Okay, friends, are you ready for an exciting adventure?! Would you settle for a fun DIY share? Alrighty then, let’s get to it! A couple posts ago I shared how I stenciled a dresser. Feeling inspired, I decided to try my hand at creating a feature wall! It was cool learning how to stencil a wall. I hope you will be inspired to give it a try!

First, you need to decide which wall you want to stencil. I chose a wall upstairs that is viewable from downstairs. The wall is not huge, so if my stenciling skills prove less than successful, I can cut my losses sooner.

Accent walls are a great way to change the look of a room without a huge commitment. They can add dramatic flair or provide a subtle break in neutral décor. Accent walls can be created with paint or with elements like wood, shiplap, and faux brick!

Here are some shots of the wall before I began stenciling:

The stair railing was not always black! Prior to painting it a couple weeks ago, it was oak orange fresh out of the 80s. YIKES! Check out the details for painting the stair rail here.

Step One for How to Stencil a Wall

Next, I needed to gather my supplies. For this project, you will need:

A stencil (purchased mine from Hobby Lobby)

A paint brush

Painters tape to hold the stencil in place

A towel to collect drips

Here is the stencil I used:

I chose this stencil for two reasons: I like the pattern and I like its simplicity. For my first wall stencil, I know that a stencil with more intricate cuts would double the challenge. For this first round, the easier, the better! I purchased this stencil from Hobby Lobby.

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Step Two for How to Stencil a Wall

For step two, you begin stenciling the wall, creating a design that is fun and unique!

In researching this project on Pinterest (my fav), pros advised me to start in the center of the wall and work my way out. So I began by taping the stencil to the center of the wall.

Not going to lie, this felt a little random. My gut wanted to start in the top left corner, to allow for as many even applications of the stencil as possible. I knew as a worked my way toward the wall edges, floor, and ceiling, I would have to deal with the complications of cutting the stencil to make it work. This will be interesting!

I applied two coats before removing the stencil. Because I was working with just one stencil, I had to allow it to dry before placing it on the wall again. Getting the stencil placed exactly where I think it should be was kind of a challenge, and moving it with wet paint on it would mark up the wall. Needless to say, this project took a while to complete- but it was fun!

Here is the wall after the first application:

Cute, right?!

Step Three for How to Stencil a Wall

Now you are ready to move the stencil around, building out your design to create a wall you will love! You can choose to use one color for all the stencil fill-ins, or mix it up by using different colors! I used white throughout the project.

Here it is after a few applications:

I learned quickly that having too much paint on my brush was not good practice. Lightly painting each coat allowed for cleaner lines and fewer drips, which overall make the accent wall look more professional.

Not going to lie- it was at this point that I grew weary of the entire project. I wanted to quit! I was happy with how it was turning out but the repeated placing of the stencil, apply one coat, wait, apply  second coat, dry, move stencil, was feeling tedious! As time passed, I wanted the project DONE. Onward… onward…

The nice thing about this stencil is it does not have to be lined up perfect to look good! If you study my wall close enough, you will see places where the stencil was too close to the painted lines, but it is okay because the overall effect looks great! No need to stress- just hang the stencil as best you can and move forward.

Here is the wall finished:

How to Choose an Accent Wall that Works for You

Accent walls are a great way to liven up a space! An accent wall can draw attention to an area you wish to show off, and it can also provide a distraction from areas of a room you wish to minimize. Accent walls can be created easily with paint, or you can choose a more elaborate décor method that adds texture, like wood or faux brick. Let’s talk first about accent walls created using paint. When painting an accent wall, you can choose warm colors, like red, orange, and yellow, to pull a wall toward the observer’s eye. Conversely, cool colors, like blue, green, and purple, push walls away from the eye.

So which wall should you paint to be an accent wall? The best types of accent walls are those that have a reason to stand out. For example, a wall with a fireplace might be a good choice, as the fireplace itself stands out and the right paint color may make the wall and the fireplace pop!

If you are looking to create an accent wall with texture, faux brick, shiplap, and wood can add dramatic flair or subtle change- you decide! White shiplap can be a great addition to a room decorated in farmhouse style, as it is soothing to the eye but not an over the top attention getter.

To see how I added board and batten to my foyer, click here!

So what exciting projects have you conquered in your home lately? Be sure to share in the comments!