Our Top Tips for Stencilling your Furniture

Freecycling and upcycling is all the rage at the moment and it’s clear to see why. It’s a lovely and fulfilling thing to take an old, used and abandoned piece of furniture and make it beautiful. We love recovering old pieces and giving them a new lease of life, and what we really love is using stencilling on our freecycling projects.

If you haven’t tried our stencilling on furniture before you may be missing out on some great opportunities to completely restyle and rejuvenate your old pieces!

Here are some of our top tips for stencilling your furniture....

Allow yourself ample time

Furniture stencilling can be very labour intensive because there are so many intricate steps and layers involved. Because you’ll be decorating three-dimensional objects, you will often have to paint details in around awkward and curved areas. It is important to plan properly and make sure you allow enough time for each layer of paint (e.g. primer / base / varnish) to dry thoroughly between applications. Take your time and ensure you use the correct paint and application method to enhance your project.

Do it right, do it once!

If you do take care to do each layer of primer, basecoat, painting, antiquing, and finish coat right, you’ll only have to do it once! You don't want to have regrets about brush marks you should have sanded down when it’s too late, or realise that a roller or sponge application would have given a better result.

Look for cheap antiques to paint

When learning how to stencil it’s a good idea to scour carboot sales and charity shops for inexpensive furniture with interesting lines such as turned legs and carved detailing. Lower quality woods or slightly damaged veneered surfaces are crying out for a painted and stencilled treatment, and they’re a great way to practise before you paint a more expensive piece. Do try as many finishes and application methods as possible on various base layers, so that you're teaching yourself as you go along. Don't be afraid to try things out. Try sprays, chalk paint, antiquing, varnishing, even try taking off layers and not just adding them!

Work with a limited palette
You can gracefully combine different patterns by sticking to a limited palette. We suggest only using a couple of different colours to start off with. This will not only lower the chances of mistakes but will also prevent your designs becoming too busy. However you shouldn’t be afraid to be bold. Stencilled furniture can be used as a statement piece in a room, adding a little excitement to a space.

And remember, every stencilling project is different, so practice with different techniques, paints and surfaces and you'll soon get the confidence to tackle any project!

Ceiling Stencils!

We spend hours upon hours choosing what furnishings and accessories to put in our homes, and we spend even more time searching for the right paints, stencils and wallpaper for our walls. But we seem to always forget one aspect of our interiors – our ceilings.

Take a moment to glance up... What do you see? A plain, bare, magnolia ceiling looking back at you? Don’t worry; we’re sure you’re not alone. The majority of people forget about their ceilings when in fact they can make a massive difference to a room.

Well here at Stencil Warehouse, we think that you should consider using our stencils to add a fun pattern to your ceiling!

Painted detailing around a hanging pendant light or chandelier really can look stunning. Commissioning a professional to add one in your home can be extremely expensive! Luckily, you can easily recreate the look all by yourself using one of our stencil designs!

This Pretty Wreath Stencil can be used as a ceiling rose surround with great effect! You can use a classic colour or get creative and use various pop-out colours that will bring out accents in your furnishings. You could even re-use the stencil on a circular table top to integrate the theme, or perhaps on soft furnishings such as cushion covers?

Our Celtic Stencil makes a perfect decorative border and can be used for stencilling at both dado or ceiling level. It can take strong colours and fits perfectly in large rooms with high ceilings. This is just one of many border and corner stencils we have which work equally well on ceilings as on walls.

If you want to go even further, we think some of our large wall stencil designs look absolute beautiful on a ceiling. Take this Interlocking circles all-over Stencil, a stunning yet simple design of interlocking circles. A big, bold and contemporary stencil design, this stencil could be painted in bold contrasting colours or in muted shades for a softer feel. Again, the design could even be used on fabrics and furnishings to continue the theme.

Feeling inspired? Why not give it a go? Make sure you send or tweet us in your pictures with your results!  And if you’re still unsure, you can always give us a call, we’re always happy to answer any question you may have. Happy Stencilling! 

                                   

Stencils for decorating children’s bedrooms

If you have a new addition to your family on its way, or already have a few new pattering feet, you’ll probably need to decorate your spare bedroom! Have you thought about trying stencils?

