This Clever DIY Wallpaper Hack Gets You Evenly Spaced Stencil Patterns Every Time

One of the easiest ways to breathe new life into a room is to touch up the walls. Wallpaper is a fun option, but it can be expensive and quite a pain to apply. However, you can recreate the look with a stamp or small stencil and some paint, and it is actually a faux painting technique that can make a big difference in your home. Sometimes getting the stencils to line up just right isn't easy. Some people place small stamp squares and hope it's close enough. Others spend a long time taping or drawing out a grid, but that can take a while to set up. Another option is to simply eyeball it, but this can lead to uneven spacing you may not be happy with later.

Thankfully, with just a piece of cardboard, a ruler, and some scissors, you can get your stencils to line up perfectly without any wonky or diagonal lines. Using these items, you can create a template to ensure each stamp is placed in the correct spot. The trick was shared by @lindsey.r.o.s.e on Instagram. To create the pattern, you'll also need paint (acrylic works better than vinyl for this project), a paintbrush or small roller, and a stamp. A few pieces of scrap paper or cardboard, tape, and a pencil can also help you get your template just right.

For a perfect template for your stamps so you can leave wallpaper behind and try a budget-friendly DIY instead, you first have to figure out how spaced out you want your stamps. To do this, use scrap paper or cardboard to test different stencil layouts. Then hang them up for a bit and see what you like best. 

Once you've decided on the general spacing you want, place your stamp near a corner of your cardboard cutout and trace around it using your pencil. Then cut it out so there is a hole where the stamp will fit. Measure out how far apart you want the stamps to be, and put one on the other bottom corner of the cardboard. Lindsey.r.o.s.e cut out five squares about the size of her stamp in an 'X' shape.  This method allows you to line up two or three already printed spots to make sure everything stays even. This layout allows you to alternate lines so you don't end up with straight rows. 

This works best with square or rectangular stamps that can fit perfectly into a simple cutout. Thankfully, you can find them at most hobby stores. Or, if you want a specific design, Etsy is a great place to get personalized ones, such as this Custom Stamp listing by WendyCustomStudio.