Makely

Let's Make Life Awesome

  • Home
  • Decorating/DIY
    • Create Your Decor
    • Decorate Your Home
    • Paint Your Walls
    • Transform Your Furniture
  • Healthy Living
    • Essential Oils
    • Family Wellness
    • Household Care
  • Project Gallery
  • Contact
You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Paint Your Walls » How to Stencil on a Textured Wall

How to Stencil on a Textured Wall

by Lindsay Ballard on December 1, 2011 33 Comments

When you walk through the front door of my house, you are greeted by a nice entry way, a nice dining room, and this.

Yep.  There’s a very functional, yet eye sore of a half bath right there in my entry way.  It’s in the middle of the house, so there is no natural light whatsoever – just the two measly light bulbs in the builder installed fixture.  I try to keep the door shut as much as possible, but with two kids in the house, it gets left open more often than I would like.

I have been wanting to redo that bathroom for sometime, but it hasn’t ranked high in the list of rooms I need to redo.  I knew that I wanted to do something dramatic with the wall that faces the front hallway (the one with the framed artwork in the photo above), replace the pedestal sink, hang a new mirror and install a new light fixture.  When the Royal Design Studio offered me a complementary stencil to review, I knew that the bathroom had to be moved to the front of my list.

After I removed everything from the walls, I painted the ceiling white using Glidden’s EZ Track Ceiling Paint.  I then painted the walls in Behr Ultra’s English Channel.  Yes, the walls are very dark, but it helps this small room make a big impact.

I had selected the Moorish Circles stencil from the Royal Design Studio, and I set to work placing the first stencil.  I measured the walls and centered the large stencil on the center/top of my wall. {Sorry for the poor lighting in these photos – I was working with a clamp-on work light!}

When it was ready, I loaded my paint roller with my favorite color – Smoked Turquoise by Glidden – and got to work.  When I removed the stencil, my wall was a mess.  I had to paint over it with the darker wall color and start again.

While the wall paint was drying, I practiced with the stencil and came up with the best way to stencil on a textured wall.  It ended up working better than I could have hoped for.

I put together a video tutorial of me stenciling a portion of my wall.  I had on my paint clothes, wore no make up, my hair was in a pony tail, the lighting left a lot to be desired, I had a sinus infection, and I had to be my own videographer.  Even with all of that on the table, it’s still an excellent way to see exactly what I’m describing in the steps I lay out below.

 

Tips for Stenciling on a Textured Wall

  • Spray the back of your stencil with spray adhesive before you apply it to the wall each time.  It will stick closer to the wall and reduce the amount of paint that seeps under the stencil.  I used a stencil adhesive that I bought at Hobby Lobby, but probably any temporary spray adhesive would work.  Rub your hand over the entire stencil to make sure that none of the design lifts off the wall.  The Royal Design Studio stencils are nice and thick, but even they need a little help not lifting off of a textured wall.

  • Use less paint that you think you should.  I dipped one side of my mini roller into the paint and then rolled it in the tray until the roller no longer looked wet and shinny.  Then, I rolled it 6 or 7 times on a folded up paper towel.  It will take 4 or 5 passes on the stencil to get the coverage you want, but you will have very few bleeds or fuzzy edges when you remove the stencil.  Watch the video tutorial I posted above if that doesn’t make much sense.

  • Remember that you WILL have a few bleeds.  There is simply no way around this on a textured wall.  Once your wall is dry, take a small paintbrush (I like to use a small, flat artist’s brush from the craft store) and touch up the bleeds with extra wall paint.  Stand a few feet back from your wall to see the areas that need to be touched up.  If you stand too close to the wall, you will drive yourself crazy touching up everything in sight.

I’m very happy with the way my stenciled wall turned out.  Once I have the rest of the changes made in this bathroom, I will no longer be embarrassed for guests to use it!  Just adding that dramatic wall has made a world of difference.

Have you ever tried to stencil on a textured wall?  What was the outcome?

Disclosure: Royal Design Studio supplied me with a stencil with the understanding that I would write about my experience with it.  No money exchanged hands, and there was no encouragement to review the product in a positive fashion.