Stencils and paints can be a great alternative to wallpapers giving so much more flexibility on colours and design and so allowing a much more personal touch for your nursery or children’s bedroom design! Any theme can be accommodated from caterpillars, balloons, hedgehogs and monkeys to teddy bears and rocking horses.

Did you know that stencilling used to be the decorating choice of the upper classes and that wallpaper was invented as a way to bring patterns to the less well off? There are lots of stencil patterns in Windsor Castle, the Royal Albert Hall and the V&A Museum. Stencils are by no means a new idea and although we cannot be sure Princess Charlotte has any in her room, we do know that her Great Grandmother did!

We have a plethora of beautiful, unique, and cost-effective children stencil designs that will suit all children’s tastes, hobbies and ages. Whether your child is into cars, flowers, football or dinosaurs, we have it all here at Stencil Warehouse!

The great thing about using stencils is that they are so easy to customise. You can use your own colours, and print and repeat a pattern as many or a few times as you like. A lot more cost effective and easier to replace than wallpaper, and a lot more interesting and fun than simple painting, you can’t go wrong with a quality stencil design.

Here are just a few of our favourite children stencil designs:

Counting Sheep Stencil

This stencil is a must for the nursery. The flowers and the bows on the sheep allow for plenty of colour. They also looks good on bedding and curtain fabric so you can easily continue your theme!

Prices from: £9.60

Large Footballer Stencil

This football player stencil is great. He is large, which makes him a great feature for example on quilts or the back of doors. Try stencilling him in different colours to represent different teams. If you feeling ambitious, you can have a football match going on!! (There is also a smaller version for drawers, cupboards or cushions)

Prices from: £28.80

Giraffe Stencil
The giraffe stencil is a firm favourite and is suitable for slightly older children. He works best when strategically placed by cupboards or bunk beds and a highlight of gold makes his coat shine. We love him!

Prices from: £4.80

Our range of children’s stencils are perfect for decorating nursery or bedroom walls, toy boxes, bookshelves or other furniture, and are also great for stencilling fabric, cushion covers and curtains. Check out our full collection of childrens stencils here.

Stencilling for Beginners!

Have you ever wanted to try stencilling but don't really know where to start? Or maybe you've already given it a go but it hasn't worked out as you hoped?

Stencilling is such a versatile art that it is worth getting to grips with. Some basic advice, based on some of the more common questions we get asked at the Stencil Warehouse, might be all you need to get started.

Practice first! A piece of lining paper makes a good surface to try out your techniques until you're confident.

Probably the most common mistake in stencilling is loading too much paint on to the brush or roller. This will lead to the paint seeping in under the stencil to give a ghosting effect. Build the colour up with a couple of light coats, working with an almost dry brush or roller.

It's often helpful to use adhesive with your stencil. A very light application of a re-positionable spray adhesive on the back of the stencil will help to keep everything in place whilst you apply your paint. Lay your stencil face down on newspaper and spray lightly, from a distance. You shouldn't need to reapply every time you move the stencil. You are NOT trying to stick the stencil down and it's important not to use too much adhesive as this can leave a residue on the surface (although a light dusting of talcum powder will usually get rid of this). You can buy this at your local DIY or craft shop.

The technique is more like smudging a colour onto a wall rather than applying paint. Go over the edges of the stencil, don't just try to apply the paint through the cut-out but work with your brush half on the stencil material, half on the surface, working your way over the whole stencil. This gives a great definition to the image making your finished project actually look like the design you chose!

The surface you're stencilling on to is important. It must be clean, dry, and as flat as possible. A matt surface is always best, so if you're stencilling onto walls a matt emulsion is the best base. If you're painting your design on to other surfaces such as furniture you need a smooth matt surface, so either lightly sanded bare wood or a matt paint finish are ideal.

Which paints to use? Acrylic paints (http://www.stencilwarehouse.com/acatalog/Acrylic-Stencil-Paint-Water-Based.html) are the most versatile. They have a high pigment content so will give good coverage, and they're good for lighter effects. For bolder and darker effects oil-based paint sticks are often better – these work particularly well on floorboards and furniture. Try both, then you can pick colours and effects you like for each of your projects. You can also use stencil creams, chalk paint or fabric paint.

