Creating your own stenciled effect is easily done with rubber stamps and Venetian plaster. By pressing rubber stamps into wet plaster, you can really help make a great impression. This type of design stands out on the wall and also helps create shadows that can appear mysterious and charming.
Create the right designs for your home
There are hundreds of templates you can choose from with rubber stamps, making it easy to find something to suit your taste. You can find them at a specialty store, a craft store, or even online. Really, when you try to decorate the walls in this way, you will need a stamp that is quite large. If you want something attractive and homey, plant designs tend to be pretty cool, like leaves, flower heads, and ferns. However, if you can’t make up your mind, you can easily make a little collage of all the different designs.
With most types of paint, they don’t need preparation, but with high or semi-gloss type walls, you’ll need to add a water-based primer. You can start by using a wide flat scraper and smooth an even amount of joint compound. Generally, 1/8 thickness on a 3×3 foot section of wall is about right. Using a thicker compound may cause the print to look a bit blurry.
When you have covered your chosen area with the compound, simply place the rubber stamp where you want it. You’ll usually have around thirty minutes tops to get all the rubber stamps on the wall before it dries. If you make sure the stamps are oriented differently each time you make them, you’ll end up with a wallpaper-like effect. Many people prefer this and luckily if you don’t get the desired effect right away you can always start over as it takes thirty minutes to dry and that’s a long time to redo the design.
It’s always best to do 3×3 foot sections before continuing. This will ensure that you get the desired results and also break it down into an easy to manage area. Finish by letting the compound dry completely and then cure it for up to 48 hours before painting over it. The water-based primer will allow you to seal the compound and then you can successfully paint over it. Always be careful not to let the paint fill in the design as it could lose some of its shape and effect. Again, work in small 3×3 foot sections and once you’re done painting the walls, let them dry completely before enjoying your handiwork.