If you want the look of wallpaper but don’t want to spend the money, stenciled walls are a great alternative!
You guys know by now that I am a HUGE stencil fan. (But I’m not talking about the ones you remember from the 80’s – I’m talking about all the amazing UPDATED stencils.) The stencils now are beautiful, and they look like wallpaper. I am obsessed with wallpaper, but (as I’ve said before) I have major commitment issues. I get tired of wallpaper pretty easily, so stencils are perfect for me. I can have pretty patterned walls but I can just paint over them when I grow bored instead of stripping wallpaper.
When I discovered the Myriad stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils, I knew I needed it in my house. I’ve loved all the dalmatian spots I’ve been seeing in home decor, and this is that same look with a little quirkiness. It was perfect for Lena’s bathroom. It’s fun and playful – just like her!
To stencil you’ll need:
- a stencil
- paint (I prefer flat paints since they dry faster)
- painters tape
- small sponge roller
- level (there are levels that clip on to onto the stencil, and they are amazing!)
And to make the process even easier:
- stencil brush (These are great for those hard-to-reach places that the brush won’t reach.)
- spray adhesive (This has to be applied every use, but it is helpful along with the tape.)
When stenciling along the ceiling line, I always use painter’s tape to protect the ceiling. It’s so easy to paint the ceiling if you don’t. and the tape will protect the ceiling while holding the stencil.
I always like to begin my stenciling in the center of the room. If you know me, I love symmetry, so this probably has a lot to do with my crazy need for balance. Also, make sure you use a level when stenciling.
The Myriad stencil is great because it offers a lot of grace since it’s imperfect, to begin with. It would have been an easy stencil except for the fact that I used black paint to stencil with. I had to be SO careful to wait until the stencil was completely dry before I added another segment. There’s no hiding black paint on white walls. So patience was important.
I take the stencil off immediately after I’m done with the segment – while it’s still wet. This way, I can wipe away any mistakes while they’re still erasable. Baby wipes are a great thing to have on hand for projects like this.
Washing your stencil after your project is complete (it’s reusable!) is always a good idea, and it should be fairly easy to remove the paint if you used water-based paint.
Where would you love to add stenciled walls?
Go create something!
Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.
I love the magnolia wall art stencil! So pretty!
Love the stencil so perfectly imperfect!
I love the Myriad stencil that you used – so perfect!
I really like the way you decorate!! Your ideas are like a breath of fresh air!!! I have not stenciled in my new home. It is definitely the awsome way to change things!!! Thank you for the chance to win 😉
Thanks so much for the kind words, Stephanie! Best of luck and thanks for entering the stencil giveaway!
Hi, Sara! I love your daughter’s bathroom and your decorating sense. I want to re-purpose a gold frame and I like the “hello beautiful” picture. What did you use (stencil?) for the words “hello beautiful”?
Thanks for the help and keep up the great work!
Hey Tracie! The “hello beautiful” is actually something I designed, and I’ll be sharing it as a free printable on the blog this week!
love the “POLKA DOT” or the “Myriad” .. I like them because they are very unique .. thanks for the chance.
I love the Tamara Trellis Allover
I love, love, love the dalmation spots. I’m in the middle of a bathroom reno and I think I just found what I want for the walls! Thanks for the chance to win.
I just used the small arrow stencil for an accent wall. The stencils are awesome! Your bathroom looks great!
Thanks, Grace! Good luck!
I love the Little Diamonds Allover stencil. So many to choose from!
With a new house and a lot of bare walls there are so many stencils I could see working well in our space, but I am really obsessed with the Arrow Motif stencil on Cutting Edge! It would be really fun in a kids space or another area where an interesting pattern would work well. I love it!
I love the Roses Allover stencil!
That is so cute!! My favorite stencil would have to be this one 🙂
I really love the new stencils and look forward to getting started again with a new look.
Thanks!
Elaine
We are looking at ideas for when we finally maybe move. I think my daughter will want to use a stencil in her room.
I just LOVE the Myriad!! It would look perfect in my bathroom!