There are plenty of excellent stencil shops online that you can browse through. One of my favourites is http://www.styleist.ie/ where you can buy any design you can imagine, from animals to flowers! I particularly love the idea of having a large stencil instead of a traditional headboard as seen on their website. There is plenty of choice online so you should have no problem finding one to fit into your room design.

Many people are wary of tackling the art of stenciling but it only takes an afternoon, a bit of patience and the correct tools to get a fabulous result. You will need; a brush or small roller depending on your design, measuring tape, a level, stencil mount (spray) and of course your stencil.

Begin by choosing your base colour and painting your room in this shade. To create a truly striking feature, use a light base along with an energetic colour for your chosen stencil shape. If you are using a repeat stencil design, it is best to choose two similar tones in the same spectrum so that the effect is not too harsh on the eye. Take a look at http://www.crownpaints.ie/colours to see all of the colours available in the Crown Paints range.

Once the paint has dried fully, the next step is to mark out the design. If you are using a repeating stencil first work out how many times you'll need to repeat the design to fully cover the wall. Match up the corners of the stencil with a pencil so that your design will be accurate. You can use the measuring tape and spirit level for this.  If you are using a single stencil design there will not be as much need for the stencil to be level.

Next, spray stencil mount on the back of the stencil and fix it to the wall matching up with the markings you have already made in the previous step. Use the roller or small brush to apply the paint on to the stencil making sure to cover the exposed area. Be sure to remove all of the excess paint on the roller or brush before painting. If the stencil design is small then it may be best to use a brush to reach into the corners.

Act quickly to remove the stencil and leave paint to dry. If you are using a repeating stencil repeat the steps across the wall. Take your time to match up the lines of the stencil to ensure a perfect finish. Continue to use the spirit level to aid this process.

When you have finished painting with your stencils why not keep them to decorate other items for your room. You can add your featured design to plant pots and even furniture to complete your look. So why not give it a go and see just how easy it is to create a beautiful stencil feature in your home.

Happy decorating,

Neville