How to Stencil a Geometric Pattern on a Deck

Give new life to a worn wooden deck using only exterior-grade paint and painter's tape to create a bold, graphic pattern.

Geometric Patterned Deck

Feeling bold? Use painter’s tape to create an expansive geometric pattern in a variety of colors. Designer Brian Patrick Flynn taped off large hexagons and used a palette of fuchsia, turquoise and white to bring color to a worn outdoor space.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Materials Needed:

porch and deck paint for background and 2 accent colors
image of desired geometric pattern
paint roller handle and sleeve
paint pan
painter's tape
3" angled paintbrush
pressure washer

broom or leaf blower
waterproof sealant
extender pole
measuring tape
pencil
burnisher or credit card

Clean Deck

Use a broom or leaf blower to clear any leaves, dust, branches or dust from deck (Image 1). Remove any top layer of grime, mildew or moss from surface of decking using a pressure washer (Image 2).

Remove any top layer of grime, mildew or moss from surface of deck using pressure washer.

Clearing Leaves Off Deck With Leaf Blower

Use a broom or leaf blower to clear any leaves, dust, branches or dust from deck.

Clean Deck with Pressure Washer

Remove any top layer of grime, mildew or moss from surface of deck using pressure washer.

Select a Pattern

Decide on the best pattern for your deck based on layout, scale and proportion. Small patterns will require more painting time and work best for small decks. When applied on large decks, small patterns lose their impact and come across busy or cluttered. Medium patterns are ideal for small, medium and large decks, while large patterns work best on big decks.

Apply Background Color

The background color is the quickest to paint and will have a large impact on the accent colors. To create cohesiveness between the exterior of the home and the deck, consider using a background color similar to the home's exterior walls. Add paint directly to the surface of the deck, first cutting in between the cracks of each board with a 3-inch angled paintbrush (Image 1), then covering the surface of all boards using a roller and extender pole (Image 2).

Painting Wood Boards White

Step 4b: Apply Background Color The background color is the quickest to paint and will have a large impact on the accent colors.

Apply Background Color to Deck

Start Pattern in Center

Determine the center point of the deck using measuring tape, and mark it with a pencil. Next, tape off the pattern with painter's tape, ensuring proper scale. Tip: To determine the best scale and proportion for the geometric pattern in relation to the deck, tape it off, then stand at least 8 feet back to make sure it reads appropriately. If it's too small or too big, adjust the scale until the overall intended look is achieved.

Start Taping Out Pattern in Center

Determine the center point of the deck using measuring tape. Mark center point with pencil. Next, tape off the pattern ensuring proper scale with painter's tape

Tape Off Layers of Large and Detail Patterns

Continue taping off the largest shape of each pattern, using measuring tape to keep the width and length consistent (Image 1). Referring to your inspiration image and ensuring proper scale and proportion, continue to use painter's tape to complete the smaller layers of the pattern (Image 2).

Referring to inspiration image and ensuring proper scale and proportion, continue to use painter's tape to complete the smaller layers of the pattern.

Tape Off Layers of Large Patterns

Continue taping off the largest shape of each pattern, using measuring tape to keep the width and length consistent.

Tape Off Detail Layers

Referring to inspiration image and ensuring proper scale and proportion, continue to use painter's tape to complete the smaller layers of the pattern.

Paint Accent Colors

Once the tape is applied to all large and detail layers of geometric pattern, apply accent colors using a 3-inch angled paintbrush or roller (Image 1). Once two coats of accent paint have dried, remove painter's tape from large layers and detail layers (Image 2).

Once two coats of accent paint has dried, remove painter's tape from large layers and detail layers.

Adding Pattern to Deck With Blue Painter's Tape

Step 8: Paint Accent Colors Once the tape is applied to all large and detail layers of geometric pattern, apply accent colors using an angled paint brush or roller.

Step 9: Paint Accent Colors

Once two coats of accent paint has dried, remove painter's tape from large layers and detail layers.

Tape Off Additional Layers

While some geometric patterns stand alone, others are connected through lines or shapes. For patterns involving shapes and lines connecting to one another, additional layers will need to be taped off and painted. Use painter's tape to properly mark layers, pressing the tape firmly against the recently painted patterns with a credit card or burnisher to prevent bleeding (Images 1 and 2).

Step 10:Tape Off Additional Layers

Tape off Additional Layers

Paint Additional Layers

Fill in the taped-off areas with an accent color using a roller (Image 1). Use a 3-inch angled paintbrush to paint the edges and in between cracks (Image 2).

Fill in the taped off areas with accent color using roller. Use an angled paint brush to paint the edges and in-between cracks.

Paint Additional Layers

Fill in the taped off areas with accent color using roller. Use an angled paint brush to paint the edges and in-between cracks.

Paint Additional Layers

Use a 3-inch angled paintbrush to paint the edges and in between cracks.

Remove Tape and Seal

Once additional layers have dried, remove the painter's tape. Next, protect the painted pattern by rolling waterproof sealant over entire surface of deck using a roller and extender pole.

In step 12 of this project, once additional layers have dried, remove painters tape, and protect the paint from the elements by rolling waterproof sealant over entire surface of the deck.

Liven up a deck by painting it bright colors, adding a graphic pattern, or both!

Remove Tape From Deck and Seal

In step 12 of this project, once additional layers have dried, remove painters tape, and protect the paint from the elements by rolling waterproof sealant over entire surface of the deck.