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Faux Painting Techniques!
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Stenciling
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A traditional art that's making a big comeback, provides the most opportunity for originality. Although you can buy stencils ready-made, it's really very easy to come up with your own unique designs. Be aware that each layer of color in a design will require a separate stencil; when making your own you'll need to take care that they match up and that the "bridges" are not so thin that paint will bleed under them. (By looking at a set of stencils in a store, you'll get a very clear idea how they're made and how they work.)
For small rooms with high ceilings, a stencilled border at the ceiling will make the room seem larger horizontally. Vertical use of stencils helps remedy the opposite situation. And if you've got the time and the inclination, you can cover entire walls.
To make your own stencils, trace a design onto a piece of acetate, and cut out the appropriate panels with a craft knife. Avoid using any other material*porous substances like cardboard make very poor stencils. If your design is to be multilayered (that is, multicolored*for instance a floral pattern with red flowers and green leaves), you'll need a separate stencil for the different parts of the pattern (i.e., one for the flowers, one for the leaves) that should match up into the total image when laid on top of each other. To paint with stencils, use latex paint (or acrylic artist's paints). Affix the stencil to the surface being painted. If you're making a long border, measure and mark the stencil locations with chalk beforehand. With a stencil brush, apply the paint with a light dabbing movement, taking care to avoid painting heavily on the edges of the cutout. It's best to dip the brush into the paint only about a third of the way, and take care to dab off the excess onto a piece of paper or cardboard*too much paint will bleed through the stencil. Allow each layer to dry overnight before returning for the next.
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