How to Use Lace as a Stencil

People today want to create a living space that reflects who they are as individuals. While furnishings and accessories can certainly help to achieve such a goal, they are not the only ways of accomplishing this feat. More than ever before, people are turning to specialized wall treatments to help them set the overall mood for the room. One technique that is popular for those with a romantic flair is to use lace as a stencil to develop a beautiful wall treatment.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lace
• Tacks
• Double Sided Tape
• Paint
• Accent Accessories (ribbon, rope, braid)
• Wallpaper Border
• Stencil
• Tarps
• Tape (to rope off areas not to be painted_
• Safety Goggles
• Mask

1. Determine which room in the house will benefit from a lace stencil technique. This type of treatment is perfect for a bedroom, the room of a teenage girl or even a bathroom.

2. Decide how many walls in the room will be stenciled. The technique is equally effective to develop a single accent wall as it is when used across the board.

3. Choose the colors that will be used both for the base color of the wall. Also choose the accent color for the lace stencil.

4. Make all of the purchases necessary to complete the project.

5. Prepare the space for painting. Lay down tarps to protect the floor and tape off woodwork or other areas that you want to protect from paint spill over. Plug up any holes in the wall and prime if needed.

6. Paint the wall in the chosen base color. The base color can be lighter than the stencil color or vice versa, depending upon the desired effect. A darker stencil color over a lighter color is more dramatic while a light stencil color over a darker base color is often a bit more airy. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

7. Adhere the lace to the wall space to be stenciled using either easy removal double sided tape or tacks. Make certain that the lace is pulled taunt, but not distorted. Work out any ripples or waves before proceeding.

8. Apply the stencil paint over the lace. The best technique for this purpose involves either a paint sprayer or a mister that can be applied lightly to prevent fabric bleed through. Let the paint dry thoroughly before removing the lace panels.

9. Finish off the wall space, if necessary or desired. This will help to hide any blank spots between the top of the lace stencil and the ceiling or between panels. Grosgrain ribbon, roping or braiding can be used to accomplish this. Another great method is to apply a wallpaper border around the top of the room. A third method is to stencil another design, like flowers, on top of the lace stencil.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for lace patterns that are not too closely knit together. The airy looking the lace stencil, the more accent paint will show.
• Look for stiff laces. Anything too flimsy will be too difficult to lock into place for stencil purposes.
• Use all safety precautions necessary when working with products that might have noxious fumes.
• Wear paint coveralls or old clothes when painting; particularly with sprayers and misters that typically have a certain amount of back splash.
• Follow all precautions when working with paint sprayers and misters.