Accent Wall
Since we are planning to put our house on the market in a few years, I don’t want to do any major projects just yet. The carpets need to be replaced and our walls need a fresh coat of paint. But my bedroom needed a fresh look, like now. Well, actually it’s needed it for awhile. I was tired of a few things, including the space above our headboard. I don’t like an empty space above our bed, but I didn’t want something hanging on the wall again. So I thought it would be fun to add an accent wall using a Cutting Edge stencil. Here is what it looked like before I started. Well sort of, this photo was taken last summer.
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I took the curtain down, and those faux metal pieces off of the wall. Next, I patched up the holes, but I only touched up the wall. I didn’t paint a fresh coat of paint on that wall because I knew once I stenciled the wall you would not see where I touched up. Had I painted that wall I would have had to paint my whole room. And I would like to wait a few more years to do that, so it’s nice and fresh when we put our home on the market. The stencil I used today is by Cutting Edge Stencils Gabrielle Damask Stencil. I thought it would work perfectly in our bedroom.
The paint color I am using on my accent wall is a custom color I mixed using Mocha and White Lace both from Heirloom Traditions paint. I didn’t measure, but I used more of the White Lace than I did of the Mocha. The color looks like melted chocolate ice cream.
And as you can see, next to our bedspread it’s a great match. I will be adding more colors to our room too. Once the paint was mixed, I sprayed on stencil adhesive to the back side of my stencil. This little trick will help keep it in place.
While the adhesive on my stencil was drying I taped off my walls on my accent wall. Yeah, you know this is one step I would have loved to have skipped. But you really do need to tape your walls before starting, this step is worth doing. You’ll be glad you did it!
And here’s a shot of my messy bed, isn’t that wonderful. I make my bed every single day, do you? Well, we’re ready to start stenciling the accent wall. See that level on the bottom of my stencil? I love that little level. It slides on to your stencil and helps you keep your stencil straight, because we all know that walls aren’t straight.
I used a foam roller to apply the paint to my accent wall, but you can use a stencil brush too. But, if you’re asking my opinion, and I think you are, I would go with the foam roller. It makes this job super easy. Just remember to blot some of the excess paint off on a paper towel before you roll over your stencil. If not you’ll get bleed through, and that’s no pretty.
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Start rolling, and try not to use too much pressure. If you put too much pressure on to the roller, you’ll get that dreaded bleed through. And you don’t want bleed through on your accent wall.
Keep working down your accent wall. Once you are done, go back to the top and stencil your top section. Cutting Edge Stencils supplies you with a top piece that’s cut in half. It makes it so easy to do as you stencil the top. No worries about bending a big stencil, or getting paint on your ceiling. I couldn’t get a photo of that as it’s hard to photograph and stencil at the same time. I’m talented, but not that talented.
What a difference this accent wall makes in our room. See the side by side comparison? And here is my stenciled accent wall finished up. Once this stencil is completed, your accent wall will look like wallpaper. I’ve had so many people ask me where I bought my wallpaper. I have to admit I’m not a fan of wallpaper. It’s not that I don’t like the way it looks, I don’t like procedure of taking it off. And I do like changing things around my house quite often. Wallpaper limits to those changes.
I know, my bed is still messy. But my room is not finished yet. I thought it would be fun to see it in stages. My daughter walked by as I was shooting the photos. She said ” Are you going to share messy photos of your room”? Well, yeah I am! Hey, just keeping it real, actually what you are not seeing in this photo is the hot mess I have with my paints and things that still need to get cleaned up! But I couldn’t wait to share!
And believe me, you don’t want to see her room on a daily basis. What’s with teenagers and their rooms?
Isn’t it amazing how a stencil can change the look of a room! Oh, did you see that touch of pink on my bed? That’s one of the changes in my room. I have been coveting, wanting Rachel Ashwell’s Petticoat duvet in this lovely blush color for awhile. I was lucky to find a thrifty one on ebay several months ago! Now I am looking for the pair of pillow shams to go with this.
Using a stencil is a great way to change the look of a room without spending a lot of money! You can do a whole room, but I really love this accent wall. This is a simple change that anyone can do. Cutting Edge Stencils really makes it so easy! And if you get tired of it, just paint over it.
