You guys know how much we love statement walls here at ABM (you can see all the previous walls here!), but it occurred to me recently that we haven’t done a wall with paint pens or markers yet. I know, I know; shame on us and all of that, but don’t yell too hard because I’m about to share one with you today. My musician husband Todd has a music room in our house where he can practice, write, and record, but until lately it’s been dubbed the most boring room of the house. He insisted on keeping a giant couch (that he’s had for the last 13 years!) in the space, and it felt like it was literally taking up half the small room, so I never really put much effort into decorating it. Once he decided to move the couch to his off-campus studio space, I jumped at the chance to add some personality to his room, and I thought a statement wall recreating this amazing geometric print would be just the ticket for the space. Since the walls are a medium grey color, I decided that a stenciled wall design with a white paint pen would work out perfectly. Here’s how I did it:
Supplies:
-scrap cardboard (just ask a local store for boxes if you don’t have any; the bigger the better!)
–painter’s tape
-thick white paint pen (this one and this one are good)
–X-Acto knife
–push pins to hold template on wall
First I decided how many rows of the pattern I wanted on the wall. Once I chose four rows I measured the wall height, marked the four section measurements on both ends of the wall with a pencil, and used painter’s tape to mark off the rows.
Once I figured out the height, I got a big piece of cardboard, cut it to the row height, and traced my shape across the cardboard as far as it would go. I alternated the shape orientation so that it would look like an interlocking pattern once all together. Keep the shapes that get cut out of your template since you’ll need those in your final step.
I used push pins to secure the template to the wall so I could trace without having to hold the giant template in place. Pay attention to where the middle of the wall is, and make sure that you have the middle of a shape line up exactly in that spot. If you line up the middle carefully, the outside edges of the wall will both end at the same point in your pattern.
Taking the paint pen, I just traced inside of the shapes and allowed the paint to dry (which it does rather quickly) before going over it a second time. If you have a lot of corners to get into like I did, I would also use a smaller point of paint pen as well so you can get into the corners a little better.
Once you have completed all your outline shapes for that section, remove the push pins and move the template over. Make sure to overlap the first shape of the template with the last shape you traced so that your spacing will be the same throughout. Since it can be hard to get the big template to line up exactly with the ends of the wall, you can use the leftover cardboard shapes that you originally cut from your template for this final step. Trim the cutouts vertically as needed and to use them as smaller templates to complete your shapes right next to the corner wall seam. Once your shapes are all traced, you’re done!
The wall only took me a couple of hours to complete, so I was pretty happy with how fast it went, and since I was able to use one paint pen (well, one thick pen and one thin pen for the corners) for the whole wall, the project only cost me around $10 too! Not bad if you ask me. You can also do some triangle decals on a wall for a quick, similar effect and Elsie did a paint pen wall that also turned out so cute as well. I love the vibe that the geometric shapes add to the space and the room definitely feels like it’s got some personality happening now (I like the pattern with the cowhide rug pattern nearby). I will for sure be expecting a lot of love songs to be written about me in this room from now on—I think it’s only fair, don’t you? xo. Laura
P.S. Check out more home decor on our wishlist and shopping pages!
Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with Stella from The Signature Collection.
54 Comments
Did you use an oil or water based paint pen? I found a link to the pan use some rain here but it wasn’t working for me. Thanks!
I came across this looking for an answer to a question and I wonder if you know…
I am thinking of using pain pens to create a pattern on my ceiling instead of using wallpaper but i am curious how it will cover when and if I want to do something new. Have you ever tried to paint over paint pens? Did it leave a faint textural pattern of the pen line?
This is a cool room! Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Amanda
I absolutely love how awesome this turned out – and how inexpensive it was to do as well! I have been looking for some way to jazz up my teen sons’ bedrooms and this would be fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
What is the base paint color?
I love how this turned out! Such a cool statement wall. I’ve featured it in a roundup for inspiration for monochromatic decor here: http://www.heartfeltbalancehandmadelife.com/2017/05/10-amazing-diy-decor-ideas-to-inspire.html
I hope you have an excellent weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!
HI Adriana! This one should work: hite/dp/B006ZLRW6I/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1417798865&sr=8-11&keywords=Montana+Acrylic+Marker 🙂 -Jacki
Hi! Wonderful idea! Can you tell me wich is the paint pencil brands? I was looking in Amazon but I can’t find those markers. Thanks in advance!
Do you have any instructions on making the stencil? I worry about making the pattern repeat exact.
First of all that organ is amazing. Second of all the wall paint pen is the most amazing thing I’ve seen! Definitely need one of those when we’re re-decorating! x
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
I love this! So creative.
awesome! also, love the little gold plant stand on the right. vintage? or what is the source? Thanks!
