Give your entryway a beautiful and easy makeover. See how easy it is to stencil on a wall for a beautiful foyer update with cheetah spots and metallic paint. Part of the One Room Challenge.

G.SB contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

*This post is sponsored and contains affiliate links.  The foyer makeover is featuring products from Royal Design Studio, Velvet Finishes, and Hudson Valley Lighting Group. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.  Thank you for supporting brands that help make this blog possible. 

And just like that, it&#;s May 1st and we have reached week five of the One Room Challenge!  I&#;ve had a few setbacks and challenges but mostly a lot of fun tackling loads of DIYs to transform our open-concept living, dining, foyer, and piano studio areas for this six-week-long room makeover. 

You can check out the design inspiration and mood boards for more details on the space and challenge.  A huge thanks to the lovely Linda from the One Room Challenge blog and our media sponsor Better Homes and Gardens.

How to Stencil a Wall

How to Stencil a Wall

With only one more week left, I&#;m feeling pretty good about my progress but am definitely sleeping less and drinking more caffeine.  Who&#;s with me there?  On top of that, my husband had surgery yesterday so my parenting and &#;nurse&#; duties are a little more heightened.   

But before the grand reveal next week, I have an elegant and boho foyer makeover to share with you today thanks to a fabulous stencil and metallic paint! So if you are looking for entryway accent wall ideas, look no further!

Week One:  Eclectic and Glam Inspiration for an Open Concept |  Week Two:  How to Update Furniture with Peel and Stick Wallpaper | Week Three:  Small Dining Room Decorating Ideas |  Week Four: DIY a German Smear Mortar Wash for Under $10 | Week Five:  Stencil Your Foyer for a Beautiful Makeover | Week Six:  Eclectic Glam Open Concept Living Areas

Cheetah Spots Stencil on Wall with Metallic Paint

How to Stencil Your Foyer in an Elegant Way

I&#;ve avoided using wallpaper in this challenge because of our uneven floors, textured walls, and occasional cracks.  I still wanted to create wow factors with wall treatments so I decided to go with stencils from Royal Design Studio stencils to help with this! 

You already saw a peek of the funky fibers pattern in Ideas for a Small Dining Room but for the foyer, I chose a cheetah spots stencil.  I wanted a subtle hint of a metallic sheen for the pattern so I reached out to my favorite home decor paint online store, Velvet Finishes, and asked for their pearl metallic. 

It was just what I was looking for and the perfect amount for all of the foyer walls.  I&#;m so excited with the elegant finish and pop of pattern!

New Light Fixture and Door Color

What you need to stencil a wall:

Painting a Stencil on a Wall!

How to paint a stencil on a wall: 

• First, make sure your wall(s) is clean and dry. Sand your walls if there&#;s a heavy texture and you are using a symmetrical pattern for clean paint edges. You don&#;t need to do this with an organic pattern like cheetah spots.
• Line up your stencil starting in the upper left corner of your wall and tape it in place.   Check your placement with a level to ensure an even pattern.
• Use a stencil brush or small foam craft paint roller to dip in paint and blot off on a paper towel or a paper plate.  Stifle or roll the paint working in small sections.   If you are using a brush you can find a more detailed tutorial with DIY Boho Clipboards.

Foyer Accent Wall with Cheetah Stencil

• I was happy to find out you can immediately move the stencil and move either down or to the right using the guide marks on your stencil without smudging the paint.  This was even easier than I imagined! 
• Repeat the process until your wall or room is complete.  
• The paint drys quickly if you are using a thin coat of paint as suggested so you can easily do this project in a short afternoon. 

Cheetah Wall Paint Stencils Continue to Content

How to Paint a Stencil on a Wall

Prep Time:

5 minutes

Active Time:

30 minutes

Total Time:

35 minutes

Painting a stencil on a wall is easier than you think with these simple DIY and stencil hacks.

