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1 Measure the width of your wall then, using a pencil and spirit level, mark the centre of the wall and draw a line from the top to the bottom. This will be your guideline for applying the Stencil of Paris. Working from the centre outwards will ensure a symmetrical pattern.

2 From the top of the ladder, start at the top next to the ceiling and work your way downwards. Stick the stencil firmly on the wall with masking tape. Using the pencil, mark where the stencil ends at the bottom and on the left-hand side; these lines will be your guide as you move the stencil downwards and also when you start a new row of stencilling. Tip Make sure you always position your stencil the same way round as you go along; not back to front or upside down. 3 Apply the Stencil of Paris paste with a paint scraper or old credit card, exerting sufficient pressure to fill all the gaps in the stencil with the paste. Scrape off any excess Stencil of Paris from the stencil and return it to the pot. 4 Carefully pull the stencil off the wall. The paste will still be wet, so don’t touch it.

5 Now position the stencil just beneath the square you’ve completed – use the lines you drew in Step 2 as a guide. Don’t worry about the pencil lines as the wall will be painted afterwards. If you plan to use a light colour, use a very light pencil that won’t show through. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to create a neat row of stencilled squares below each other. Tips Use an earbud to remove any paste residue on the wall. Rinse off your stencil in a bucket of water after every fourth square, especially if the stencil has small pattern holes. The Stencil of Paris may get stuck in these holes, which will spoil the effect. 6 Once you’ve applied an entire row of stencils from top to bottom, move your ladder to the left and repeat steps 2 to 5. Once the entire left side of the wall is finished, repeat the same steps to the right of the centre line. Allow the Stencil of Paris to dry (at least 4 hours) and then paint the wall in the colour of your choice; we used Dulux Rich Matt in the colour Sapphire Springs 2. OPTIONAL ( see inset opposite) Once the paint has dried, sand the wall lightly with 100-grit sandpaper. The white Stencil of Paris will show through slightly, adding rich texture to your wall. Where the wall ends on the sides (and top and bottom), you won’t necessarily be able to stencil a full square. Don’t cut your stencil; position it so that you can fill in any remaining strips with the Stencil of Paris.