Hand-Stenciled Tile Backsplash

Oct 6

Oct 6 Hand-Stenciled Tile Backsplash

Behold the small but mighty kitchen in my client, Angela’s Studio Apartment! There is a fridge on the wall just out of frame, but that is it. Seriously.

BUT - just because a space is small doesn’t mean it deserves any less attention. And adding some color and pattern to the backsplash was a great way to make a big impact. The stencil was purchased off Amazon, along with a couple stencil brushes. I used leftover paint from the Half-Moon Painted Headboard project - Flora by Benjamin Moore - and leftover black paint from the Side Table Flip project - Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams. That brings the cost of this project to about $24. I’ll wait for you to pick yourself up off the floor.

Okay. Has the shock worn off yet?? Let’s keep going!

These were the four pattern options I put together. Because the rest of the apartment has green throughout, I wanted the kitchen to feel cohesive without being to “match-y”. Remember - with a studio, all spaces are on display at all times. It’s crucial to pick complementary design. There were merits to each pattern choice, but ultimately both Angela and I gravitated towards #2. We loved the Moroccan-vibes!!

Flora by Benjamin Moore and Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams

Here’s a fun video explaining the process:

The key is to make sure your stencil brush has VERY little paint on it (otherwise it will bleed under the stencil). It seems counter-intuitive, but trust me, less is more. Regarding the best place to start on the wall, it’s easiest to begin right in the middle and work out from there. The corner and edge areas are really tough. In my case, I had to bend and cut the stencil to make it fit. So plan to do those last.

Ready to see how it turned out? And ready to see my favorite vintage-inspired art piece we scored from Six Vintage Rugs??

BEHOLD!

It took about four hours to complete. And when I finished, both Angela and I stood there for a solid five minutes, starring at the wall. IT LOOKED SO COOL! This small project made such an impact and I love how it turned out. My back and neck were sore for the next few days, but my heart was happy. Another DIY for the WIN!