My Dining Room Wall Stencil - Credit: Schaletha Rials
Chances are that when you moved from one home into another, you probably looked at the generically painted walls and thought, “Oh… blah!!” Or, perhaps your walls are more interesting than that—coated in that wonderful colored mixture of citrus and hot pink. And, even, if you’ve been well-established in your home and your walls are a less intrusive, more inviting color, there is always room for a magnificent change. Needless to say, most people don’t want to do a lot of work or spend a lot of money to start or finish a home decorating project. But, people are generally open to jazzing up, at least, one wall. And, if it’s on the main floor of their home, it’s that wall that is destined to become THE famous wall in their dwelling. Trust me, I know from experience. And, having that one famous wall, is quite alright because everybody likes a lot of bang for the cost of little time, energy, and expense (rest assured that you are NOT alone). So, here’s a simple idea for creating and/or dressing up an accent wall that, even, every novice can accomplish: wall stencils! Large wall stencils, little stencils, fun stencils, sophisticated stencils, letter stencils, kid’s wall stencils, animal stencils—whatever floats your boat, they are out there. And there are two great places that you can find wall stencils at a great price. If you don’t mind the small—but, faster than expected—wait for imported products to cross the Atlantic Ocean, you can purchase wall stencils for a fraction of the cost on EBay. They’re better known as wall decals or wall stickers in this arena but, literally, you can purchase great stencils for under $10, including shipping and handling—and, sometimes, the shipping is free. On the other hand, if you’re one of those who are ready and ready right now to get started on your project, you can visit Ikea or Home Depot in person or online to browse their selection; these usually start at around $20 and go as high up in price as you’re willing to pay. No matter where you shop, one thing to be mindful of is that you should be sure to choose something that is reusable if you’re someone who doesn’t have a habit of sticking to one décor for very long. Reusable wall stencils can be added, removed, or rearranged at your pleasing. Another fun thing to remember is, whether you plan to paint your accent wall a color (or, a different color) before applying the stencils, or the stencils will be what makes your accent walls true accent walls, you are in for a treat!
For you more adventurous do-it-yourselfers out there who would like to put a fixed twist on your accent wall stencil project, here’s something to try. Place your stencil on the wall exactly how you’d like it. Pick your favorite paint color and paint the wall—while your stencil is still on it! Before the paint completely dries, carefully peel the stencil off of the wall. What you’ll be left with is a negative of your design that will prove to be a showstopper! Try it, today!