Painting a row of repeating designs is often more effective than scattering stencils around the room, especially if you place the row where wood moulding might otherwise be.

To speed your work, use a stencil that includes several repeats of the design.

One-layer stencils, as used here, can be painted in a single color or several. If you choose multiple colors, first test the effect on a sample board.

Since no glaze nor protective finish is needed, any type of paint is fine.

Materials and tools you’ll need:

* Artist’s acrylics in various colors
* Stencil
* Stencil brushes
* Waterproof container to use as a palette
* Painter’s tape or spray-on stencil adhesive
* Level
* Cotton T-shirt rags

1. Begin by inspecting the stencil to determine which side goes out and mark it with a short piece of painter’s tape. 2. Apply painter’s tape to one edge of the stencil, or spray the back with stencil adhesive. If you choose adhesive, wait for it to become tacky. Using a level, position the stencil where you want the design.
3. With a pencil, mark the spots provided on the stencil to ensure that pattern repeats line up properly. You’ll use these dots when you reposition the stencil.
4. Pour a small amount of each color of paint into a shallow container that’s easy to carry. A plastic plate works well. Next, gather your stencil brushes, which have thick tufts of short, stubby bristles.
5. Lightly dab a brush into the paint so that the bristles pick up only a little. Blot off any excess on a paper towel. Once you start with a color, paint all sections that need it before you clean the brush and go on to another color. Or, use a different brush for each color and wipe the bristles on a dry cloth each time you finish using it.
6. In small, squat openings, transfer the paint with a flicking motion, not with a long brushstroke. This and the other motions used for stenciling are designed to fill openings with color in a way that prevents drips and blobs.
7. Fill in long, thin openings with more of a pouncing motion, as if you were stippling the design.
8. On wide openings, paint in a circular motion. Work from the edges toward the center so paint doesn't leak under the stencil. 9. When the entire design is painted and has dried, pull off the stencil and reposition it. Use the pencil marks you made in step 3, but also check the alignment with a level. Move the stencil slightly, if necessary, to keep it level. Otherwise, slight irregularities will add up and the final stencil will be noticeably out of line with the first one.
10. As you near a corner, be aware that the stencil may not end where the wall does. You may be able to bend a simple stencil like this into the corner and continue with the design on the next wall. Another option is to stretch out or condense the design so that it fits. You may be able to add slightly more space between elements, for example.