How to Stencil

Preparation: The calm before the storm.

Step 1. Select the wall you want to beautify. The smoother your wall is, the less likely the paint will bleed under your stencil. I know this part is a bore but if your wall is clean and smooth, the better your wall stencil will look.

Step 2. If you don’t plan on changing the paint color of your walls, just clean your wall with a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris. (Magic eraser sponges are helpful for any stubborn spots).

Step 3. If you are not painting your wall, you can skip this step. If you are going to paint your wall a different color, you may have to use a water-based primer if your existing wall is a dark paint and you want to change to a lighter paint color. Allow the primer to completely dry before applying the fresh coat of paint in your desired base color in either a flat finish or eggshell finish. (The primer can feel dry to the touch in about an hour but I would recommend letting the base coat dry for 24 hours).

Step 4. Start protecting your area. Use the painter’s tape to tape off the baseboard, ceiling lines and adjacent walls. (The painter’s tape is going on the corners of the walls and ceiling that you are not painting at this time). Cover your floor with a drop cloth, just in case. Remove any outlets or switch plates.

Step 5. The main event. First put a strip of painter’s tape along the top of your stencil. It doesn’t have to be a big strip as you just need a bit to hold the stencil to the wall, to start. Next, place the stencil face down on a protected table and spray the back of the stencil with repositionable adhesive spray. Just a light coating of the glue is enough. Grab your level and a pencil. I like to start in the center of the wall. You don’t have to find the perfect center, you can eyeball it, but you DO have to start with the stencil straight on your wall. If you start off crooked, your whole design will be crooked. So, use your level (or a laser level if you have one) and your pencil and lightly draw a straight line to use as a guide to help you line up your stencil. (Once you have painted your first stencil, use an eraser to rub the pencil line off). Once you have your stencil centered and straight on your wall, use your painter’s tape to hold all four sides of your stencil down. Remember, gaps are your enemy and lead to bleeding which can lead to cursing.

Step 6. The paint application. This is where the magic happens. Pour a small amount of paint into your paint tray, and load your foam roller with paint, then this is where the paper towels come in. Put a double folded paper towel on your disposable plate and then off load your excess paint onto your paper towels. In stenciling, less is more. I know it seems counterintuitive but you want your foam roller almost dry to the touch. To prevent bleeding, it is better to do multiple light coats then one heavy one. Off load that paint like it’s a bad habit.

Step 7. Carefully remove the stencil and see the beginning of your masterpiece. Use my registration marks to reposition the stencil, aligning it with the painted stencil that you just completed. It doesn’t matter if you go left or right or up or down. Whatever you fancy.

Step 8. Tackling the corners. When you get to the corner of your wall or ceiling, you will have to bend the stencil to get as close into the corners as you can. This is where your stencil brush comes in, as your foam roller can’t get that close to the corner. Don’t forget to off load the paint of your stencil brush on the paper towels. If you see any imperfections or bleeding on your finished wall and you think it is going to irritate you, you can always use a small paint brush to do touch ups. I

Step 9. If you are only doing one accent wall, no need to read this part. If you are hardy enough to tackle more than one wall, your will need to take the painters tape off and put it on the wall that you stenciled. Next you will line up the stencil with the already painted wall in the corner. Secure the half of the stencil on the un-stenciled wall with painters tape and leave the already stenciled side of the stencil unattached. Use the stencil brush to do the corner until you have enough room to use you foam roller.

Final Thoughts: Congratulations! You have successfully stenciled a wall. Stand back and admire your handiwork and imagine the look on your friends faces when they see your handiwork. Just be prepared for your friends to ask if you can come over and stencil their walls!