How to Stencil an Accent Wall

Want a beautiful, dramatic focal point for a room without the hassle of wallpaper? Learn how to stencil an accent wall with this step-by-step tutorial!

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This post is sponsored by Royal Design Studio. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever received that perfect Christmas or birthday present? You know the one… something you never would have bought for yourself – or even thought you wanted – but when you take it out of the box and actually use it, you know you were destined for it?

That’s how I feel about this stenciled wall…

What a gorgeous accent wall! This wall stencil gives the elegant look of wallpaper with a beautiful, lace tile design in gray and white. Just gorgeous for a little girls room yet sophisticated enough for anywhere in the house | maisondepax.com

I’m probably sounding a bit dramatic, but I’m serious. I was completely stumped as to the direction I wanted to go in my daughter’s room. I loved her light filled nursery at our last house, and while her room at our new house is perfectly good (and has a gorgeous view!) it is enough smaller and darker than her last one that it was hard to compete. Plus, since she just turned 20 months, I know we’ll be bringing in a twin bed soon and rearranging the space anyway. So the room sat. And sat.

Then Royal Design Studio asked if I was interested in trying one of their wall stencils, and I thought why not?

So this happened. And I’m smitten.

What a gorgeous accent wall! This wall stencil gives the elegant look of wallpaper with a beautiful, lace tile design in gray and white. Just gorgeous for a little girls room yet sophisticated enough for anywhere in the house | maisondepax.com

It’s beautiful now with her farmhouse dresser/changing table and my Homegoods chair, and it will be the perfect backdrop for a trundle daybed when we convert her room. And she just loves it.

What a gorgeous accent wall! This wall stencil gives the elegant look of wallpaper with a beautiful, lace tile design in gray and white. Just gorgeous for a little girls room yet sophisticated enough for anywhere in the house | maisondepax.com

It was not quick, but it was totally worth it. I probably spent almost 5 working hours (including set up and clean up)… but I was definitely not single minded in my task. The lovely little princess and her brothers were very interested in my progress. 😉

How to Stencil an Accent Wall:

Here are the materials needed:

materials needed to stencil an accent wall

*You can use any kind of wall paint, but the recommended process might be a bit different if you are not using Chalk Paint since it is thicker and dries more quickly than latex. Be sure to check out Royal Design Studio’s tutorials for details if you choose a different kind of paint.

The Process (and you’ll have to forgive my little video… I couldn’t resist!):

  1. Tape off the edges of your wall and protect your furniture and floors.
  2. Using a level, draw a vertical line in chalk down the center of the wall. This will be your guide as you create your first line of pattern.
  3. Dab a bit of paint on the end of your stencil brush and off load the majority of it onto a paper towel. The paper towel should be covered in paint by the time you are done.
  4. Line up your stencil, secure with painter’s tape, and work the paint into the stencil with a circular motion. Be sure to lift up a corner of the stencil to check that your paint is not bleeding under the stencil. If it is, off load more paint onto the paper towel.
  5. Remove your stencil, line up according to the instructions for your particular stencil (each has an overlay section that differs by pattern) and work your way down the wall.
  6. Continue for all the columns that fit a full stencil pattern.
  7. For the edges (where you have to use a partial stencil), simply secure the stencil only on the side of the painted wall, leaving the other edges free. Use your non painting hand to push the flexible stencil into the corner and use your smaller brush to paint the edges.

Tips and FAQs:

  • No, it’s not perfect. It’s not supposed to be perfect. The closer you get, the more imperfections you see, but it’s still awesome.
  • It only took one coat of the Chalk Paint®, but it was not 100% covered. I liked the transparency, though, as it gave it a softer look. If you were trying to cover in more contrasting colors, though, you might need to do 2 coats on each stencil before you move it. Good thing Chalk Paint® dries quickly. 😉
  • Speaking of drying quickly, I did not wait for each tile to dry before I did the next one. I was unsure if this would be a problem before I started, but as long as you don’t tape the wet paint (be sure your painter’s tape is only on dry parts!), you can move right along without waiting for the paint to dry.
  • Change your painter’s tape often – I think I changed mine about every row. It is very important that your stencil not shift while you are painting, and the tape gets worn as you put it on and off frequently. Don’t risk it!
  • Be sure to wipe your stencil clean every so often so you don’t get smears as you are placing it on the wall. I found that simply laying it flat on the drop cloth and rubbing back and forth a few times worked well.

tip: wipe your wall stencil on your drop cloth in between placements to avoid smearing

  • Check your horizontal level every so often to make sure you are still on track. For the record, mine got off a few times… I am a perfectionist. I know it got off because I saw so with my level. And I still can’t even tell when I back up in the room. So check from time to time but don’t panic if you have to fudge a little.