Very cool, love the design! I would love to try this at my house 🙂
Kerby
http://life-love-craft.blogspot.ca
Looks cool!
I love how inexpensive yet amazing this is!
This is totally amazing guys and really creative too!
https://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
Thank you. I have yet to jump on the washi tape train, maybe now is the time because I like how graphic and modern it looks. Thanks!
Love it!!! It’s like wallpaper without the mess of putting it up or taking it down.
I want that wall now! Great idea x
www.alittlespaceforeverything.blogspot.com
This looks fantastic. Giving me so great ideas for my own wall, that desperately has to be done.
I love this idea! I’m always looking for cute DIY home decorating projects and this is right up my alley. I am going to have so much fun with this idea! Love the post!
wow! This turned out amazing! It seems so much simpler then the usual stenciled statement wall. Thanks for sharing!
Love, love, love this! Laura, your DIYs are always inspiring but this is so simple yet so effective I think it is something a hopeless DIYer like I could do!
I’ve always wanted to try a statement wall like your different coloured triangle wall but now I think I want to do this one instead.
Laura, I love how much attention you pay to details! I still remember the painted outdoor rug and your old triangle statement wall! This looks amazing, even though it didn’t take too much time and also didn’t cost much! Keep sharing your great ideas!
so cute!
xx nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
I love the ABM walls! I also love how this only cost about $10 – decorative wallpapers cost waaay too much for me.
M – Mocha and Moccasins
I love that it’s a statement wall done without wallpaper. Not that I don’t like the look of wallpaper – I just hate the removal process when it’s time to redo the walls.
Ha ha, thanks! My mom and brother are really good at math, so maybe I got a little bit of it too!
Laura 🙂
This is great. I started a wall with favorite lyrics, quotes, scripture and book passages on it. I’ve been using a paint brush, which is slow, and have been wondering if a paint pen would work. Now I’m convinced and going to buy one!
Sometimes I think you guys are psychics. I just went on a crazy Pinterest spree trying to find wall patterns with paint pens because my genius self painted my small hallway black and it’s a leeeetle intense. Needs a pattern to break it up with awesomeness. Gracias Laura. 🙂
PS. You always impress me with your mathematical/spatial abilities. Measurements and patterns are not my forte but you give me hope! hahaha
This is such a fun yet so easy diy…and the result is awesome… love this diy..def using it in my future home..!
xo
Hems
agoldentulip.blogspot.com
This is so cool! It’s a just a paint pen, but it makes such a big statement in the room! Very cool.
This is so lovely!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/asos-wishlist-diy-starbucks-pumpkin.html
Interesting idea. Very creative!
such a great idea! i’m going to have to try this, wish me luck!
xoxo, kiely
www.pocketofblossoms.com
This is awesome!! When I saw the first photograph, I expected it to be pretty tricky, but you’ve totally simplified the process! Can’t wait to have paintable walls, someday. 🙂
Always, Anita
They do leave tiny holes, so you could go back and fill them in but most likely you wouldn’t even see them once the pattern is complete 🙂
Laura
I actually just made those with washi tape 🙂
Laura
This is SO! COOL!!! You are such a creative genius!! I’ve never even heard of paint pens before. I am totally going to look into this project for my place.
love it!!
I don’t even knew that paint pens exist
grat idea!
(:
Oh god this is so beautiful! x
www.wild-cherrytree.com
Super cute! Did the push pins leave holes in the wall that you had to go back and fill in? Or maybe you didn’t push them in very far?
WOW, that looks soo awesome and simple and I love the end result! The room looks great!!
www.passionandparanoia.com
WOW, that looks soo awesome and simple and I love the end result! The room looks great!!
www.passionandparanoia.com
I love the statement wall. I also love the geometric prints that hang on the wall. Did you do those yourself, if so, do you have diy details? Or, if they were purchased, is there a source? Thanks! Melissa
So amazing! I’d definitely use paint pens for my office space – pinning this for sure. Thank you for sharing!
Warm Regards,
Alexandra
www.littlewildheart.com
Oh wow, that looks incredible! And I can’t believe how easy it is! Great work, and great inspiration!
Oh wow, that looks incredible! And I can’t believe how easy it is! Great work, and great inspiration!
So simple but actually really effective 🙂
This is so cool! Super unique, not too messy/hard. I love it!
This looks so nice but I would be really afraid to mess it up 😀
Lisa – AT LEAST BLOG
This is amazing! Love the colors you chose, too. Definitely want to try this one day! xo
I have been looking for an easy statement wall to make in my bedroom, and this is definitely the best idea that I have seen so far– thanks!
Girl you are FANCY. This looks awesome!!