How to Use a Wall Stencil + A Giveaway!

**Update: Giveaway Closed**

I have been planning my daughter’s room makeover for over a year, but really started solidifying details a couple months ago and shared my design plans last month for the room HERE. Part of my plan was to use an allover wall stencil, and I fell in love with the selection and beautiful designs that Royal Design Studio Stencils had. They were kind enough to send me my top pick, the Esperanza Lace Tile Stencil, in exchange for this post. AND because I loved the stencil so much, they are providing me with a GIVEAWAY for YOU, my beloved readers! One of you will get a free stencil valued at $50! Details are at the end of the post.

As you may or may not know, I’m passionate about paint. I’m a firm believer that high quality paint gives the best results. So when planning this room makeover, I knew my top choice for wall paint would be Benjamin Moore, who provided me with all the paint for this room makeover. I used Benjamin Moore Aura Interior Paint for the trim, board and batten, walls, and even for this stencil. Is is a very thick paint and goes a long way, while still having a rich, true color. Because BM Aura is so thick, it makes it a perfect choice with a wall stencil.

The steps I made to the walls and room before I was ready to stencil were the following:

-Remove old trim

-Fill holes with spackle

-Sand filled holes and entire wall with 150 grit sandpaper using a drywall hand sander.

(The walls in my home were all SUPER textured and bumpy… which is especially difficult to stencil over… so starting with a somewhat smooth surface is best)

-Install board and batten (I used 1x4s along the floor, 1x3s for the top boards, 1/4″ plywood on top of the textured wall between the top and bottom boards, and 2″ lattice strips on top of the plywood for the battens)

-Paint board and batten with 2 coats of BM Aura in White Dove, Semi Gloss

-Paint walls with 2 coats of BM Aura in Yours Truly, Matte

The color I used for the stencil on top of the pink, is BM Aura in Simply White, Satin Finish, with only 1 coat. That way there would be a subtle sheen different between the matte base coat and the satin stencil coat.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

1. Stencil

2. Painter’s tape

3. Small sponge roller(mine is about 4 inches wide)

4. Paint pan and liner

5. Thick-body interior paint (like BM Aura)

6. Paper towels

7. Small Stencil brush (stiff, thick, straight bristles)

8. Spray adhesive

9. Adhesive remover (to clean adhesive off stencil if it gums up after several uses)

10. Drop cloth or plastic to protect floors from accidental paint drips

Step 2: Tape Stencil on Wall

Use painter’s tape to attach stencil to wall, evenly along ceiling line.

Step 3: Load Foam Roller with Paint

Make sure to get plenty of paint, evenly on all parts of the foam roller.

Step 4: Remove Excess Paint

Use absorbent paper towels to ‘roll’ off excess to prevent ‘bleed’ under stencil.

Step 5: Roll Paint on Stencil

Work bottom to top, using gentle pressure to begin with, and small strokes. Medium pressure will be needed about halfway through covering the entire stencil. Work slowly to start with until you get a feel for the process, so you can make sure to get enough paint on the stencil, but not too much so it doesn’t bleed under.

The nice thing about using 2 light colors and a lace pattern like this one, is some mild bleed-under is barely noticeable.  

Step 6: Remove Stencil

Step 7: For Corners and Edges Use Spray Adhesive

For trim, room corners, and edges, use a spray adhesive on the underside of the stencil, then position the stencil, overlapping the pattern edges, so that one part sticks, and the part that needs to bend is free.

Step 8: Use Stencil Brush to Paint Corners and Edges

Use tape to further secure the stencil in place, then with one hand, push the stencil down into the corner or crevice as far as it will go without coming loose and bubbling up, and with the other hand use a small stencil brush to ‘pounce’ the paint into the stencil design. Don’t worry about breaking or bending the stencil, it is very high quality and sturdy, and will not crease unless you push very hard and try to crease it.

If you are using light colors, like I am, don’t worry about painting the design exactly flush with the trim or corner or crevice… it will be not be noticeable if you don’t have a the pattern perfect into a crevice.

 Repeat steps 2-8, overlapping edges of pattern, until the entire room or entire wall (whichever you prefer ) is covered.

I’m SO excited to show you the rest of the room this week… stay tuned… 🙂

Here is a quick little video tutorial I did for you as well!

ok, so here are the details about the

Royal Design Studio Stencils Giveaway!

-Good for 1 stencil valued at $50 or less

-This giveaway is open to readers, 18 and older, in the U.S. and Canada

-Shipping is free for those in the contiguous U.S.

-This giveaway will run for 1 week, closing at 12pm CT on July 13th, 2015.

TO ENTER:

Browse their site HERE & comment below telling me which stencil you want and what you would use it for!

For extra entries, follow Royal Design Studios on Facebook

Follow Royal Design Studios on Pinterest

Pin an image from this post

…and include in your comment below which one(s) you did!