Bringing Character to your Kitchen

 In my parents home the kitchen was always the gathering place where we would spend the most time together. I knew that that's what I wanted our kitchen to be as well. Somewhere warm and inviting that would feel like a comfortable place where friends and family could spend time together. So as soon as we bought our home I knew that everything in the kitchen had to go. The tan walls and black cabinets where just so blah, and to be honest rather depressing. When I thought of my dream kitchen I imagined a bright sunny place that invited you in from the moment you saw it.

Over the next week or so I'll be sharing bits and pieces of my kitchen transformation. Usually bloggers show the grand reveal at the beginning and then go through each of the tutorials. Y'all know how I like to switch things up so this time around we're doing tutorials first.

First up is by far the easiest way to update any kitchen, or really any room in your house-stenciling! It's much easier than painting an entire room, or cabinets, or anything else you can think of. I was a little hesitant at first, just because I didn't think it could really be as easy as everyone says, most things aren't, this however is.

The amazing group behind Royal Design Studio was sweet enough to send me a stencil to review and I was so excited to get this puppy up on my back splash. When you think about it, stencil's are the best way to have an amazing back splash without paying the money for tile and then tearing it out in 2-3 years when you change your style or you're trying to sell your home.

I went with the Hollywood Squares stencil from the Allover Modern Stencils Collection because I loved the clean lines of the square stencil and the character it had. Each stencil comes with a detailed instruction pamphlet with the best way to get the most out of your stencil. The steps to take are so easy and they really do make a huge difference!

Supplies needed-

1-Your Favorite Stencil
2-Foam Roller or Stencil Brush
3-Paint
4-Paper Towles
5-LOTS of painters tape!

A normal person probably wouldn't use almost an entire roll of painter's tape on this, but I was kind of obsessive about making sure that each time I taped it up it wasn't going anywhere. The paper towels aren't a necessity but Royal Design recommended it and I thought it made a difference. By rolling your foam roller or bloating your stencil brush slightly on the paper towel before applying it to your stencil gets the excessive paint off and helps keep the lines crisp and clean.

Isn't it absolutely fabulous? All for about $30 (less if you have the supplies on hand like I did). When you look at using stone or tile for a back splash the cheapest ones will usually run for about $200-300. Now you can take that extra $270 and spend it on new clothes-or if your more like us, put it towards another renovation in the house.

Have a stenciling project in mind but just missing the stencil? Check back next Wednesday for a chance to win one of Royal Design Stencil's and bring character to your space!

Have fun stenciling! I can't wait to see what you come up with. Have you already used a stencil in a fabulous project? Email me at kari {at} newlywedsonabudget {dot} com, I'd love to showcase it!

Be sure to check out my full kitchen transformation, how I did it under $50, and my how-to on painting kitchen cabinets

I was given product to review from Royal Design Studio Stencil  for this post. All opinions are 100% my own. 

I'm linking up to these fabulous parties: Seven Thirty Three, Romance on a Dime, I Gotta Try That, Rae Gun Ramblings, SNAP, Chef in Training, The Winthrop Chronicles, My Girlish Whims, Lil Luna, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Artsy Fartsy Mama, A Glimpse Inside, Somewhat Simple, The 36th Avenue, The Craft Blog Stalker, Seven Alive, House of Hepworths, Sew Can Do, Alderberry Hil, All Things Fee, Project Inspire