I'm supposed to be unpacking the kitchen, and instead I'm Googling wall stencils. Not the kind where you paint a border of grapes around the ceiling— the all-over kind that looks like wallpaper. Has anyone tried this? Paint is way cheaper than wallpaper, and when you want to change it, just paint over it instead of having to peel off paper. I'm seriously thinking about doing this. Above is a sampling of designs from Cutting Edge Stencils. See a how-to video here. I wonder if it's tough to get really crisp edges and not make a mess?
Years ago when painting stripes on your walls became popular, I did this technique in my foyer. I didn't have trouble getting crisp edges. But the problem that I DID have was when I decided to paint over the stripes. You could still see the texture of the stripes through the paint. The walls need to be thoroughly sanded if you ever want to paint over it in a solid color again. Just a little fyi...
ReplyDeleteCheck out Ed Roth's stuff, too. He actually has a collection of large scale, modern stencils for this very purpose. I've been wanting to do a houndstooth wall! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe used a cutting edge stencil in our master bedroom! Everyone thinks it's wallpaper. Check it out here...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bungalow54.com/2011/11/afforestation.html
I've done this twice! The first one I designed and cut myself. The second one I purchased a larger one to save time. After the first one, I swore I would never stencil again but enough time passed to make me forget how much work it was. For me it was kind of a pain but now that they are done, I love the way they look. I never did get super crisp edges. I wondered if that was even possible, if I was missing something or if people were lying. From a few feet away they look crisp. I would recommend if you have a LOT of patience and some borderline trashy tv show to listen to in the background.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing the exact same thing for the past two weeks--am obsessed with the idea of a tone-on-tone stencil in the dark hallway to make it taller & more bright. It's hard finding one that is fresh and modern, though!
ReplyDeleteWe used a stencil from Cutting Edge in our nursery, and I can assure you that yes, the edges come out crisp! My husband did the ones higher up on the wall because I was deemed too pregnant to get up on a ladder, and he didn't make a mess, so I'm sure you wouldn't either. Here's how it turned out: http://molleemade.com/otherstuff/2013/04/mini-mms-nursery-and-name-reveal/
ReplyDeleteOh, and Cutting Edge is always having sales, so don't pay full-price for your stencil. I actually won mine from a giveaway on another blog, so you could keep an eye out for those too!
Great feedback and suggestions, everyone! Thank you!
ReplyDeletesince you ask...I just did a wall stencil inspired by a Thibault wallpaper that I couldn't afford. It took me a few weeks to decide to take the plunge but I'm so happy I did. http://www.ducklingsinarow.com/2013/05/diy-wall-stencil-how-to.html
ReplyDeleteI think whether the image is crisp depends on your stencil, your method, and how patient your are. One commentor said she had trouble with the texture showing through when she painted over her stripes. I don't think that would be a problem if you don't layer on the paint too thick.
ReplyDeleteOh, my... this isn't the kind of painting I was thinking I'd be helping with! But it does look fun!
ReplyDeleteHey, doesn't one of those sorta match your new rug?
Mum
Young House Love did an office like this in their old house and has a lot of info on how they handled it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.younghouselove.com/2011/09/dude-stencils-are-no-joke/
The finished product: http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/10/done-zo/
We did this years ago to mimic a Laura Ashley Chinese lantern wallpaper that was way out of our price range. Turned out looking great and only cost about $15 to do. I got a sample of the wallpaper, and made the lanterns from that. I just use the $1 tubes of paint for the craft store. the most expensive part was the plastic for the stencil.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adore the stenciled wallpaper!! It personalizes a whole room!! Great choice!
ReplyDelete--Sayeh, The Office Stylist
I am in the process of painting our guest room and I am going to do Emily's painted wallpaper on the one wall. I don't have any experience with it yet - -but it does seem like a much more affordable option.
ReplyDeletehttp://jonesdesigncompany.com/decorate/painted-wallpaper-a-tutorial/
I've done it but not to the extent you're talking about. May I point you to Mandy at Vintage Revivals...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vintagerevivals.com/2013/04/pink-and-red-honeycomb-wall.html
My experience with Cutting Edge stencils is that you get crisp edges with the first two use of the stencil. Three if you're lucky. After that, the paint gets too thick on the stencil that you can't get a clean edge anymore. So I had to wash the stencil to get all the paint off and start all over again. I also used the Zinnia design but my wall color and stencil color were contrasting (not tone on tone) so it definitely made the stencil stand out (along with the imperfections).
