Looking at the bedroom above, you would think it was adorned in a beautiful, delicate floral wallpaper. Spoiler, it's not a wallpaper, it's actually a stamp used repeatedly across the wall to create the effect of wallpaper, but at a much smaller cost.
Stamp walls are a makeshift wallpaper idea created by Amber Catron, DIY enthusiast and founder of lifestyle brand Stoney Cove Farm. When brainstorming ways to redesign her small bedroom, she recalled a childhood memory that sparked it all. 'One of my friend’s mothers was really into DIY projects when we were kids in the 90s,' Amber said. 'I remember going to her house and seeing her mom stamp the walls in one of the rooms. I thought it was so cool then. It still is now, especially with the comeback of wallpaper.'
For her bedroom, Amber wanted to do something simple to give the space more personality and character. The stamp wall idea was the perfect solution.
There's a sort of nostalgic charm in using stamps – a common childhood hobby – to design a bedroom wall. I wanted to know more about Amber's project, so I spoke with her about how she created this budget-friendly DIY.
Amber began the project by looking for stamps at Hobby Lobby. She was on the hunt for a stamp that matched the cottage style of her home, and a carnation stamp was her pick. 'The design was perfect – it wasn’t too big, and it wasn’t too small,' Amber said.
Although the design that Amber used for her walls is currently sold out, stamps are easy to find online (unless you're like me, and have a box of old stamps sitting in your attic). Here are my favorite, really affordable picks to recreate Amber's DIY.
This stamp features a delicate meadow grass design. It's small in size, at 1.63" x 2.19", but that's what makes it ideal for creating your very own stamp wall. Its design can add a natural elegance to any room.
Just like the stamp Amber chose for her room, this stamp features a floral decal. It measures 1.9" x 1.5". If you love floral room decor and want to create something by yourself, this stamp is for you.
This bow stamp would be a cute addition to the walls of a child's bedroom. It is smaller than the other options, at 1" x 1.69", but nonetheless a good choice. Plus, its design is simple, meaning it'll apply paint to the walls with ease.
Next came the harder part – applying the stamp to the wall. Unlike the chaotic nature of a child's stamp book, it's probably best to bring out the measuring tape when stamping your walls.
'I went with a staggered design,' Amber told me. 'I worked vertically, and I started approximately 2.5” from my ceiling with my first stamp. From the top of my first stamp to the top of my second stamp is approximately 12”.' Amber continued those measurements for the first row of her walls.
To achieve the staggered look, Amber positioned the second row of stamps in between the stamps in the row above and 9" from the ceiling. 'Once I had rows one and two done, I simply followed the placement of the stamps on those two rows to continue the pattern,' she said.
As for the color application, no ink pad was used here. Amber applied regular wall paint to the rubber surface of the stamp. However, she didn't want the stamp to appear runny or globby on the walls. To make sure that didn't happen, Amber used paper plates.
'On one paper plate, I did a very thin layer of paint and I stamped into that,' she said. 'I then used a second plate to get off any excess paint. Then, I stamped the wall.' Amber recommends repeating this process for every single stamp so that the decals on the wall appear complete.
'The key is a very thin layer of paint – you don’t need a lot,' Amber advised. 'You don’t want to get the paint into all the crevices of the stamp, just on the surface.' It's a simple process, despite being time-consuming. However, creating a stamp wall doesn't require many supplies or expense, and it yields quite a stunning result that's arguably far easier than trying to hang wallpaper yourself.
One of the best parts of this stamp wall idea is its versatility – it can be done in any room of the home.
'I just used regular wall paint – so anywhere you paint the wall, you could do this instead,' Amber said. She's thought about doing this in her bathroom above the tile in the shower, and also mentioned how it could be a stylish laundry room idea to add a touch of whimsy to a practical space.
Aside from Amber's staggered pattern, there are lots of ways to design your own stamp wall, too. The idea can be used to frame a doorway or border the ceiling line in a room. 'All you need is a few dollars to buy the stamp, some extra paint, and a little bit of time,' Amber said.
'When I start a new project that feels like it might be a little too daunting for me, I start with small goals in mind, like one wall or one area a day. That helps me from getting overwhelmed with feeling like I need to get everything accomplished in one day,' she said.
Amber's DIY stamp wall is easy and affordable. It's an idea that will make you feel like a kid again – only you'll have to swap out the ink pad for a plate full of paint. Once complete, it'll transform any room of your home into a stylish space full of character and charm.
If you're in the mood for another kind of DIY, we have lots of affordable DIY weekend projects that are equally as exciting as this one and bound to have your house feeling full of personality.
