How To Add A Lively Wall Pattern With Stamps

Carter likes the contrast of a semigloss pattern on a flat base coat. To keep the look loose, he moved across the wall, stamping squares with diamond cutouts at 4-inch intervals in freehand fashion. Then he went back and added smaller circles in the blank spaces. “Try out your pattern on a piece of colored paper, and if you don’t like the way it looks, vary the amount of paint on the stamp or make a new one,” he says. And save the paper—it’s great for gift wrap. For a step-by-step look, read on.

Create the Stamps

Figure out shapes by drawing a pattern on paper. Here, a 1-inch circle and 4-inch square were cut out of craft foam, then glued to wood blocks. A diamond was drawn on the square and cut out with an X-Acto knife.

Apply the Paint

Pour latex (here, it’s Benjamin Moore’s White Dove) into a small roller tray or onto a disposable plastic plate. Dip the stamp into the paint to load it or use a small artist’s brush to cover the foam surface. Pro Tip: “For a softer look, lower the contrast of the colors and finishes. If you want more energy, crank up the contrast—semigloss yellow on flat navy, for example.” Brian Carter, decorative painter

Practice Stamping on Paper

As you get a feel for it, adjust the amount of paint on the stamp and the pressure you’re using. “Don’t press so hard that you extract every bit of paint—you want it somewhat uneven,” says Carter.

Press the Stamp Flat to the Wall

Move across the wall in horizontal rows. Here, Carter stamped every other 4-inch square. If you’re worried about wavy lines, let a chalk line be your guide. Adjust spacing when you near the end of a row so that you end with a full square.

Center Circles in Blank Squares

Gently press with the dot stamp to avoid thick, solid dots—you want a bit of the base coat to show through. Don’t worry too much about placement. “It’s a small stamp, so if it’s off a little bit it’ll still look fine,” says Carter.

Touch up Thin Spots

Use a small artist’s brush to add a little more where the paint seems too meager or a lot of the outline of the pattern is missing. Then all that’s left is to stand back and enjoy your handiwork.