Materials

• 1. Dust Rag
• 2. Stencil
• 3. Paint
• 4. Stencil Brush
• 5. Painter's Tape
• 6. Paper Towels

Tools

• Sand Paper (optional)
• Level

Instructions

1. Sand heavy textured walls first.
2. Dust/wipe walls before painting.
3. Use a level and place the stencil in the upper left-hand corner of the wall. Hold in place with painter's tape.
4. Mix your paint, dip your stencil brush in and wipe off or blot excess paint.
5. Stifle paint onto stencil in a light coat. Add more paint until the desired effect.
6. Remove stencil and line up to the right. Repeat steps 4 and 5.
7. Keep stenciling until you've reached the end of the wall and move down to the next row.
8. Start from the left and continue to the right.
9. Repeat until the entire wall is covered.

Notes

1. Use a paint roller for quicker coverage.
2. Select a stencil with an organic pattern for easier application.
3. Try metallic paint for an elegant finish.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Wall Stencil Painting Tips:

• Using an organic pattern is best if you have uneven walls as it will be more forgiving. 
• Save those gorgeous geometric and tile patterns for even ceiling and floor lines! 
• If your paint bleeds outside of the stencil pattern then you are using too much paint. 
• Make sure to blot or roll off the excess paint first. 
• You can do touch-ups with your wall color and a small paintbrush or Q-tip.    

DIY Entryway Makeover Ideas: 

Add a new light fixture like this gorgeous Lettie flush mount from HudsonValley Lighting Group.   It looks just as pretty off as it does on and the metallic spots have a lovely sheen!   

Foyer Paint IdeasNew Light Fixture

Paint the inside of your front door!  I&#;m sure we all think to paint our exterior front door but why not a fun color on the inside as well?  I used some leftover Cosmopolitan paint from Velvet Finishes that I used in my daughter&#;s room for her dresser makeover.  Check out how easy it is to paint without sanding or priming!  

Gray Stencil Walls with Mint Green Door and Boho DecorDIY Entryway Makeover with Wall Stencil, Rug, and Light

Remember I said I had a few setbacks with this challenge?  Well, I painted the door two different colors before deciding on mint green.  If you step back and see it with the piano space it really ties it together!   Part of this room makeover was about achieving unique characteristics in each space while still unifying the open layout.

Freshen up your foyer or entryway with different decorating accessories.  We have been in our house for a full seven months now so a change in the decor was already due! I hope you are inspired to try a DIY entryway makeover.

Round Gold Mirror and Metallic Cheetah Spots on Gray WallWatercolor Hanging in Foyer

I removed the heavy piece of fine art and hung a mirror that was getting lost on the dining room wall.  A plant and watercolor from the Republic of Georgia were also moved into this space.

Plant on Marble and Wood Stand

The plant was from my grandmother&#;s funeral years ago and the painting my husband brought back from deployment so they are special pieces.

Stenciled Foyer with Gray and Metallic Cheetah Spots

I hope our freshly stenciled foyer walls have given you inspiration!  It is really a great DIY for anyone to try without the more permanent commitment of wallpaper although I&#;m a huge fan of that too!  My favorite?  The bird wallpaper in my daughter&#;s room.:)  

Thank you to these amazing sponsors for making this challenge possible!

Sponsors

Velvet Finishes |  Well Woven | Brightech | Royal Design Studio Stencils | Smith Honig | Hudson Valley Lighting Group | Fanimation 

It&#;s fun to look back on the progress with a to-do list.  I might have a few additions too because why not? &#;

• Reupholster grandparent&#;s armchairs with blue velvet and bird fabric
• Paint front picture window black
• Paint green focal wall
• Hang new window treatments and remove old blackouts in piano area
• Makeover music cabinet with removable wallpaper and paint
• Install new foyer light
• Stencil foyer walls with cheetah stencil and pearl metallic paint
• Add fringe to arch floor lamp
• German smear technique on fireplace stone
• Hang curtains with rings
• Create a faux roman shade for the dining room with an existing window panel. 
• Reupholster two barrel chairs in green velvet with green print, paint the the chairs frame dark
• Purchase a new sofa
• Trim love seat with fringe 
• Paint french doors trim black ? (Painted black then back to white. Ha!)
• Add brass nailhead trim to black leather chair
• Sew lumbar pillow and add trim
• Reupholster two more dining chairs
• Add fringe to piano seat and maybe tuft (yes to tufting!)
• Install chandelier
• Stencil living room wall
• Paint buffet 
• Add trim/moulding if foundation issues are resolved
• Paint coffee station wall dark and hardware gold
• Paint front door
• Large tropical print art
• Paint faux mantel blue
• Install mirror gallery wall
• Hang curated gallery wall
• Style, style, style

