1. Measure distance from the ceiling to the top of the base board. (84")
2. Subtract the width of the frieze and the baseboard stencil (84" – 9" – 3" = 72"), which is the available distance between the bottom of the frieze to the top of the baseboard pattern.
3. Measure the height of the motifs. (7") and (9")
4. Decide how many motifs you wish to put in each row. (5)
5. Add the total measurements of each motif in each row.
Row A, 3 x 7" + 2 x 9" = 39"
Row B, 2 x 7" + 3 x 9" = 41"
6. Subtract from the available distance between the bottom of the frieze to the top of the baseboard pattern. (72") This gives you the amount of unused space.
Row A, 72" – 39" = 33"
Row B, 72" – 41" = 31"
7. Divide the unused space by the number of motifs + 1. This will give you the spacing between motifs.
Row A, 33" ÷ 6 = 5" with 3" left over
Row B, 31" ÷ 6 = 5" with 1" left over
8. 5" will be the amount of space between each motif.
9. The left over space (3" for Row A and 1" for Row B) should be divided equally and added to the space above the top motif and below the bottom motif. So the top and bottom motifs of Row A will be 1 1/2" + 5" or 6 1/2" from the frieze and baseboard pattern. Row B will be 1/2" + 5" or 5 1/2" from the frieze and baseboard pattern. This will assure that the motifs are centered horizontally.
10. Drop a plumb line at equal intervals to align the centers of the motifs to please your eye or, if perfect spacing is desired, the above steps can be used to determine the vertical placement of the motif rows.
* Or, place by eye as the stencilers did – it gives a fresh and interesting look, less manufactured like wall paper.