Decorating With Stencils: Stenciling Adds A Hand-Painted Touch To Any Room In Your Home

(HIT) - Gently draped ivy and rows of hearts stenciled across walls and mantles bring home the traditional charm of a dedicated homeowner. Stenciling provides just the touch in less time than painting an entire room.

"Stenciling lacks the mess created by most paint jobs," said Stephanie Wray, a design center specialist at The Home Depot. "Most home improvement centers carry everything you need for border stenciling in an inexpensive, no mess kit."

Many stencil design options are available, ranging from stencils that create an appearance of faux Greek moldings to stencils that blaze an exquisite trail of dainty spring flowers around a room. Once you’ve chosen the theme for your room, try stenciling a few different design patterns on pieces of paper to sharpen your skills. Once you've found a stenciling design pattern that you like, save your practice sheets for use as a measuring guide.

Check your wall paint or wallpaper before the project begins to make sure you'll have good adhesion with your stencil paint. Most paint and wallpaper surfaces are fine for stenciling as long as the finish is not overly glossy. If the surface has a greasy feel, wash it first and let it dry thoroughly before you begin stenciling.

The most critical step in stenciling is to map out the design across the wall to determine how your pattern will meet the corner. Start by making a chalk line directly in the center of the wall. Now place the center of your stencil on the line and walk it along the wall to determine how the design will fit.

If the pattern will wrap in the corners as desired, you’re ready to begin. Tape the stencil on the right and left sides, not the top and bottom, which could cause the stencil to buckle. Rub your stenciling paint brush into the paint with a brisk, circular stroke, working the brush until it's saturated.

Hold the stenciling brush at a perpendicular angle to the wall and apply with a very light, circular motion, making sure to hold the stencil flush with the wall. Brush a little longer and with a bit more pressure for darker shades.

Most stenciling kits contain two different stencils to avoid brushing one color into another. After using the first stencil all the way across your stenciling design area, go back to the center of the wall and continue with the second.

Before applying your second paint color, clean your paint brush with mineral spirits, then dry it with a hairdryer.

When the repetition of your stencil design is fifteen inches or less, begin stenciling at the most prominent corner of the room and work back to a door or window. If the repeat is fifteen inches or more, or on very short walls, use your mapping design from the center of the wall.

During the final one-third of the wall you might have to stretch or squeeze the design a quarter to a half an inch to make sure the dominant part of the design is not directly in the corner. Use a light feathering or sweeping stroke so the stencil design fades out as it moves into the corner. Do not try to dab or pound paint into the crevice.

Stenciling designs aren't limited to ceiling borders. Patterns can also add a decorator touch around baseboards, on floors, fabrics, lamps, accessories, shutters or even chair rails. Shorter segments can also accent a doorway, picture or even a fireplace hearth.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center