How to Make a Palm Tree for a Nursery Wall
Decorating the nursery is an exciting part of the preparations when you're expecting a baby. When you're selecting a theme for your baby's nursery, think outside of the box. Instead of selecting pink or blue teddy bears and other typical baby-related themes, choose instead a calming, tropical theme. If you opt for this themed decor for the nursery, use a palm tree on the wall to bring the tropical decor to life. With a stencil and a few basic painting supplies, you can transform your baby's nursery into a tropical paradise. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Palm tree stencil
- Painter's tape
- Paintbrushes
- Low VOC brown paint
- Low VOC green paint
Instructions
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Decide where you want to place the palm tree. Select a wall where the image will be easily seen, such as behind the baby's crib or changing table.
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Clean the wall of dust and grime with warm soapy water and a sponge. Use a rag to dry the wall. Removing dirt and grime will ensure the proper adhesion of the paint to the wall.
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Secure a palm tree stencil to the chosen location. Use pieces of painter's tape to affix the stencil to the wall. Use enough tape that the stencil is secure and will not move when you move a paintbrush over it.
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4
Apply paint to the trunk of the palm tree by dipping a new paintbrush directly into the can of the brown paint. Wipe it on the edge of the can to remove any excess paint; too much paint on the brush may lead to drips, disturbing the look of the palm tree. Starting at the top of the trunk, apply the paint to the stencil with slow, even strokes. Paint your way down to the base of the trunk, applying more brown paint to the brush if necessary. Make sure that the paint is applied evenly and that the entire trunk is painted.
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Paint the fronds of the palm tree. Dip a new paintbrush directly into the can of the green paint. As with the brown paint, wipe off any excess paint on the edge of the can to avoid dripping paint. Start painting the frond farthest to the left or right. Apply the paint with slow, even strokes. Make sure that the frond is completely covered with green paint; apply more paint to the brush, if needed. Once you have finished painting one frond, paint the one next to it in the same manner until all of the fronds have been painted.
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Remove the stencil from the wall. Starting at one of the top corners of the stencil, peel off the pieces of painter's tape and slowly pull the stencil off of the wall to prevent the stencil from hitting the wet paint and smudging it. It's important to remove the stencil while the paint is wet. If the stencil remains on the wall while the paint dries, the paint may adhere to it, causing it to stick to the wall and damaging the image.
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Determine if any touch-ups are needed. Scan the palm tree to see if any brown or green paint needs to be applied. If it does, use a small artist's paintbrush to fill in any gaps or touch up any smudges.
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Tips & Warnings
Select a stencil that is large enough to make an impact on the wall. If you use a small stencil, it may become lost in the space and defeat the purpose of painting it on the wall.
Use a lighter shade of green and darker shade of brown paint to add highlights to the trunk and the fronds of the tree, giving it a more realistic look.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
