil!

 

✅ This is the wall stencil I used on our office wall. This stencil is a large stencil so you can paint a large area very quickly!

 

 

How to Stencil a Wall Video

 

 

 

 

 

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How to Stencil a Wall