Think carefully about your choice of colours. If you're trying to match an existing theme pick just 2 or 3 colours to work with. Ideally use dark colours on a light surface, but dark surfaces and light colours can work well. Bright, bold colours may work well in a child's room, but actually the subtle colours will usually work better.

Whether you use a brush or a roller  may depend on the surface you're stencilling onto and the effect you want to achieve. Using a brush will give you more control over shading, but a roller is great for faster coverage if you're using acrylic paints, ideal if you're stencilling large flat areas and want a block colour effect such as for wall covering stencils.

If you're stencilling on to furniture, floors or stairs etc you may need to varnish the finished design. Use a spray acrylic varnish if possible, easy to apply and won't go yellow with age as oil-based varnishes do. Again, this should be available in most DIY or craft stores.

And remember, every stencilling project is different – putting a large repeat pattern over a whole wall is very different to applying a small intricate design onto furniture, so practice with different techniques, paints and surfaces and you'll soon get the confidence to tackle any project!

Take a look at our range of decorative stencils and give it a go!

Decorating your home using Stencils

As it’s the start of a new year how about creating a new look for 2015? If it’s been a while since you changed the colours and theme in your home why not try using stencils to give a fresh new feel? This is a great time of year to start preparing for a makeover and the only limit is your imagination.

Stencils and paints can be a great alternative to wallpapers giving so much more flexibility on colours and design and so allowing a much more personal touch for your décor.

There's no limit to where you can use stencilling in your home. Add a feature wall in your living room, dining room or bedroom. Try a stencilled border in your kitchen, or a frieze of animals and clowns in the nursery? If you have stripped floorboards, stencilling an edge border or a repeat pattern wall-to-wall can add a whole new feel to a room.

We have everything from traditional damask wallpaper stencils to modern and retro designs; animal prints to flowers and butterflies, and will be adding more to our website in the coming months. Many of our standard designs are available in various sizes to suit your space.

Repeating patterns don’t have to stretch across an entire wall. Try using small sections on kitchen and bathroom walls to create a tiled effect. A geometric design can be repeated as a straight side-by-side pattern, some may work well offset or even overlapped to give a more random effect. A stand alone image can bring a little something different to your home. Whether it's flowers, birds or cute animals for a children’s room, stencils can make your rooms unique. Our lemon tree stencil for example would look great in a kitchen or hallway as it brings a natural feel in your home.

One of the great things about stencils is that you can use them in your own choice of colours, either for a completely new look or to match existing furnishings. Whatever the atmosphere you want to achieve for your home you can use a combination of bright bold colours or muted pastel shades to create your perfect décor. There’s nothing stopping you from breaking the sequence with different shades or go all out and use a different colour for each shape.

Complement your decorative stencilling with a few accessories for that finishing touch, for example use the same stencil pattern on cushions using fabric paint, or a different design but with matching or harmonising colours.

For something unique and personal why not design your own stencil to make your decorating reflect your personality? We can cut your custom design allowing you to use your own patterns, shapes, images or wording throughout your home.

If you are planning to decorate or restyle your home this year, check out our range of Stencils, they might be just what you need for that extra-special makeover.

The personal touch this Christmas

It may be six weeks away but before we know it the festive season will soon be upon us. What better time to start making personal preparations to fill your own home, as well as those of friends and family, with unique decorations, edible gifts and handmade cards that will make a lasting impression, personal gift and create a fun, inspirational and festive atmosphere for adults and children?

Whether you want to craft your own Christmas cards, shape your own tree decorations or dust some sweet treats you’re planning on baking during festivities, we at Stencil Warehouse have some unique, innovative and playful stencil designs guaranteed to bring warmth and merry feelings to ‘one and all’ during the Christmas period.

Christmas cards

Planning out your Christmas card list is probably useful to do in advance of December’s arrival, as not only will there be a rush to buy cards but you will also want to ensure that you don’t forget anyone.

Making your own Christmas cards can act as a small gift to friends and family members bringing that extra special touch, particularly if you choose to make them with children who are always likely to put their own spin on card-making for each recipient.

Our Christmas card stencils are available in various sizes to suit the size of card you opt for, and in a choice of designs complete with several font styles, greetings and symbolic Christmas icons allowing you to stencil your card design with glitter or paints depending on who you are giving your card to, making a keepsake your recipients will treasure.