Make sure to pop in next week for all of the reveals and to the oh-so-fun before and after pictures of our open concept living areas!  It&#;s going to be grand.  Promise!

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Stenciling is so much fun and a great way to create unique artwork. Either for yourself or as a wonderful handmade gift! Read up about the must-have supplies for stenciling to rock your next creation!

&#;But I&#;ve never stenciled before!&#; you say? Don&#;t fret, I&#;ve got you covered! I&#;ve put together a super detailed guide with all the info you need to know about stenciling. I have stenciled quite a bit and learned a lot during my projects.

Come, join my tribe:

No spam, guaranteed!

My honest advice:

Yes, stenciling can be tricky at times! But, if you learn from my mistakes rather than making them yourself you&#;ll master the art of stenciling with your very first stenciling project!

Contact us to discuss your requirements of wall stencil for painting. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Download your FREE &#;All You Need To Know About Stenciling&#;-Guide now!

Once you&#;ve mastered the art of stenciling (and you will during your first project!!) you can DIY home decor by

By stenciling fabric, you can create wonderful home accessories such as pillow covers (find a tutorial by me HERE + more ideas over at favecrafts.com), area rugs, dish towels, or curtains. Or you could even design your own clothes!

See?! The possibilities are endless!

Investing in good supplies is definitely worth it as you will re-use them over and over again!

Related: How to take good care of your stencils.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! You can click here to read my full disclosure.

Must-Have Supplies For Stenciling

1. Duh, Stencils!

Where to BUY Stencils?

OMG, there are soooo many options out there, ready for you to fall in love with and buy (trust me when I say: even without a project in mind, lol). You can shop online for stencils for example on Amazon or Etsy or you go to your local craft store or Home Depot.

I personally love the quality, designs, and patterns from Cutting Edge Stencils, Stencil Revolution, and Dizzy Duck DesignsUK.

So far I have the following stencils in my stash:

What&#;s your favourite stencil and where have you got it from?

Frugal Tip:
Admittedly, stencils can be a bit pricey at times. That&#;s why I always love to browse the SALE section of a shop first! Why not check now if Cutting Edge Stencils has a sale at the ready.

And I just saw that they offer a FREE SURPRISE STENCIL with every order of $4.95 value and more. I don&#;t know how long this offer will stand! So better hurry&#;

How To MAKE Your Own Stencils?

Of course, you can create or DIY your own stencils, too! Either by hand or by using a vinyl cutting machine.

A. Supplies for Handmade / Hand-cut Stencils

• Mylar or any transparent plastic sheet
• Cutting matt (here is a great offer of cutting mat + knife)
• X-Acto Knife
• Sharpie marker or fine tip marker
• Ruler
• Low tack tape (optional, but a big helper in holding down your pattern)
• And of course a stencil design or pattern:

You can find patterns for free

• by simply googling the design you have in mind. Many Bloggers offer them as a free download for your convenience.
• Or trace the design from something you love &#; e.g. I&#;ve photographed so many wonderful tile and Woodwork patterns when visiting my family in Morocco.
• Drawing something yourself is an option, too. Geometric designs are actually pretty simple to make.

I am currently working on a short video that will explain the process for you in detail. Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you&#;ll get notified once it&#;s published.

