Stencil Your Walls With These Stunning, Creative Motifs
Which motifs work best where? Find out in this guide
Easy on the pocket and easy to put on the wall, stencilling is one of the best value-for-money wall treatments you will come across. With a vast array of designs to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking themes and motifs for your home. The right kind of stencil art can lend character to your room, but it can be hard deciding what works best where. In this guide, we break it down.
A standard-font stencil can deliver just as much punch as one made to order. Bearing the trappings of a vintage chamber, this powder-blue room quickly rises in relevance, thanks to the stenciled writing on the wall.
Recurrent pattern
Where: Living room, TV room
A single motif applied repeatedly through a room can make a stunning visual statement. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake this silver leaf printed wall for a wallpaper. But look closely, and you’ll see that each leaf has been embossed individually. A wall stencil can offer a wallpaper-esque appearance at a far lower cost.
Where: Living room, TV room
A single motif applied repeatedly through a room can make a stunning visual statement. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake this silver leaf printed wall for a wallpaper. But look closely, and you’ll see that each leaf has been embossed individually. A wall stencil can offer a wallpaper-esque appearance at a far lower cost.
This traditional decor home theatre uses stencils to create golden jharokhas on the side wall. The gilded motifs are mirrored by the jali design along the back. The room is reminiscent of a heritage Rajasthani palace.
Tip: To turn your wall motif into a theme within a room, add complementary accents and decor items that feature the same shape or style.
Tip: To turn your wall motif into a theme within a room, add complementary accents and decor items that feature the same shape or style.
Unceasing pattern
Where: Living room, bedroom, nursery, study
A continuous pattern can lend itself to a restful visual display. A soothing metallic trellis pattern has been hand-painted to give the wall a face lift.
Tip: A subtle metallic paint that blends with the backdrop is a good technique if you don’t want to draw too much attention to the walls but still want visual variety.
Where: Living room, bedroom, nursery, study
A continuous pattern can lend itself to a restful visual display. A soothing metallic trellis pattern has been hand-painted to give the wall a face lift.
Tip: A subtle metallic paint that blends with the backdrop is a good technique if you don’t want to draw too much attention to the walls but still want visual variety.
See how this theme of pinched diamonds livens up a plain white wall. Like the one in the previous room, this pattern is dipped in the same hue as that on the adjacent wall.
Custom print
Where: Living room, bedroom, nursery
This wall has been decorated with a custom-cut stencil. The base colour of all the walls is the same, but see how the stencilled wall comes to life as it mirrors the central print that adorns the bed.
Tip: Custom prints are more expensive than their store-sourced counterparts, so if you’re on a budget, prioritise the rooms you’d like to customise.
Where: Living room, bedroom, nursery
This wall has been decorated with a custom-cut stencil. The base colour of all the walls is the same, but see how the stencilled wall comes to life as it mirrors the central print that adorns the bed.
Tip: Custom prints are more expensive than their store-sourced counterparts, so if you’re on a budget, prioritise the rooms you’d like to customise.
Standalone motif
A golden lotus lights up an empty wall over this wooden staircase. The motif replaces the need for additional wall art or accents, and works to counter the darker undertones.
A golden lotus lights up an empty wall over this wooden staircase. The motif replaces the need for additional wall art or accents, and works to counter the darker undertones.
Grey and white pair well with each other in this nursery. The lifesize tree is a hat tip to the pure white furniture lining the room. Interestingly, this motif is custom-made for the homeowner, and is a blown-up version of an image found online.
Tip: If you don’t have an entire wall to fill, a standalone motif can serve you well. Pick a size that occupies the space you have available or get a custom stencil made.
Tip: If you don’t have an entire wall to fill, a standalone motif can serve you well. Pick a size that occupies the space you have available or get a custom stencil made.
Animal-inspired theme
Where: Bedroom, nursery
Animals on the wall can be welcome companions for adults and children alike. Certain depictions, however, are more geared towards children. This pair of sleepy cartoon owls serve as companions while the baby slumbers in the crib.
Where: Bedroom, nursery
Animals on the wall can be welcome companions for adults and children alike. Certain depictions, however, are more geared towards children. This pair of sleepy cartoon owls serve as companions while the baby slumbers in the crib.
This rustic powder room channels a wildlife-inspired theme, but see how the imagery is more minimalist than the previous room. A pale-beige and black naturescape featuring birds and trees adds to the organic vibe of the space.
Geometric pattern
Where: Bedroom, nursery, study
A geometric pattern is versatile enough to be used in any room.See how the three-toned pattern in this nursery complements the set of pictures on the wall, the salmon-pink chest and the ivory crib.
Where: Bedroom, nursery, study
A geometric pattern is versatile enough to be used in any room.See how the three-toned pattern in this nursery complements the set of pictures on the wall, the salmon-pink chest and the ivory crib.
Floral depictions
Where: Bedroom, nursery, study
Floral stencils can come in an assortment of styles and designs. From vintage to shabby chic, abstract to retro, the kind of stencil that you pick should be a reflection of your decor. This simple stencil art adds a pop of colour to the plain blue wall.
Where: Bedroom, nursery, study
Floral stencils can come in an assortment of styles and designs. From vintage to shabby chic, abstract to retro, the kind of stencil that you pick should be a reflection of your decor. This simple stencil art adds a pop of colour to the plain blue wall.
Vintage florals hold a timeless appeal, as demonstrated by this stencil design. Painted in soft grey, the dreamy wall art sings to the elements in this classic bathroom.
Read more:
Houzz TV: How to Stencil a Wall
5 Ways to Enhance Your Home With Stencil Art
Tell us:
Which wall stencil designs do you think you’ll use for your home? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz TV: How to Stencil a Wall
5 Ways to Enhance Your Home With Stencil Art
Tell us:
Which wall stencil designs do you think you’ll use for your home? Tell us in Comments below.
Where: Living room, bedroom, study
Quotes, stories and thought-provoking extracts can work as inspirational decor in just about any space. This soft-hued living room is a classic example. The space gains a poetic tone through the specially scripted text on the wall and sloping ceiling. In this case, the homeowners converted handwritten text into a custom stencil.