How to Stencil a Rug on a Floor
A stencil is a printed design that is painted on a floor, wall, ceiling or item of furniture. Stenciling can help add character to a room that lacks it as well as create a focal point in an otherwise barren space. A stencil can be a small repeating pattern or a much larger pattern. You can also use a stencil to make a plain wood floor look as if it has a rug. Creating a stencil on a floor requires careful preparation and attention to detail. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Stencils
- Tape
- Stencil brushes
- Stencil paints
- Ruler
- Sander
- Towel
- Varnish
Instructions
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Decide on a design. If you've never stenciled before, choose a reasonably uncomplicated rug design. Look for designs that only use two colors and simple shapes such as rectangles and triangles. If you have more artistic training and feel comfortable with complexity, find a design with multiple overlays and colors.
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Create the design. To create a stencil, you will need stencils, tape to hold the stencil in place, stencil brushes and stencil paints to create the stencil. Many hardware and crafts stores stock stencil kits you can use. You can also commission a design of your own from the store.
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Remove all furniture and any objects such as lamps from the area before you start to stencil. If you are stenciling a large rug, consider removing all furnishings in the room to give you space to work in.
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Mark out the area of the entire design with a ruler. Make small pencil marks to indicate the boundaries of the design on the floor. You don't want the design to go over these marks.
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Sand the area where you plan to place the stencil. Use sandpaper for a small rug and a sander for larger projects. The sander is necessary to remove the varnish and allow the paint to adhere properly.
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Wipe the floor clean with a moistened towel. There should be no remaining wood shavings anywhere. Wood shavings can easily get into stencil paints and ruin your design if you are not careful.
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Place the stencil on the floor. Tape it so that it stays firmly in place, and you can paint in the design without it moving as you work. Press firmly in the middle and more lightly around the edges to create a three dimensional look. If you are using more than one stencil, you can lift up the first stencil and place the second one down with tape.
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Apply a coat of varnish on top of the stencil. The coat of varnish is necessary to seal in the design and protect it from wear and tear. Use it lightly, and let it dry at least 24 hours before you touch the area where you have placed the stencil.
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