The Stencil Studio: Creative Stencils for Walls, Floors, Furniture and Much More
There comes a point in almost every decorating project when you look at a perfectly respectable wall and think:
“It needs something.”
The problem is working out what that something should be.
Wallpaper can involve a substantial commitment. Stickers are not always the look you want. Hiring somebody to hand-paint an intricate Moroccan pattern across the bathroom floor may result in a rather alarming quote.
This is where The Stencil Studio comes in.
Based in the Cotswolds, The Stencil Studio is a British business specialising in reusable decorating stencils, wall stencils, tile stencils, floor stencils, craft stencils and custom-made stencils. Its designs can be used on everything from walls and furniture to floors, fabrics and craft projects. The company manufactures its standard stencils in the UK from reusable Mylar plastic.
For creative shoppers exploring UK online shopping, this is a wonderfully specialised UK online shop that can turn a tin of paint and a relatively ordinary surface into something much more interesting.
And you don’t necessarily need to possess the artistic abilities of Michelangelo.
Which is reassuring.
What Is The Stencil Studio?
The story behind The Stencil Studio is rather lovely.
Founder Nikki explains that the idea can be traced back to a request from her toddler around two decades before the company’s current About page was written: he wanted large diggers painted on his bedroom wall.
Unable to find suitable digger stencils, she made her own using oiled manilla board and a craft knife. The homemade two-layer stencils worked, and the idea gradually developed into a business. After completing a business course, Nikki began demonstrating stencilling at home parties and says she completed more than 100 parties during her first year.
After taking a break following the arrival of her second child, stencil cutting resumed in 2007. Demand grew enough for Nikki’s sister Clare to join her, and The Stencil Studio was officially born. The sisters initially worked from a home office, hand-cutting stencils and developing both standard designs and bespoke products.
That means this is one online retailer whose origins can genuinely be traced back to:
“Mum, I want diggers on the wall.”
Children have launched businesses with considerably less promising ideas.
From Handmade Stencils to Laser Cutting
The Stencil Studio says it has been designing and cutting decorative stencils since the 1990s, with its collections evolving alongside changing interior-design trends.
Today, its reusable stencils are manufactured from 190-micron Mylar, a flexible and washable polyester plastic. The material can be used with different types of paint, including acrylic, emulsion and spray paint, provided you choose a paint suitable for the surface you’re decorating.
The company also produces custom stencils using precision laser cutting.
So while the original diggers required a craft knife and considerable patience, technology has thankfully moved things along.
What Does The Stencil Studio Sell?
The range is much larger than you might expect if your previous stencil experience involved plastic alphabet shapes at primary school.
Current collections include tile stencils, geometric stencils, Moroccan stencils, Indian designs, Scandi stencils, flowers, animals, birds and butterflies, nursery stencils, children’s designs, bunting, hearts, large tree stencils and French vintage or shabby-chic patterns.
There are also Stencil MiNiS for smaller craft projects and a bespoke service for customers who want their own artwork, logo or design converted into a reusable stencil.
Stencils Aren’t Just for Walls
One of the most interesting things about the range is how many surfaces can potentially be decorated.
The company suggests using appropriate stencils on:
- Walls
- Floors
- Furniture
- Fabric
- Craft projects
- Lampshades
- Cabinet doors
- Food and other suitable surfaces
That opens up considerably more possibilities than simply painting a border around the bedroom.
An old chest of drawers?
Stencil it.
Plain plant pots?
Stencil them.
Boring patio?
Apparently fair game.
Piece of furniture that your partner has specifically asked you not to “do anything creative with”?
Perhaps discuss that one first.
Wall Stencils for DIY Home Décor
Wall stencils are perhaps the most obvious starting point.
Rather than covering an entire wall in wallpaper, you can use a repeating stencil pattern to create something resembling wallpaper with paint.
The Stencil Studio describes stencilling as a potentially more creative alternative to stickers and a more economical option than wallpaper.
Why Choose a Wall Stencil?
Wall stencils can be useful if you want:
a feature wall,
a repeating geometric pattern,
a decorative border,
a botanical motif,
or a personalised element.
The advantage is flexibility.
You choose the paint colour.
You choose how much of the room to decorate.
You can also use the same stencil repeatedly.
Want dark green leaves against a cream wall?
Fine.
Gold geometric patterns on navy?
Also fine.
Fluorescent orange dinosaurs across the dining room?
Technically possible.
Interior-design approval may vary.
Tile and Floor Stencils
Tile stencils are one of the most interesting collections on the website, particularly for anyone investigating a budget floor makeover.
The current shop has a dedicated tile-stencil collection, while its guides demonstrate stencil projects including bathroom floors and patios.
Can You Stencil a Floor?
