Stenciled Kitchen Cabinet Ideas

Themes

• Whether stenciling the entire kitchen or just the cabinets, select a theme to work with. Having one in mind, such as apples, Tuscany, chickens or flowers, can help you not only select your stencils, but also select your colors. For a simple stenciling job, select one large stencil and use it on the face of all the cabinet doors. This can give your kitchen a two-color look and add a level of sophistication to the room.

  For something more varied, choose a few distinctive stencils to work with and apply a different one to each cabinet. A theme of herbs would place a stencil of a different herb on each cabinet door. Even though each cabinet would look unique, the kitchen as a whole would still be in keeping with the theme.

  If you would like to avoid the look of a stencil placed in the center of each cabinet, try using some corner stencils along the outer edges of the doors or stenciling a simple motif where the cabinet handles are. Sometimes these simple accent stencils can speak volumes in the room without overtaking the overall look and feel.

  When you work your stencils, don't forget about the inside surface of your cabinets. Although not seen as often, the inside of the cabinet door can be a great place to hide small details for guests and other family members to find. A cat themed kitchen, for example, just wouldn't be complete without a few stenciled mice hiding on the other side of the door or along the back wall of the cabinet behind your dishes. Nearly any theme you choose can have something special you can place inside the cabinet as a small surprise to brighten your day.

Quotes

• Another option for stenciling is to use alphabet stencils, which come in various fonts, and paint quotes in your kitchen. Whether it is sayings about your family, famous quotes or simple musings about kitchens or cooking, quotes can lighten the look of your cabinets and your kitchen.

Incorporating Stencils

• As you decorate your cabinets, don't neglect the rest of the kitchen. If you incorporate your stenciling theme into the rest of the kitchen, you will get a more complete look. Whether you are stenciling fruits on the cabinets and want to have a fruit basket on your table, or you are using whimsical scrolling stencils which are then also applied to the walls, you'll want your stencils to look as if they belong in the room as much as on the cabinets themselves.