Painting walls using stencils is an inexpensive and easy way to do this. It can add character to your house or business. As a common wall art decoration, wallpaper is expensive, difficult to use, and not reusable. Therefore, you can decorate your walls by painting stencils on them.

Typically, such stencils are made of sturdy film plastic. You can therefore use and reuse them as often as you like. Don't bother with wallpaper or wall decals anymore, a single pattern stencil can cover an entire wall! Keep reading to learn how to paint stencils on walls for beginners.

1. Materials Needed

• Mural or pattern stencil
• Wall paint(s)
• 4“-6” paint roller with a nap lower than ¼”
• Painter's tape (1” or wider)
• Paint tray
• Drop Cloth
• Pencil
• (Optional) hair dryer or fan
• (Optional) small paintbrush for touchups

2. Paint Roller Tips

A paint roller is the fastest and cleanest way to paint stencils on a wall. When painting large areas, we recommend using a paint roller rather than a sponge, brush, or other device to save time. For best results, follow the Paint Roller Selection Guide below.

• For best results, use a 4“ to 6” roller. A smaller roller will give you more control over how much paint is applied and where it goes.
• It is recommended that you use a roller with a lower lint height. A ¼” or smaller roller or foam roller is more appropriate. The higher the lint on the roller, the greater the likelihood of paint bleed-through. The less lint, the less paint in the fibers, allowing for a more even application of paint.
• In addition, foam rollers can be used to paint stencils. Foam rollers are much denser than microfiber rollers. The foam roller will produce less paint texture than if a microfiber roller is used.
• It is recommended to use angled paint trays. This allows excess paint to be squeezed out of the roller. You can choose a tray designed for rollers larger than 6 inches. This way the ends of the roller can be easily squeezed out.

3. How Do I Paint Stencils on a Wall?

3.1 Tape the Edges of the Stencil

Place the formwork on a flat surface, such as a large table or the floor. Tape a parallel strip of tape to each of the outer edges of the stencil. Make sure the tape is halfway around the edge of the stencil but does not cover any alignment marks. When applying the tape, be careful not to bend the stencil. This may prevent the template from being flush with the wall.

3.2 Placing the Stencil on the Wall

If the stencil has a geometric pattern, such as a checkerboard grid. Then it is recommended that you use a level to ensure that the pattern is even. Secure the stencil to the level with painter's tape and place it on the wall.

To begin, smooth the tape along the edges of the stencil and remove the level. Stand 5-10 feet away from the wall to observe the position of the stencil.

3.3 Tracing Alignment Marks on the Wall

Multi-layer mural templates have small outlines that are easy to place. Using an erasable pencil, lightly trace the “+” symbol on the four corners of the stencil. To avoid painting over the “+” holes in the template, tape them down. The reusable template does not contain alignment marks but does contain overlapping sections to aid in alignment.

3.4 Pouring Paint into the Paint Tray and Rolling Out Excess Paint

Before painting, place a dust cloth at the base of the wall. Pour a small amount of paint slowly into the tray to avoid waste and paint bleed. Paint bleed is when the paint bleeds outside of the stencil pattern, which is almost always caused by using too much paint. Roll the excess paint onto the paint tray. Then make sure that the ends of the roller are also squeezed out.

3.5 Paint the Stencil with the Paint Roller

For the cleanest edges, press the roller firmly against the stencil. When painting a wall, less paint will be used than usual, so it may be necessary to apply the paint roller with a little more force for best results. Do not lift the wall stencil while painting. This is because it may cause the stencil to shift. To avoid paint streaks, roll the roller vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.

3.6 Stripping the Formwork

After the paint has set for a few minutes, gently peel off one corner of the top of the tape. Stand on the opposite side of the corner of the peeling tape. To remove the stencil, drag it away from the wall towards you.

3.7 Letting the Paint Dry Completely

Make sure the paint is completely dry before you start painting another stencil (if any). If you place the stencil on top of wet paint, the paint underneath will peel off.

Additionally, you can use a hair dryer or fan to speed up the drying process. Use a hair dryer over the entire pattern or place the fan in front of the pattern. The thinner the paint, the faster it will dry.

Note if you are using a pattern stencil. If there is paint on the back, make sure the back is dry.

3.8 Tape the Edges of the Second Stencil

This step applies to repeating patterns or multi-layer pattern stencils. If you are using a single-layer pattern stencil, you can skip this step.

For layered mural stencils, each stencil design will have several layers. The second layer, like the first, will need to be taped. Then repeat step 1 for the new layer.

3.9 Matching Registration Marks or Recurring Elements

For multi-layer mural stencils, align the registration marks of the second stencil with the marks painted on the wall in Step 3. Smooth out the tape and secure the template to the wall. For pattern templates, align the repeating parts of the design. Then smooth the tape and secure the stencil to the wall.

3.10 Paint Second Application of the Stencil

Paint the second stencil using the same method. Then pull the stencil away from the wall and move it towards you. Finally, use a hair dryer or electric fan to ensure that the paint is completely dry.

3.11 Repeating the Above Steps

These processes can be repeated as many times as necessary to cover the wall or create a mural design. Alignment marks can be eliminated after removing the final stencil. When finished, the tape can be removed from the stencil.

4. Summarizing

There are many problems that can occur during the process of painting a wall stencil. If paint bleeds, paint drips, or is applied incorrectly. Then, you can use a small paintbrush and the appropriate paint color to correct uneven edges or rebellious spots. If the mistake occurs outside of the stencil design, it can be useful to have some of the original wall colors on hand.