Stencils and Textures and Patterns...oh my!

Some advice on Textures and Patterns:
by Rental Decorating Digest

Use these to add character and intensity to a plain room or color scheme.

*Different textures and patterns can even create optical illusions and dramatic arrangements.
They can also affect proportions of a room!*

Examples:

• Complex Patterns that use many colors and diagonal or criss-crossing lines are busy for your eye. (These are better for large areas, but may overwhelm a small room.
• Vertical Lines add height to a short room or can add more height to a high ceiling.
• Horizontal Lines add space, width to an area.
• REMEMBER: The larger the space, the larger the print, and the smaller the space the smaller the print.
• The same grouping or pattern used throughout an area can draw together a wide area and make it flow.
• Colors affect how we see patterns. (High contrast patterns create an energetic feeling and similar colors have an opposite, calming effect)
• Texture affects color. Rough textures will absorb light & smooth textures will reflect light.

Decorative Stencils:
Make your walls beautiful using decorative stencils! There are thousands of options!Royal Design Studio is reinventing the art of stenciling! find other wall stencil links here!

you will need:

• stencil of your choice
• stencil adhesive/painters tape
• acrylic paints
• stencil brushes/sponges
• paper plate/palette
• papertowels
• a wall anywhere in your home

basic stenciling steps:

• Wash the walls for any dust, grime, or dirt/fill in any holes or cracks/dry the wall
• Hold your stencil in place with your adhesive or tape
• Squeeze a small amount of paint onto the palette
• Dip the brush into paint and tap onto the paper towel until dry
• Tap or swirl the paint in the stencil design until the desired depth of color is reached.
• Use a top coat of acrylic varnish or polyurethane if necessary (if stencil is going to be touched)
• Apply 2-3 coats to the wall & let each coat dry in between
• Finally stand back and admire your walls!!

HGTV offers some advice on stamping and stenciling for floors, walls, furniture, glass and wood!
some more tips for projects like these!
can't find a stencil you like? you can browse and buy from one of these liks!