Sources:
Cutting Edge Stencils-Gabrielle Damask
Heirloom Traditions Paint-Mocha
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I did this in our old house and swore I’d never do it again, but your room looks so pretty that I’m very tempted to do just that. So pretty, Anne!
Thanks so much Vickie! Well this was a very easy project.And I love the results too!
It looks beautiful but I’m not sure I’d have the patience to do it myself!
It’s very simple to do Julie, trust me 🙂
Love the softness of your stencil color and the fact you defined your space beautifully. As an old-timer, have stenciled, tromp loeil, faux, and landscape painted more walls (not forgetting the critter paintings) than I care to count and yes you are correct, when it is time for a change, just paint over it. Good job, can’t wait to see what else you have for us to see.
Thanks so much S Olivette! Yes I agree, when you are ready for a change, just paint over it.
Anne, The stencil is beautiful and I love the duvet.
xx,
Sherry
Thank you so much Sherry! I waited a long time for that one!
It’s just beautiful, Anne! Love the colors you used too. So perfect in your romantic bedroom! 🙂
xoxo laurie
Thanks so much Laurie!
This is absolutely beautiful!
Thanks so much Brittany!
Just beautiful Anne. The wall looks fabulous. LOVE!!!!
Kris
Thank you Kris!
I love the stenciling job and it makes your bedroom.
Also think the duvet is beautiful.. I am looking for one in Belgium linen. Any ideas?
I also love the small chest to your right when you are lying on the bed. Please comment on it.
Thanks so much Gloria! The pink duvet is from Rachel Ashwell, I found mine on Ebay a bit cheaper. My bedspread underneath is from Ticking and Toile . She custom made this for me, you can select your fabric. And the small chest is from an antique shop, I purchased it a few years ago.
ooohhh, love your stenciled wall! Very pretty!
Thank you Jennifer!
Love the stencil, very clever and it is like wallpaper but, much better cause you can paint right over it or use a different design, you are so smart Anne and i love your bedroom.
Thanks so much Marlene!
Love the stenciled wall, gorgeous.
Thanks so much Marty!
Beautiful! Love your room!
Thank you Tracy!
So gorgeous. I love your messy bed. The messy bed is kind of in right now.
Thank you Katie! Ha, I have heard that, in photos a messy bed can look dare I say sexy? But I don’t leave it that way on a daily basis. Rachel Ashwell has photos of a messy bed in a few of her books.
I love that room, that stencil, those colors!!
! I had to PIN it right away. 🙂
Using soft colors is so smart – makes the room more livable and flexible as far as decorating!
I’m doing an accent wall in my dining room for an art studio tour I’m participating in, in September. I cannot afford to do the entire room before then and I want to showcase my own fabric and wallpaper designs so one wall ought-a do that! I used wooden wall edger trim to section off that wall so the wallpaper naturally abuts something instead of just stopping at a corner with a raw edge.
Thanks so much Paula! Oh that sounds perfect Paula! An accent room can really change a room, and it’s much less expensive and less work to create.
Wow Anne, can’t believe what a difference stenciling made to your wall. Your room looks even more serene and soft. I would love to stencil one wall in our room. We need to move bed back to longer wall tho first. While back we moved bed to an inside wall as it was so cold in our room to start with. Been wanting a change tho, tired of it as it is. I will make a cover for our head board to help insulate us from cold in winter. With it on inside wall there’s no room for hubs to have night stand.
Your room is so pretty, love how soft it looks, makes me want to lie down for a nap or two. Your daughter’s room is same, looks so serene, love her dresser with gorgeous mirror and mirror on her dresser, so pretty. Her lamp looks like one I Had in my room as a teenager.
I’m reading some of your older posts today to see what I missed when my computer was down for while. I need to upgrade to 8.1 then download windows 10 before they stop offering it for free. I bought new 8.1 over year ago but had so much trouble with it kept going back to this pc, my old windows 7. I’m tired of seeing boxes sitting around house waiting for me to use 8.1 again, after I download windows 10 that is. 8.1 drove me crazy, my brain just would not adjust to it.To say I’m not digitally good would be really undersaying it. lol.
Have great weekend. Hope you find the Rachael Ashwell shams to match your duvet.