Decorations for your home and Christmas tree

Our Christmas stencils can be used with spray snow for beautifully festive decorations. Create an eye-catching display of snowmen, elves, trees and snowflakes on your windows and mirrors, and bring a festive winter wonderland into your home this Christmas.

Stencilled Christmas table decorations can also be wonderfully effective bringing a cheery and very personal touch to your place-mats and napkins, or perhaps a stunning table centrepiece.

If you are looking to adorn your Christmas tree with decorations with a difference get the kids together with some card, crayons, glitter and crafting kits and use our ranges of Christmas stencils to create unique decorations you can hang with cotton or rope from your trees branches.

Such a simple idea is even effective as a present for a family member’s tree, perhaps even to map out your son or daughter’s progress through each Christmas, creating a memorable keepsake that is quick, simple and cost effective to produce while having fun along the way.

Christmas baking

Are you an enthusiastic baker when it comes round to the festive season? Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, chocolate logs, Christmas cupcakes and fig rolls are all delicious treats that come to mind when indulging during the festive period.

If you’re planning on entertaining friends and family during the month of December then it is likely baking will be an activity you will be partaking in. Our cake dusting or sprinkling stencils can add that finishing festive touch with varied designs featuring lettering , pictures and messages which are all food safe and easily cleaned. This is a great way of getting the kids involved in preparations for Christmas whilst making your home-made treats look seasonally scrumptious!

The stencils even double as a novelty dusting for hot chocolates or Hot Toddies to evoke that Merry Christmas feeling.

If you want to begin your preparations for Christmas, browse our range of Stencils for all styles of stencilling. We even offer custom designs where required and can guide you in finding the right designs for your needs. 

All Hallows Eve

While Halloween may seem like it’s all about sweets, treats and dressing up there is so much more to the ancient festival, which is heavily reaped in traditions and celebrations that date back to the early 1900s.

Considered the most spooktacular time of year for Westerners on both sides of the Atlantic, All Hallows Eve usually brings with it an excuse to think about other worldly elements such as ghosts, ghouls and monsters at a time which previously saw celebrations of the overlapping boundaries between the living and dead on October 31 by Pagans.

Now more than a century on, the ancient festival has come to symbolise the firm arrival of Autumn and has established many clear traditions, one of which has become common place in most UK households and has continued over time to mark the festival.

Pumpkin carving

Every October pumpkins carved and shaped into spooky, sinister and creative designs peer out on porches, doorsteps and in windows illuminated by candles functioning as a fun family activity for children and adults to collaborate and design together.

Also referred to as Jack O’ Lanterns, this practice of decorating pumpkins and using them as a scary accessory, takes its roots from an ancient Irish fable that has continued throughout the centuries.

The story, telling the tale of a drunken farmer named Stingy Jack originated in Ireland, where turnips and potatoes functioned as an early backdrop.

The sinister tale goes that Jack tricked the devil, but such antics ironically resulted in him being turned away from the gates of heaven and hell following his death, leaving him to wander in purgatory for all eternity. Left in darkness, Jack used a lantern made from a turnip to illuminate in his path and guide his lost soul with a lump of coal chucked out of hell by the devil.

Since then, Celts have used Jack O’ Lanterns as a method of illuminating their streets and roads to guide lost spirits on October 31, replacing them with pumpkins when turnip and potato productions went into decline.

As competition between neighbours, friends and family has evolved, designs have got more elaborate and innovative and with our range of pumpkin carving stencils, you can create a fresh look for your pumpkin lanterns whether you are hosting a Halloween party, looking to illuminate your porch or light up the way for lost spirits this Hallows Eve.

Take a look at some of our designs; choose from comical, symbolic or spooky.

   

Creepy coffee & Cakes

If you’re looking for something a little less traditional this Halloween, but something that will both scare and make a statement at the same time then why not bring a fright to your trick, treats and even coffee mornings.

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party, looking to bake some extra special treats for your unexpected guests or simply want to add fear factor to coffee breaks, consider out range of coffee and cake dusting stencils, making decoration simple, effective and pretty damn creepy.

Whether it’s hundreds and thousands, edible fake blood or spooky sugar, pick from our range of food-safe and re-usable stencils.

  

For further decorative ideas for other festive occasions visit our website, or contact us for more bespoke stencil designs.