It’s easier than you think to apply a wall stencil to any room in your home. With so many stencil choices, it’s an inexpensive and easy way to add flare or dramatic effect to a wall. So let’s learn how to paint wall stencils at home!

Don’t purchase a whole gallon of paint for your stencil – remember, you aren’t painting the entire wall, just the sections left uncovered by the stencil. Usually, the 8oz sample size jars at your local hardware store will be sufficient, and they’re reasonably priced as well. Be sure to have some paint that matches your wall color, in case you need to touch it up.

Wall & Stencil Choice
First you must choose the wall you wish to stencil. There can be multiple reasons to choose a certain wall to stencil – perhaps for dramatic effect, for subtle serenity, or maybe even to cover up an uneven wall surface.

Whatever your reasons to stencil, the wall you choose should be large enough to accommodate the size stencil you will use. You may also want to choose a wall which gets natural light, so that your stencil can be seen day and night.

There are so many stencil designs to choose from – stencils with common phrases, stencils with optical illusions, and stand-alone stencils with special images or patterns. Don’t go overboard – simplicity is good for a project like this. When selecting a stencil, you should choose one that reflects your style or whatever statement you wish to make.

Measure, Mark & Make it Happen!
The first step is to measure your wall from end to end and select the spot for your stencil. If you know the dimensions of your stencil up front, this will help you determine the best location and fit on your wall.

Mark up your measurements with a pencil so you know exactly where to tape the stencil up. In some cases, you can even trace the stencil on the wall before you paint if it makes it easier for you to follow (you can paint over the pencil lines later).

Before you begin to do anything else, here is a basic list of what you’ll need to properly stencil your wall:

• Wall stencil
• Blue painter’s tape or spray adhesive
• Craft paint or Latex interior paint
• A dense foam roller or a brush
• Styrofoam plates
• Drop cloth
• Paper towels

If you are able to practice with the stencil on a piece of cardboard, you should. It’s not always clear what issues you may encounter while painting with stencils. Also, be extra careful if you’re stenciling near any wood trim, molding in a room corner, or near a ceiling – be sure to tape those areas off first.

It’s easy to take the next step – simply pour out some paint onto your plate, apply very little paint on your brush or roller and remove the excess onto a paper towel. Applying too much paint to the stencil will cause it to seep under the edges and blur your design.

Start painting on top of the covered bit of the stencil and brush or roll in towards the open part of the stencil until it is completely covered. Then, once you have finished your stencil, pull it off the wall and let your paint dry. If you are working with multiple stencils, allow the paint on the stencil to dry for 10 minutes before you apply it to another section of the wall (see our blog on the average time to paint a room for more info). And there you have it—now you know how to paint wall stencils!

The post How to Paint Wall Stencils in Your Home appeared first on J Canabe's Painting.

To make it easier for you to narrow down the choices, it’s wise to use a tool that the professional painter relies on – the color wheel. There are about 7 million colors distinguishable to the human eye and using a color wheel helps separate colors into “families” and will showcase all the different hues as well.

It’s best to rely on a professional painter’s advice when you’re choosing a color. Whatever room you’re working with, try to pair two different colors together instead of a different shade of the same hue.

The three color families you’ll find when using a color wheel are:

• Primary Colors: All colors come from primary colors, except white. Blue, yellow and red are the primary colors; only true combinations of these three colors will make secondary colors.
• Secondary Colors: If you mix equal amounts of two primary colors it will create secondary colors. The combination of red and blue colors make violet, blue and yellow colors make green and red and yellow colors make orange.
• Tertiary Colors: To make a tertiary color, mix one primary color with larger amounts of another primary color. For instance, one part green mixed with two parts yellow will make lighter green.

Using a color wheel will help you combine a cooler color with a warmer one, for a beautiful contrast in your room. The color wheel can make it easier to choose your paint and wallpaper colors, but it’s probably best to seek advice from a professional.

Connect with us to consult with our color experts – they have great color advice and can answer any questions you may have as you choose colors for your next indoor project.

The post Using a Color Wheel to Choose a Paint Color appeared first on J Canabe's Painting.

Depending on a variety of factors, like room size, number of windows and where daylight occurs in each part of the room, the right paint color can make all the difference. The color wheel is the best resource for interior and exterior painters, interior designers and decorators to work with because they can choose from a broad color palate. Paint color will also help determine furniture colors, accessories and accents for the room.

Paint colors are typically chosen within color theory guidelines. For instance, on the color wheel warm tones are represented by the yellow, orange, and red colors and cool tones are represented by the blues, greens, and purples. Each added paint color alters the space in a different way – so a room which equally supports both tones is pleasing to the eye.

The latest decorating trend is to incorporate a combination of warm and cool tones to create depth and contrast. Introducing both warm and cool colors to the walls can produce a contrasting effect. Accent colors on architectural details will help create a unique backdrop on which a designer can build upon.

There are some other things to consider when choosing your paint color. If there is any exposed wood or brick in the room, those features also add warm tones, so you may want to contrast with a cool tone on the wall. Choosing opposite tile colors or hardwood floor colors can also add warmth to the room.

Each room receives influence from natural light differently throughout the day. Natural lighting also affects the colors you choose for the room. Use warm colors such as red, shades of orange and yellow in rooms with northern light exposure for a pleasant balance of analogous colors. A room with southern exposure can benefit from the use of both warm and cool colors.

Whatever colors are being considered for your next painting project, it’s wise to consult with your painting contractor to choose the type of finish you need for your walls or trim. An expert painter at J. Canabe can help you make those decisions and answer any questions you may have. Check out our residential painting services and see how we can help today!

The post How to Choose the Best Paint Color appeared first on J Canabe's Painting.