Learn to stencil a repeating pattern neatly on a wall or floor using tape, paint and a steady, patient hand.
ST-01Choose your stencil and paintPick a stencil design and check its size against your wall or floor space. Buy a stencil (reusable plastic ones last longest), painter's tape, a stencil brush or small foam roller, and sample pots of paint in your chosen colours. For floors, buy a paint suitable for foot traffic and a floor varnish to seal it afterwards.
ST-02Prepare the room and surfaceMove furniture clear and lay dust sheets over anything you can't move. Wash the wall or floor with sugar soap and water, then let it dry fully. Fill any small holes or cracks and sand them flush, and check the base coat of paint or floor finish is fully dry before you start.
ST-03Mark your guidelinesUse a spirit level or laser line to draw a horizontal or vertical guideline in light pencil, so your pattern stays straight as it repeats. For a wall, mark the centre point first and work outwards evenly on both sides. For a floor, mark a grid so tiles or motifs line up in both directions.
ST-04Position and tape the first stencilLine the stencil up with your guideline and tape all edges down firmly, including any inner bridges, so paint can't creep underneath. Press along the edges with your fingernail to seal the tape properly. Check it's square before you start painting.
ST-05Apply the paintDip the brush or roller lightly and dab most of the paint off onto scrap card first — a stencil brush should look almost dry. Apply paint in light dabbing or stippling motions, working from the edges of each cutout towards the middle. Too much paint is the most common mistake; it bleeds under the edges and blurs the pattern.
ST-06Lift the stencil and check the resultPeel the stencil away slowly and straight, without dragging it sideways. Check the edges are crisp. If a bit has bled, wait for it to dry then touch it up with a fine artist's brush later rather than trying to fix it wet.
ST-07Move along and repeatLine the stencil up on the next section using its edge markers or your guideline, and tape it down again. Work in one direction across the whole area so the pattern stays consistent. Wipe excess paint off the back of the stencil every few repeats so it doesn't smear onto the surface.
ST-08Clean the stencil as you goIf paint starts building up in the cutouts, stop and wipe the stencil clean with a damp cloth, then dry it before continuing. A clogged stencil gives blurred, uneven edges. Keep a damp cloth to hand throughout the job.
ST-09Touch up edges and cornersCorners, skirting lines and edges near a doorframe often can't take the full stencil. Cut the stencil down or mask off with tape to fit these awkward spots, and fill in by hand with a fine brush if needed. Let all paint dry fully before moving on.
ST-10Seal a stencilled floorIf you've stencilled a floor, let the paint cure fully — usually 24 hours minimum, check the tin — then apply two coats of floor varnish over the whole area to protect the pattern from foot traffic. Let each coat dry fully before walking on it, and keep the room ventilated while it dries.
ST-11Clean tools and tidy upWash brushes, the stencil and roller in warm water for water-based paint, or the correct solvent for oil-based paint. Let the stencil dry flat before storing so it doesn't warp. Remove dust sheets and put furniture back once everything is fully dry.
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