Yes, provided the surface is properly prepared and you use products appropriate to that surface.
Floor stencilling can be used to imitate the appearance of patterned tiles without necessarily replacing the existing floor.
That can make it attractive for people renovating on a budget.
Instead of:
remove tiles,
dispose of tiles,
buy new tiles,
discover mysterious problem underneath old tiles,
cry,
you may be able to clean, prepare, paint and stencil the existing surface.
Naturally, preparation and suitable paints or protective finishes are important if you expect the result to withstand regular foot traffic.
Moroccan, Geometric and Indian Stencils
If bold pattern is your thing, The Stencil Studio has dedicated Moroccan, geometric and Indian stencil collections.
These can be particularly effective on floors, furniture and feature walls.
Creating Pattern Without Wallpaper
A repeating stencil gives you considerable control over the final appearance.
You can keep things subtle by using two similar colours.
Or you can do precisely the opposite.
One advantage over pre-printed wallpaper or tiles is that the colour combination is yours.
That makes stencils useful when you already have an established colour scheme and cannot find a commercial wallpaper or patterned tile that quite matches.
Scandi and Contemporary Stencils
Not every stencil needs to look traditional.
The company says its collections have evolved to reflect interior trends and specifically highlights its Scandi and pattern stencils, alongside enduring designs such as damask and trailing ivy.
This makes stencilling surprisingly adaptable.
The word “stencil” might initially bring to mind a 1990s kitchen border featuring ivy leaves.
And yes, ivy is still available.
But contemporary geometric, botanical and Scandinavian-style patterns take the technique in a completely different direction.
The humble stencil has moved with the times.
Furniture Stencils and Upcycling
Furniture is another excellent candidate for stencilling.
The Stencil Studio specifically recommends the technique for upcycling furniture, cabinet doors and other decorative projects.
Give Old Furniture Another Chance
This can be particularly appealing if you enjoy second-hand furniture.
A tired bedside cabinet may not need replacing.
It may need:
cleaning,
sanding,
painting,
and a decorative stencil.
Suddenly the £20 charity-shop find looks rather more deliberate.
There is something satisfying about turning an unwanted item into a unique piece rather than buying another piece of flat-pack furniture.
It is good for creativity.
Potentially good for your budget.
And it gives you a legitimate reason to spend Saturday afternoon covered in paint.
Stencil MiNiS for Arts and Crafts
In 2016, The Stencil Studio introduced its Stencil MiNiS, designed for smaller arts and crafts projects such as card making, scrapbooking, repurposing and customisation.
These smaller stencils make the range relevant beyond interior decorating.
Small Stencils, Lots of Possibilities
You might use craft stencils for:
homemade cards,
gift tags,
scrapbooks,
boxes,
signs,
small furniture,
fabric projects,
or personalised gifts.
Reusable stencils can be especially useful for repeat projects because the same motif can appear across several items.
Christmas cards suddenly become much easier when you don’t have to draw the same snowflake 47 times.
Custom Stencils from The Stencil Studio
One of the strongest features of the business is its custom stencil service.
Customers can send their own artwork or image and request a quotation for turning it into a reusable Mylar stencil. The company says it can work from various file types, although vector artwork such as Adobe Illustrator files is preferred.
How Do Custom Stencils Work?
The process is relatively straightforward.
You provide the artwork, required dimensions, quantity and delivery information. The Stencil Studio assesses the request and supplies a no-obligation quotation. Once payment has been made, artwork is prepared and a proof is sent for approval before the stencil is cut.
The company says it can produce anything from one stencil to thousands.
That makes custom stencils potentially useful for both individuals and businesses.
Custom Logo Stencils for Businesses
A custom stencil could be used for:
business logos,
signage,
packaging,
events,
walls,
crates,
promotional displays,
or repeated branding.
The Stencil Studio says customers retain ownership of their custom design, while the company keeps the technical artwork needed to manufacture it securely on file. Identical repeat orders can also qualify for a discount because the preparation work has already been completed.
That’s a genuinely useful feature for businesses that need the same logo stencil again later.
Are The Stencil Studio Stencils Reusable?
Yes.
The company’s standard products are made from 190-micron Mylar, which it describes as durable, flexible, washable and reusable.
Looking After Your Stencil
Reusability is one of the main advantages over disposable decorating products.
The exact cleaning method will depend on the paint you’ve used, but cleaning a stencil before paint becomes permanently attached to it is generally the sensible approach.
And store it flat where possible.
Do not carefully clean your beautiful decorative stencil and then wedge it underneath the lawnmower for six months.
Craft supplies remember mistreatment.
The Stencil Studio Review: Our Impressions from Research
Here comes the important disclaimer.
This is not a hands-on The Stencil Studio review.