tip: use a level to check your placement as you move along a wall stencil project

  • Feel free to wash your stencil in warm soapy water if it is getting too thick with paint, but be careful to dry it completely before you return to your wall. I washed it once in the course of this 10’x10’ish wall, and I don’t think I got it completely dry because the first one I did when I came back to the wall was a little runny. Oops. But again, no one knows but me. The entire process really is very forgiving.

gorgeous gray and white lace tile stencil: Esperanza Lace from Royal Design Studio with a mix of Paris Gray and French Linen over Behr's Cameo White | maisondepax.com

I promise a fuller tour of her little room soon, but in the meantime, feel free to ask questions about the stencil process. Like I said, it was not quick, but it was not hard either. And I think the result is stunning.

What a gorgeous accent wall! This wall stencil gives the elegant look of wallpaper with a beautiful, lace tile design in gray and white. Just gorgeous for a little girls room yet sophisticated enough for anywhere in the house | maisondepax.com

You should have seen her little face when I asked her if she wanted to show Daddy her new wall… She raced down the hall – beaming – and stopped dead in her tracks about three feet from the wall. Pointing her pudgy little toddler finger and smiling the most self satisfied grin. You’d think she’d done the work herself. 😉

What a gorgeous accent wall! This wall stencil gives the elegant look of wallpaper with a beautiful, lace tile design in gray and white. Just gorgeous for a little girls room yet sophisticated enough for anywhere in the house | maisondepax.com

But that’s ok. I’m willing to share the credit. What do you think? Any questions about the process? Don’t hesitate to ask. And be sure to check out Royal Design Studio’s tutorials and resources, too.

pin it image

How to stencil an accent wall using chalk paint: all the materials you need, instructions, tips and tricks to create a beautiful accent wall | maisondepax.com

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Royal Design Studios. All text, opinions, and love of this sweet nursery are 100% my own. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

 MORE DIY PROJECTS:

DIY Trumeau Mirror tutorial: step by step instructions on how to build your own | maisondepax.com

Fabulous step-by-step tutorial at maisondepax.com

transform an outdated brass chandelier with chalk paint | maisondepax.com

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25 Comments

  1. The wall is beautiful. I’m in the process of planning a “re-do” for my 4 yr. old daughters room, this has given me some inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Rachel, this is nothing short of stunning!!! I need a stencil for the hallway in our new house – I’ll have to see what all Royal Design Studio has to offer!

  3. It. Looks. INCREDIBLE!! I love it Rachel- so much texture and interest and the colour is perfect for your home. What a great way to add a graphic touch to your space!!

  4. Rachel! This is SO pretty and elegant! I love how feminine it is, and it will be perfect as she grows up! Fabulous job and great tutorial. I love that video too! 🙂

  5. So I can’t get this gorgeous accent wall out of my mind and think I must replicate it in my daughter’s room. I just love it! About how much chalk paint did you use for the one room? A quart…a sample pot? Just trying to get an estimate. Thanks:)

    1. Great question. It was definitely more than a sample pot but less than a quart. Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly, but I think I mixed most of a sample pot of French Linen with about half that much of Paris Gray that came from a quart I had on hand. So a little less than 2 sample pots maybe? I hope this helps!

  6. The stenciled wall has an exquisite look. Your words, projects, and beautiful simplicity shine through. I am thankful you share your talents with me!

  7. Looking for a feature wall in our bed/bath room & leaning towards your super Great Wall. Trying to figure out if I need quarts or sample pots of the A.S. paints. Planning on the headboard wall & 1 in bath. What was the finish on the Cameo White, I bought a sample of egg shell, but wondered if flat would work better for the stencil application.

    Thanks in advance for any tips!

    Lynnette

    1. Great questions! My Cameo White is eggshell, too. I’ve learned the hard way that flat paint and kids don’t mix well. And as to how much paint, I used a whole tester of French Linen plus the equivalent of 1/2 a tester of Paris Gray. My wall was only 10′ wide and 9′ tall. I’m not sure the size of your walls, but I hope that helps!

  8. Gorgeous! I’ve been stumped as to what to do on walls in the house I bought 2 years ago. They all remain the same for now, but you totally just inspired me! I have a question I didn’t see anyone ask in the other comments. I’ve only used chalk paint on a few finture pieces, and I’m still very new to chalk paint. Sooo my question is this..after using the chalk paint would I need to seal it?? Like wax it the way I do furniture? Thank you in advance and wonderful job!

    1. Hi Crystal! Great question. No, you don’t add a wax coat or layer. The wax layer on furniture protects water or other substances from penetrating the finish, but since this is on a wall, that isn’t a concern. You can also paint furniture without sealing it with wax or poly, but the finish might not last as long with regular use. Good luck!

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