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

« A Visit with the Porters {Home Depot Gift of Good}
Pink Isn’t Just for Girls: Color Changing DIY Products »

Comments

  1. Mary McDaniel says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    That wall looks AWESOME!!!!!

    Reply
  2. Dana @ Bungalow'56 says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    While I do not have textured walls, I will be pinning this just as a go to source for the time I do try stenciling my wall. Thank you.
    Dana

    Reply
  3. Michelle says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Thanks for the tutorial! I do have textured walls, and I’m terrified of stenciling them. But now that I’ve seen you do it, it seems much easier. I’m wondering how long it took you to do your entire bathroom, and did you wait for each section to dry before starting a new one?
    Thanks,
    Michelle

    Reply
  4. Heidi of Wonder Woman Wannabe says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I LOVE the look of that! Well done!! Totally ‘pinning’ this project! (just in case you can’t view your source pg….) 😉

    Reply
  5. Michele in IL. says

    December 1, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    wow, you are amazing!

    Reply
    • Dr Bob says

      December 26, 2019 at 8:28 am

      Love the Tom Tom DRUM LIGHT! You should use bongos for dual lamped wall sconces! Just saying

      Reply
  6. amanda @ mommyiscoocoo says

    December 1, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    Very nice! Your eye looks right past the toilet!

    Reply
  7. Michelle says

    December 1, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    That looks awesome! I’m in the process of drawing a tree mural on my unborn child’s wall and I plan to make my own stencils for the flowers. Do you have any idea what type of stencil ‘paper’ that company uses or a suggestion of what to buy to use? I already got adhesive spray and I will definitely take your tips into consideration when working on it! What an awesome wall!

    Reply
  8. Jessica says

    December 1, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    My studio is painted English Channel, and I have been wanting to stencil, but have those textured walls too. I wasn’t even sure if a stencil would look great, but you have inspired me! Thanks so much for this!!!

    Reply
  9. Melanie Royals says

    December 1, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Hey Linsday! LOOOVE how you used my Royal Design Endless Moorish Circles stencil. The colors are fabulous and your video tutorial is super helpful. I hope this inspires a lot of other people to try stenciling-even on those dreaded textured walls! Thanks so much for a great review, and yeah-eyesore no more! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Painted Maypole says

    December 1, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Looks great. I thought about doing one of those big wall stencils in our half bath, then chickened out (but get lots of compliments on my super easy decorating cop out… used 12×12 frames, spray painted silver to match the sink, towel bars, etc, then trade out scrapbooking paper to decorate with the seasons!)

    Reply
  11. Pam Kueber says

    December 1, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    When I stencil, I use a stipple brush. Would this not work – on textured walls? Is that why you decided to use a roller?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 1, 2011 at 10:55 pm

      I rolled it because I figured using a stipple brush would have taken me 72 years. 🙂 I also wanted to make sure the my paint was opaque in coverage, and the roller made that easier.

      Reply
  12. Pam Kueber says

    December 1, 2011 at 10:50 pm

    Oh, and, Looks Great! Very mid mod!

    Reply
  13. becky mercado says

    December 2, 2011 at 3:06 am

    It looks great. I used to cut my stencils out of contact drawer paper. that worked well. Also…saw something on pinterest about keeping paint from bleeding. This was for straight lines…but it might work. Once you have your stencil up…paint over it first with your background paint…let dry…then repaint over your stencil with the color you want your design to be. don’t know for sure if that would work on rough walls and with stencils…but the premise is the same….Might have to try that myself. Here’s the link…http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/01/11/what-everyone-should-know-about-painting-perfect-lines/

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      December 2, 2011 at 8:07 am

      That’s definitely the best way to paint straight lines! I wouldn’t have the same effect on a thick mylar stencil like I used. It’s too thick to seal like the blue tape does. I thought about it, though!

      Reply
    • Dr Bob says

      December 26, 2019 at 8:35 am

      Love the Tom Tom DRUM LIGHT! You should use bongos for dual lamped wall sconces! Just saying

      Also…saw some info on using poly clay, rolled out thin between freezer paper (wax?) and cutting the stencil out of clay, but that would be a hassle for a repeatable patterned stencil.