We haven’t personally ordered a stencil, painted a bathroom floor or attempted to cover the spare room in Moroccan patterns.
So we won’t pretend we can provide first-hand opinions about durability, delivery or finished results.
What we can assess is the company’s history, range, materials, customisation options, delivery information and customer-friendly features.
And several things stand out.
The Business Has Genuine Specialist Experience
The company didn’t suddenly appear because somebody noticed “stencils” had become a promising search term.
Its roots stretch back to Nikki’s early stencil-making and party-plan business, with cutting restarting in 2007 before sister Clare joined and The Stencil Studio formally developed.
That specialist history is reassuring when you’re buying something as niche as a custom stencil.
The Range Is Impressively Broad
From nursery designs and flowers to geometric patterns, large trees, Moroccan motifs and tile effects, there is plenty to browse.
The custom service takes things further by allowing customers to supply their own artwork.
The Products Are Made in the UK
The standard stencil range is described as made in the UK, with orders shipped from the company’s Cotswolds studio.
For shoppers specifically searching for UK-made craft supplies or British creative businesses, that’s another reason to investigate.
The Stencil Studio UK Delivery
The Stencil Studio currently offers free UK delivery on orders over £20.
For smaller orders, standard UK delivery is currently £3.95. The company says it normally aims to dispatch website orders within one to three working days. Free orders are sent using Royal Mail 2nd Class, with an approximate delivery time of two to three working days after dispatch, while paid standard delivery uses Royal Mail 1st Class and is estimated at one to two working days after dispatch.
The company also ships internationally.
Free Delivery at £20 Is Quite Achievable
One nice aspect of a £20 free-delivery threshold is that you don’t need to redesign the entire house to reach it.
A couple of project stencils may be enough.
Although once you discover that walls, floors, furniture and fabrics can all be stencilled, redesigning the entire house remains a possibility.
Returns at The Stencil Studio
The current returns policy says standard goods can be returned within 14 working days of receipt, provided they are returned in perfect saleable condition. Customers are normally responsible for return postage.
There is an important exception.
Custom stencils are cut to order and cannot normally be returned unless faulty.
Check Custom Designs Carefully
This makes the proofing stage particularly important.
Before approving a custom stencil, check:
spelling,
dimensions,
logo proportions,
orientation,
and the artwork itself.
Do not approve a 120cm company logo and then discover you actually meant 12cm.
That is not a subtle difference.
Who Might Enjoy Shopping at The Stencil Studio?
The store could be particularly useful for people searching for wall stencils UK, floor stencils, tile stencils UK, furniture stencils, reusable stencils, craft stencils, Moroccan stencils, geometric wall stencils, custom stencils UK, personalised stencils and DIY home décor supplies.
It also has potential for professional users who need custom logo stencils or larger quantities.
For creative shoppers, the real appeal is that a relatively simple tool can be reused across multiple projects.
The Stencil Studio and UK Online Shopping
Specialist independent retailers are one of the nicest aspects of UK online shopping.
A general marketplace can sell you almost anything.
A specialist UK online shop can explain what you’re buying, how to use it and what you might create with it.
The Stencil Studio does exactly that.
Alongside selling the products, its website includes a How to Stencil section, project inspiration and blog guides covering projects such as patio and bathroom-floor transformations.
That educational element is valuable because stencilling is the sort of DIY technique that becomes much less intimidating once you’ve seen how it works.
Is The Stencil Studio Worth a Look?
Based on our research, yes — especially if you enjoy DIY decorating, furniture upcycling, crafts or personalised creative projects.
We can’t personally award The Stencil Studio five stars because we haven’t tested its products ourselves.
But the proposition is appealing.
The company has specialist stencil-making experience stretching back decades.
Its reusable standard stencils are made in the UK from washable 190-micron Mylar.
There is an extensive collection covering numerous decorating styles.
Bespoke laser-cut stencils are available for customers with their own designs.
And UK orders over £20 currently qualify for free postage.
Perhaps most importantly, the products encourage you to make something genuinely individual.
In a world where millions of homes contain exactly the same furniture and accessories, that has a certain appeal.
Ready to Get Creative?
Perhaps the bathroom floor needs rescuing.
Maybe you’ve found an old chest of drawers begging for a makeover.
Perhaps the nursery needs animals, the hallway needs geometry or the garden wall needs something more interesting than another coat of beige masonry paint.
Or perhaps, like the founder’s toddler all those years ago, you simply need some very large diggers.
Whatever the project, 👉 browse The Stencil Studio’s current stencil collections and see what inspires you.
Choose a design.
Measure carefully.
Read the instructions.
Use the correct paint.
And perhaps practise on something inconspicuous before tackling the middle of the living-room wall.
Because confidence is wonderful.
Confidence combined with a test piece is even better.