ReplyDeletewe're also moving and I've been contemplating this for the wall in the kitchen. great minds and all that. I hope you give it a shot so I can see another example before I commit!
ReplyDeleteThe first comment already mentioned this, but we painted over some painted designs in our current house. We *thought* we had done a good job of sanding the edges, but you can still see them all - more so on the darker walls than the white ones. So definitely consider how much work it will be to "just paint over it" when it's time for a change!
ReplyDeleteWe are in the middle (STUCK in the middle) of stenciling a wall in my daughter's room. We completed the wall half way and have given it a break. It is the third photo down in this post: http://theoldpostroadblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/progress-sort-of.html and is going to be beautiful IF we ever finish! My tip: Buy the largest stencil you can find! ours is fairly small (12"x12" or 14"x14") and you have to overlap the stencil with what you just painted to make it line up, which means what you just painted must be dry. The larger the stencil, the better.
ReplyDeleteThose are gorgeous! There's no way I'd have the patience for such a thing. Hope you do it and share the pics tho!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful! I would never have the patience for such a thing, but I hope you do it and post pics of the process and the final product!
ReplyDeleteMandi at Vintage Revivals has stenciled walls & I generally love her home DIY projects. There are some spots on the wall (she shows in photos) that look a little messy -- but overall the result is pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteShe offers tips here:
http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2011/06/wall-stenciling-101.html
I'm currently doing one wall in our half bath. The crispness also depends on how much wall texture you have--regardless of how careful you are. I didn't think we had much until I started doing this. I've had to trace the pattern on the wall and then go back and paint it in. Sigh. I'm committed but I joke that it will be a 400-hour project. Also, geometric patterns are less forgiving than more organic ones.
ReplyDeleteBest tip I've heard on the topic of sharp edges is to first paint over the stencil with a thin coat of the background wall colour. That way, if anything bleeds under, it'll be the colour it ought to be!
ReplyDeleteI hope you try this, would love to know your thoughts and see the outcome!
ReplyDeleteI did this on a HUGE wall in my bedroom with a chevron pattern. It's not hard at all. I used spray adhesive to stick the stencil on the wall, then peeled it off and readjusted it to repeat the pattern. I would also recommend using one of those mini-rollers for the paint instead of a paint brush.
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard to get crisp edges. Don't overload the roller or brush. BUT PRACTICE ON SOME POSTER BOARD FIRST!
ReplyDeleteReusable wallpaper stencils save you ton of money and make you feel proud of your creation. It is perfect for is perfect for DIY decor. Someone will not believe that you stenciled this yourself!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rockmywall.co.uk/wall-murals.html
I've stenciled our hall and a dresser. The hall was a bunch of trees placed randomly; the dresser was a geometric design from royal designs. Going free form with random placement is less stressful! Definitely use a foam roller, go one coat at a time, dry with a hair dryer and consider tacking the back of the stencil with a light coat of spray adhesive, you will get perfectly crisp edgs! Also, I cut a few out on mylar school folders, $.50 each, worth the investment!
ReplyDeleteDon't rule out rubber stamping! There is a product called Rollerwall that allows you to rubber stamp an all-over design on a wall using paint and a round rubber stamp on a roller. It's on my must-do list.
ReplyDeleteCan't you get a hook up on the wallpaper you've designed? Just go for it!
ReplyDeleteI'd LOVE to do this. Sadly, my current rental is a "can't do anything" kind of place. My last two apartments I painted...and did free-hand stripes for an accent wall in my bedroom. It turned out awesome! I vote for all-over wall stencils. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm late to the party, but I stenciled my family room! I actually posted about it on my blog, if you're interested - I found it very difficult, and slow going, but I'm pretty happy with the end result. If you're going for a very contrasted look be prepared to spend a LOT of time on it - I just did a transparent glaze over white and it still took me forever to get it looking right!
ReplyDeleteAlison, thanks! Off to check out your project!
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