      Reply
  14. Ashleigh says

    December 2, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    I love the look! We just bought a house and I have been trying to decide how to use stencils. This will help me so much…plus I know where to find great ones now!

    Reply
  15. sylvie michel bilger says

    December 3, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Great video ! i wander though ….if you have sooo much texture may be it will be easier to use a regular stencil brush , a little stippling , one shoot et voila !
    Sorry been painting for 25 years and I am a big brush person 🙂
    Love your blog…very inspirational !!

    Reply
  16. Lisa~ says

    December 4, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I LOVE it! It makes such a difference from the other room. I just did a stenciled wall in my living room and I was so happy with how it turned out. Beauty and cheap….that’s the way to go. Lisa~

    Reply
  17. Breana says

    December 4, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    I, too, have those textured walls. I’ve never tried stenciling them on a large scale, but I did do stenciling in an archway. I used a stipple brush, but I agree that doing a whole wall that way would take forty forevers. It looks like you’re basically using the roller the way a stipple brush works–getting barely any paint on it, getting some of the paint off, then pressing straight down on the wall. I’ll have to remember that if I ever get up the courage to do the large-scale stenciling I keep considering!

    Reply
  18. Beth says

    December 5, 2011 at 8:39 am

    The room looks amazing!

    Reply
  19. Shannon Baker says

    January 28, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    Thanks for that! I have wanted to stencil, but also have textured walls. I think I’m going to have to give it a go!

    Reply
  20. Jennifer H says

    May 3, 2012 at 9:04 am

    I also have a textured wall where (lots of) sand was added to the paint. So, the wall is quite gritty. Do you think a stencil would work at all on my wall? Is this the kind of texture you have on your wall, or do you have that builder “blasted” texture? which is probably a lot smoother than my wall.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      May 3, 2012 at 9:08 pm

      Mine is the builder applied kind, but I bet it would work for your faux finish, too. I don’t see why it wouldn’t!

      Reply
  21. Jess Myers says

    July 22, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    Hallelujah!! I can not put into words how uninspired I have been lately. Everything has been blah, blah and more blah. Annnnnd theeeeen I found your blog. Breath of fresh air. Thank you thank you! I am starting on my bathroom re-do tomorrow.

    Reply
  22. Trisha L. says

    August 6, 2012 at 10:54 am

    Thanks for the awesome post and video! I started my wall stencil project on my slightly textured wall yesterday and was discouraged when I got bad seepage. After a google search later, I came across your blog post. I am excited to try again using your tips. I’m crossing my fingers my wall will turn out as nice as yours!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      August 6, 2012 at 7:42 pm

      Yay! Just go slowly and you’ll be happy!

      Reply
  23. Toodie says

    September 16, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    I, for one, cannot tell you how helpful this was to me! Our walls are very heavily textured, which I hate for the very purpose of trying to wallpaper, stencil or do anything different with. It always turns out icky and lumpy. I will definitely be using your tips on our next wall. Thank you so much. And I LOVE the dramatic impact of your colors!

    Reply
  24. Shannon says

    February 22, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video! How helpful you are to the rest of us! Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How To French Braid Your Bangs Back | How to french braid your bangs says:
    December 2, 2011 at 11:19 am

    […] Summer-Proof Your Hair – Indian Makeup and Beauty BlogHairstyles – fashion7in1.com7 YouTube Videos on How to Style Bangs – Indian Makeup and Beauty BlogHow to Stencil on a Textured Wall […]

    Reply
  2. Once in a Blue Room with Stencils | Paint + Pattern says:
    July 28, 2014 at 10:47 am

    […] Girls used our Endless Moorish Circles Moroccan Stencil to create a stunning and fun impact on a stenciled feature wall in her guest […]

    Reply
  3. How to Stencil on a Textured Wall - Makely | Dadne says:
    February 6, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    […] Original Source […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


Archives

Categories

PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright © 2009-2019 Makely School for Girls | All Rights Reserved | Posts may contain advertising content or affiliate links