ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

The use of stencils can bring colour and interest to even the plainest of walls They can add additional colour to blend in with the colour scheme of a room, or they can help to expand a “theme’ in a children’s bedroom. Stencils are performed by the use of a template and are available in many different designs You can purchase them from most  DIY stores, art and craft shops and through the internet. Alternatively, you can buy sheets of pre-drawn stencils that you can cut out yourself, or you could even  design your own

Before you begin stencilling, you will need to look at the surface of your walls. Stencilling works best on flat paint surfaces, wood and non-vinyl wallpaper. Think carefully about the stencil design you have chosen, as some stencils are obviously going to be easier than others Some will require more than one color of paint,  which could be very fiddly if it is your first attempt at stenciling – even though stencil paints do dry quite quickly.

Always try your stencil out on a piece of paper before you start, to ensure that it is going to give you the desired effect. Once you are happy with the effect, you will need to consider the pattern area on the wall and then mark it out using your stencil and a pencil. Then carefully tape your stencil to the wall to hold it in position – check that the tape is not going to ruin your wall surface first.

Ifyou are using the same colour you can use a roller brush, but it may be easier to use a paintbrush or special circular brush, which is designed for stencil painting. This brush will help to get the paint into all the corners more effectively. Take care not to get too much paint on the brush in case it runs down and do not move the stencil to the next position until the paint is dry, or you make risk smudging your design.