I have seen stenciling done in high gloss on matte paint and even though I don't like glossy anything, it did give a nice, very subtle effect. I've also seen rooms striped the same way. I think red and yellow in a pattern like that is going to read "I'm trying to go Moroccan" even though it's not a true Moroccan style. Agree with previous post about your house (so far) seeming so calm & subdued -- a red & yellow stencil might be very jarring. Can you take a picture of the niche head-on? That will make it easier to do some Photoshopping for you and give you a better idea of what it might look like. I personally would go subtle. I suspect some day you'll want a tapestry or wall hanging of some kind over that (or any) table there, with a bold pattern your choices will be more limited than they need to be. Love the chandy, btw. I was :-: close to getting a smaller version for my mudroom entrance.

When we sold our house a couple years ago, we painted and decorated everything, and since we happened to be professional decorators, it turned out very nice. We also hired a designer (friend) to give us some extra advice. We had lots of stenciling done in our house, painted ceilings and used designer furniture. We basically 'staged' entire house, making it look like something you'll see on HGTV, cozy, inviting and classy, then professionally photographed it and created slideshow on Flickr. We placed the link to that slideshow in our listings. (We did a free listing, which was a great thing!) Our idea was that a prospective buyer will fall in love with the pics before they even see the place. It totally, completely worked! In fact, there were a few people instantly interested, and the house sold in 2 weeks above asking price with all the furniture. The truth is, most people don't have the decorating vision and like to buy what the see. White walls are not attractive or inspiring to most, and definitely not cozy. So if it looks good, they will be thrilled. Tastefully done place is very attractive to buyers. So yes, while painting everything white is definitely one way to go, it will not give your home any character or advantage over other homes on the market. I would say: definitely stencil, paint, decorate and especially stage to the best of your abilities! it's fun, and you'll be proud showing off your house to buyers. use Pinterest, Houzz and designer magazines as your guide, and avoid crazy intense colors. And here's a great source for inexpensive stencils: Cutting Edge Stencils, just in case you go the stenciling route! Best of lick with your house! Here is a link that might be useful: Cutting Edge Stencils

The design of that stencil calls to mind stencilled Early American chairs that my mother had in the 60s. I think the scale is too large to work well on that wall, but I do like the color combination.

Cool!