Chalk & Milk Paint Tips & Techniques. Helpful How-to’s & DIYs

The How-to Stencil Series: Part 2 Painting & Stenciling Walls in a Decadent Art Deco Pattern

15/9/2014

More than a few months ago when my husband asked what I'd like for
my birthday of course I said: "I want to stencil our bedroom wall."
As any paint-obsessed girl would, right?!

So that fateful day began with us clearing out the bedroom
and painting two coats of Autentico Chalk Paint in Nearly Black.

In Progress....getting the feel for the colour

Using-Autentico-Chalk-Paint-Bedroom-Makeover

Nearly finished with the first coat

The second coat of Chalk Paint drying

One of the things I love so much about all natural Chalk Paints
(not to be confused with self-priming or emulsion paints)
is even with my overly sensitive system, we were able to sleep in
our bedroom the same night we painted.

When stencilling a larger area, it's a good idea to paint a sample board.
Get to your local hardware store for a piece of plywood or a large sheet of paper will work.
Paint your background and trial your design.
This will turn your idea into a reality and help you confirm it...or you may
end up going in an entirely different direction!

I had special ordered the stencil months before painting and
the sample board allowed me to play
with background colours, stencil colours and I "customised" the stencil
by elimating the second overlay...which took this already busy pattern, to dizzying heights!
It also helped me consider the layout of the pattern
as I moved it around the wall instead of visualising and estimating it.

And then one Friday night, I said, "Hey...remember my birthday present?"
And because my husband is awesome he said, "Let's do it!"

My sample boards trialling various shades of paint

As recommended in Part 1 of this Stencil Series, begin stencilling
at the most obvious visual focal point.
This could have been one of two points for this project:
1. Centred directly above the iron bedhead or
2. In the upper right corner of the wall

I'm always one for simplifying and making a project as easy as possible.
Starting in the corner I could place the top of the stencil
against the trim and use it as my straight line,
eliminating the need to measure and mark.

Once I decided this, I could get started.
Using the sample board, I roughly spaced out the pattern
determining three full stencils would run the height.
Again, it's visual candy which can distract from most issues.
And one of a stencil's greatest charms is that it is after all — hand-painted!

It's this simple:
•Tape your stencil into place with Painter's Tape and then
try your hardest NOT to move it until finished with that section
•Setup your Paint Tray with Roller or Stencil Brush
I used a medium Wax Brush as I find greater control with a brush on a vertical surface.
•Carefully dip your brush into the paint then offload onto a paper towel
Not offloading is the biggest cause of smudges and blurred pattern
•Paint over the pattern getting all the cutout areas
I used a combination of circular, criss-cross & pressing to create variation in the metallic paint.
•Clean the stencil after painting every panel.
Lie flat, wipe front and back with a wet cloth and dry before reuse.
Unlike the floors I stencilled!

Two panels done, working across and down

With my husband helping, we started at 10pm and finished about 2am.
Confession time...my arms were sore!
The wall is about 4meters long, standard height with one door.

The result is breathtaking...a romantic Deco vibe...exactly what I wanted!
The paint is a gorgeous copper metallic from Autentico (coming soon!),
but it changes with the light as you can see in the photos.
Another characteristic I just love!

Stencils give you the option of customising a
project into a real one-of-a-kind personal artistic expression.

We have many unique stencil designs arriving soon at
For The Love Creations website from a quality supplier.
Please email with queries...or sign up to be notified when they arrive.

All done! An Art Deco beauty...

paint-stencil-bedroom-makeover-australia

A completely new look!

This is Part 1 of a 3-part Stencil Series.
Sign up to be notified when the next in our Stencil Series is posted!

Additional stencilling posts coming soon...Now...
to share some stencilled wall inspiration .
You can find more on the Pinterest board at www.pinterest.com/FTLCreations

As always, your comments and questions are appreciated and looked forward to!