How to stencil a piece of furniture – an easy springtime up-cycle

Just after Christmas Mr M was having a quiet hour or so to himself in the garage. By nature, this tidy soul is often found out there rearranging and making better use of the space. On this occasion he was clearing up after my latest project, making noises which suggested he was not best pleased with my half-hearted attempt to do the same. I offered my help and in doing so spotted a piece of furniture that had been gifted to me by a dear friend before she upped and left me for the other side of the world. She had offered it to me with the words “if anyone can do something with this you can” although I had never known quite what. It’s an awkward size and to me not a particularly useful piece. If I am truthfu,l I’m not sure I even know what it is. An occasional table perhaps (what even is an occasional table?) A small desk. Maybe a reproduction lady’s writing desk. Whatever its purpose it had eluded me. Until that moment. “Ooooh you see that thing in the far corner” I called out. “What thing darling” he sighed drowning in a sea of junk “you need to be a little more specific.” “That thing there” I squealed whilst pointing at it excitedly, “that piece with the horrid flower painted on it. Under those chairs and behind those storage boxes… yes that thing. Could you fish it out please, I’ve just had a fabulous idea which might involve a stencil…”

Another present Mr M gave me this Christmas was a gift of various stencils. I’ve tried stencil crafts before here and here you will recall. These new stencils however were much larger, perhaps meant for furniture, walls or such like. I decided this unusual piece would be my next experiment. And if successful I knew exactly where this guinea pig would be placed.

Some might have been happy with this piece in its original condition. To be fair I had tried to sell this some time ago on eBay since it wasn’t to my taste, with no luck however.

For me the raised fussy flower painting just didn’t work. Perfect in a frame and propped against a wall, not so on this piece of furniture. I began by sanding it away and painting the entire piece with my trusty primer. Then three thin coats of my current favourite emulsion paint (which is similar to Farrow and Balls Ammonite) were applied. You may recall I ‘found’ this paint in the garage and used it in another transformation you can read about if you like. For a more detailed tutorial on priming and painting furniture click here since today I am focusing on stencilling.

I’ve carried out my own Pinterest research which you can see here. Personally, I could see no advantage to an ‘all over stencil’ since there will be objects on both surfaces obscuring the most part of a large design. I decided on a scroll type stencil hoping for a mildly French feel for the end result. I wanted a subtle unfussy look; a less is more approach.

I began with the tiny drawer and selected two scrolls for either side of the handle and I placed each scroll in position using a low tack masking tape. The instructions suggest a low tack adhesive craft spray could be used as an alternative fix. On reflection this second method would perhaps work better on a less than flat surface, like this drawer. No matter, the masking tape sufficed.

Next, I poured a tiny amount of a darker grey paint onto one of my old tea plates and used this stencil brush. The trick is to have very little paint on your brush. So, dab the brush in the paint lightly to start and then remove as much as you can in a clean area on the plate or use paper towels or a rag. Less is more again. You don’t want the paint to ‘bleed’ under your stencil or ‘tear’ around your design when you remove your stencil.

Now don’t be scared, dab and twist the brush lightly over the cut out on the stencil making sure to keep the stencil firmly in place. If you are a little nervous practice first on paper (no of course I didn’t) or watch the many YouTube videos available. You will have used such a thin coat of paint, it should dry in no time at all. You may wish to apply a second coat if you are going for a stronger look. I wanted faded time worn elegance, so one light coat was all I needed. This is how each turned out…

I repeated the same technique with a different stencil on the table top and shelf below measuring carefully central points for both. He would have kittens if they were anything but.

And then it was out with the sandpaper and a light rub to each stencil to age further still. I also concentrated rubbing areas on the piece of furniture where in time, the item would certainly have been knocked. Edges, corners and the handle itself. Only a very light rub was needed to achieve this subtle look.

Finally, a layer of this wax was applied and duly buffed for protection and a slight sheen.

We have space for only one bedside table in our bedroom. Lucky really since we have only one of these tables. And would you believe it, in a further stroke of good fortune, the only space we have appears to be on my side of the bed.

A final resting place for this piece of up-cycled furniture? I wouldn’t have thought so. You will no doubt see it from time to time on my Instagram account in one room or another, it’s purpose reinvented over time as is my want.

Do you have a piece of furniture needing a spruce? A table, wardrobe or perhaps a chair or chest of drawers? For the price of a lick of paint and an inexpensive stencil, you could have a spruced up corner of your home in no time at all. A simple, quick and inexpensive project for springtime. Right, that’s it from me for today, I’ve got the stencil bug so if you’ll excuse me I’m off to apply a little magic at Belle’s. Until next week…x

With the Easter weekend not too far away now you might be planning a DIY of your own. I’ve selected a few alternative stencils below to help get you thinking…