How to stencil a wall pattern
Use a stencil set to create a feature wall in your home
1. Buy your stencils The Stencil Library has over 3,500 designs to choose from, plus brushes, paints and accessories online. Check if the stencil is cut or uncut. Cut stencils are ready to use, but more expensive. Uncut ones will require cutting with a craft knife first.
2. Paint the wall in your base colour and leave it to dry, ideally overnight. Work out how many times you'll need to repeat the stencil across the wall and use a spirit level and tape measure if you're going for a straight-line design. Mark the final positions with a dot at each corner of the stencil. Use spray stencil mount or masking tape to attach the stencil to the first marked position on the wall before you start painting.
3. Pour a small amount of paint into a saucer. Use a small roller for large designs, and a stencil brush for more intricate ones. Don't overload the roller or brush with too much paint as it could seep under the edges of the stencil. Work from the outside, painting inwards until you've filled the design. Remove the stencil immediately (but gently) and leave the paint to dry.
4. Repeat the process, being careful to follow your measuring marks and making sure that the patterns connect.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.
-
Colourful Christmas trees are already taking over the upcoming festive season – this is how to embrace the bold trend
Who says your Christmas tree has to be green?
By Sara Hesikova
-
5 plants you should cut back in winter to promote better growth next year
Shape up your winter pruning plan
By Sophie King
-
Our renovations editor reduced her energy bills by 20% with this cheap and easy hack - here's how she did it
Radiator reflectors turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving
By Kezia Reynolds