How To Stencil A Mandala Side Table In Under an Hour

10 Materials
$50
50 Minutes
Easy

Hello again! Looking for a way to spruce up your Ikea side table? Why not try a mandala stencil! This DIY stencil project is super easy, affordable, and can be completed in under an hour. Let’s get stenciling!


Getting your table ready for stenciling is important but easy. First, if your table has a glass top like ours did, remove it and set it to the side. This will make the project so much simpler than trying to work around the glass. Next, scuff the surface of your table with a Scotch Brite finishing pad. This will help the paint to stick to your table when stenciling!

With a bit of denatured alcohol on a paper towel, remove any dust or grease that might be on the surface of the table. No need for your paper towel to be soaked with denatured alcohol. Only a small amount is necessary.

With the string as a guide, take a chalk pencil and draw a straight line where you believe the center of the table to be. This doesn’t have to be perfect by any means because once you repeat this process with the other two legs of the table, the midpoint will become clear.

Untie the string and repeat the process using the other two opposite legs of the table. After you’ve drawn your line, remove the string. There will be a cross where the two lines meet. This is your midpoint and where the center of your stencil should be placed! How easy was that?

Now it’s time to get your stencil on! Place your Abundance Mandala Stencil in your side table, allowing the center of the stencil to rest on the midpoint of your table. Don’t be afraid to bend your stencil to make it conform with the shape of your table. Sometime furniture can be oddly shaped but the best part about stencils is they are flexible!

Evenly coat your 4” stencil roller with paint and offload any excess paint onto a paper towel. This is one of the most important steps when it comes to stenciling! The number one mistake is having too much paint on your stencil roller or brush which can cause paint seepage. The goal is to have your stencil roller evenly covered with paint but to be almost dry to the touch. Apply light pressure to your stencil roller when stenciling. It’s best to apply thin layers of paint to your mandala stencil to help reduce bleed. Plus, you can always go back and add another coat if necessary!

Peel back the stencil to reveal this gorgeous mandala! Such an intricate design can be easily created with just a stencil.

Now that your side table is stenciled, wait for the paint to dry completely. To seal your table and prevent damage we suggest using 2-3 coats of water-based polyurethane. Take a 4” stencil roller or a nylon paintbrush and work the polyurethane from one side to the other. The surface should be wet and easy to manipulate throughout the process. Make sure each coat dries before applying the next. Pro Tip: check the sides of your table for any excess polyurethane that could have dripped over during the process.

This stenciled mandala side table looks fabulous! And the best part is it only took about an hour. Where would you put this stenciled side table? Let us know in the comments below!

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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 4 questions
  • Gladys Gladys on Nov 07, 2018

    I came across a beautiful mandala stencil and couldn't resist it. I do a lot of glass etching, but in order to do that, the stencil must be sealed completely. Is there such a thing as a stencil adhesive that leaves no residue on the glass?

  • Xoxoxo Lanie Xoxoxo Lanie on Nov 07, 2018

    Can I use these materials on Formica and if not what can I use?

  • Peggy Tippins Gambrell Peggy Tippins Gambrell on Nov 17, 2018

    Can i do this on the bottom side of my glass tables[in my living room]Would i do it basically the same way?

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