STENCIL YOUR WALLS
Wallpaper can be spendy and hard to hang. Understatement of the year? Enter: this idea from Emma Courtney (@emma courtney home), a DIYer based in Toronto. She faked the luxe look of real paper using paint and a stencil from Etsy ($77; stenciledup.etsy.com). According to Courtney-and the crew who prepped the set for our cover shoot-the key here is patience. "You also want a stencil with a registration mark," Courtney says. These marks are small design elements cut into the edge of the stencil that help you repeat the pattern evenly. Carve out a few hours per wall, gather your supplies, and follow these steps.
1 Clean and prep your walls as you normally would before painting, sanding down imperfections and making sure they're free of grease, dust, and schmutz.
2 Position your stencil either in a corner or at a focal point (say, the middle of the wall over a fireplace) and start from there. Use a level to confirm that the stencil is straight and secure it with painter's tape around the edges.
3 Dip a foam roller or foam brush in paint and remove any excess. Roll or dab it over the stencil gently! It's better to use a light touch and apply multiple layers than to go super heavy on the first stab and risk bleeding. Add more coats as needed.
4 Once you're finished with that spot, carefully remove the stencil and place it next to the section you just completed, lining it up evenly. Secure it with painter's tape and repeat! Keep repeating until the entire wall has been stenciled.
5 Finish with touch-ups. Go in with a small paintbrush to clean up edges or fill in any spots.
ADD COOKBOOK STORAGE TO YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND
This story is from the May 2024 edition of Real Simple.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2024 edition of Real Simple.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
5 Juneteenth Celebrations
Plan a seriously fun trip that’s rooted in history.
what to COOK
RECIPES FOR REAL LIFE
THE BEST
Sometimes it's not enough for our editors to be instantly impressed by a product. Sometimes we want to push it to the limits in one of our three labs, our own homes, or both to see how it holds up under pressure. We cook, we wear, we smear, we clean. We evaluate and tally. Then we give out the REAL SIMPLE Selects seal. When we put that label on something, that means it's among the 5,200-plus products we've formally evaluated according to strict protocols. On this list: some of our current faves. If you see something you like, scan the QR code and get shopping!
Women & Their Finances
We partnered with the brilliant minds at the finance site Investopedia to determine what’s holding women back in the money department. The findings? We’re on our way! But we’ve got some work to do.
MAKE YOUR JEWELRY SHINE
A treasure trove of tips to get your sparkly things ready for primetime
BLUEBERRY SWEET CORN SHORTCAKE
Two of summer's best ingredients come together in an epic dessert just begging to be invited to a party.
Modern Manners Advice for Your Social Quandaries
My husband's niece is getting married in eight months. The save-the-date only had my husband's name, my name, and my husband's two kids' names (my stepkids).
how we live
ADVICE, INSPIRATION A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND
design rules you should definitely break
When it comes to expressing yourself at home, sometimes it's best to ignore the \"supposed tos\" and do your own darn thing instead. As proof, we offer these rule-breaking rooms from six of our favorite designers.
THE BRIGHTEST
On this list, you'll find the people, products, and ideas that light up our world, show us the way, and change the game.