We have been officially submerged by the COVID-19 quarantine; and home decor projects are still helping to keep me sane!  On a not so random whim, I decided to paint a black accent wall.  I wasn’t sure about how I’d feel about it, but thankfully, I ended up loving it.  It was a nice visual break from my otherwise all white walls, floors, and kitchen.  

Of course me being me, I’m always looking for ways to add layers, texture, and pattern.  For me, it gives that extra umph that otherwise monochrome walls do not.  My original idea was to try out the really cool 3-D wall panel trend I’ve been seeing.  Unfortunately, after taking some measurements and doing some price calculating, I realized the 3-D panel idea may be a bit too pricey for such a small wall.  I also thought about wallpaper, but I knew I wanted to keep the black as a contrast to so much white.  

After re-visiting one of my favorite places for decor inspo- Pinterest of course- I decided to go with a wall stencil.  If you haven’t heard of, or tried a wall stencil before, I highly suggest giving it a try, especially if you want to add a bit of pattern to a space!  I previously purchased from Cutting Edge Stencils before and knew it’d be the perfect place to start.  Their stencils are lightweight, sturdy, and re-usable.  The site also has all the tools you’ll need to complete your project; and tutorial videos to help guide you.  

Without much searching, I found a stencil I loved.  And even found some design inspo from the way someone else used the same stencil.  I ended up going with the Deco Diamonds Allover Stencil which gives an awesome Art Deco feel.  For my color scheme, I chose white and a great bronze metallic paint for accent. The existing black is a matte from Behr and the metallic bronze is “Hushed Copper” from PPG. 

All in all, I’m pretty happy with how this stencil project came out. I think the black base, white pattern, and bronze accent go perfectly with the framed print of James Baldwin. I especially love it because it’s one of the first things you see when you walk up the steps into my home. I also love that it’s another part of my home that clearly represents by decor style and point of view: Bold, colorful, and lots of contrast!

wall Stenciling Tips

If you’re contemplating a stencil project- go for it.  It’s super easy to do, especially if you’re working with a freestanding wall.  Stenciling in corners is definitely a bit trickier, but you can do it with a bit of patience (easier said than done- I know!).