B. Supplies for Vinyl Stencils using a Vinyl Cutting Machine

• Such as a Cricut Maker, Brother or Silhouette Cameo
• Vinyl (such as Oracle 631 vinyl)
• Vinyl weeding tool (sometimes it&#; worth to buy a set for a better price) or something other with a pointy end
• Transfer tape (such as Oratape HT55)
• Transfer tape roller (optional)
• Vinyl Squeegee or old credit card
• Printable cut file:

The file type can vary depending on the vinyl cutter you use! They can be found all over the internet for free or little money or you create a stencil design yourself! The cutting machines by Brother have this amazing scanning feature where you simply hand-draw your design. Scan it. Cut it. Done!

In this great tutorial by my friend Kim from Day To Day Adventures on how to personalize a coir rug, you&#;ll see how to make your own stencils using a Silhouette Cameo. In fact, she is using freezer paper as an alternative to the Vinyl.

C. Creative Stencils

Have you ever thought about using unconventional materials as a stencil?

• A thrifted crochet doily, lace, or a paper doily
• Washi-Tape or low tack tape for geometric patterns
• Fish-net stockings or those styrofoam fish-net thingies that protect precious fruit
• Rough cut-outs from cardboard

Can you come up with even more ideas? Let me know in the comments.

2. Paint

You have many options and can make your decision based on the nature of your project, the type of surface you are stenciling on, and even the stencil itself.

I have worked with and achieved great results using stained varnish, acrylic craft paint, and even spray paint. Interior latex paint and fabric paint are other options.

A Bonus for Uniqueness!
If you have a special colour in mind, why not mix your paint yourself? Here is my go-to recipe for homemade DIY chalk paint. The options aren&#;t that big here in Germany just yet, so I figured I try my hand at homemade chalk paint. And you know what? Full coverage with one coat!!

In this video tutorial I will show you how to mix your desired colour using the primary colours and a colour wheel.

Frugal Tip:
Also, mixing up your own chalk paint is way cheaper than buying special brand ones.

3. Brushes

Again, depending on the project, I use up to three different brushes:

• 1 brush for painting the base of say, a piece of furniture,
• one brush for the actual stenciling part (2 if you work with two different colors!)
  &#;> Stenciling Brushes (here is a link to a value pack for you) come in a funny shape to work their magic the best way, and
• another one to apply a coat of wax to protect your piece of art (read up on how I clean & store the brush I use to apply furniture wax).

Foam stencil brushes or pouncers can be a good alternative, too. Basically, you need to see what works best for you and your project at hand!

And if you really need to do any touch-ups after the stenciling, a very thin liner brush is your go to choice.

My Advice:
Say goodbye to perfectionism when DIY-ing!

I very rarely go the extra mile and make corrections in my projects. And so should you &#;

4. Foam Roller and Painters Tray

A dense foam roller is speeding up your stenciling process. A. Lot! If the surface you are working on allows it, I&#;d definitely go for a foam roller!

• Decide on the width you need (4&#;, 6&#;). A mini foam roller can come in handy for delicate designs or multi-color projects.
• I would also suggest you use a separate roller for each color for faster stenciling. You don&#;t want to have to rinse paint and wait until it&#;s completely dry again, as residual water in your roller will create seepage under the stencil.
• You can reuse a painters tray a gazillion times. So it would definitely be the green option! But a paper plate will do the trick, too.

Frugal Tip:
I bought the stenciling essentials set by Cutting Edge Stencils and I love it. You can save a little if you buy the set rather than the items each on their own. My opinion? I don&#;t use the level super often, but it&#;s nice to have it at hand. You can easily slide it onto the stencil. Very nifty!

5. Additional Supplies

• Painters tape to fix your stencil to the surface you are working on.
• Sander & Sanding Paper to prepare your surface if it is wood.
• Furniture wax to protect your finished design.
• Kitchen towels & wet wipes (Read up in my Stenciling Guide what you need those for!)
• Cardboard, protective cover sheet, or something similar to protect your work space.

You know what? I bet you already might have some of those must-have supplies for stenciling in your crafting stash! Shop what&#;s missing now to start your stenciling project right away.

Have fun!

Love,

PS: Don&#;t forget to master the art of stenciling by downloading your FREE Know-It-All Guide, now.

Related

For more types of paint brushes for wallsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.