With its wonderful range of patterns and colors, wallpaper is a decorating staple that can quickly freshen up furnishings, cabinets or other places that could use a facelift. It’s easy to adhere wallpaper to just about any surface with craft glue. Give it a try with this simple table transformation project.
Pattern Play
These formerly bare, blonde wood stools made great seats and side tables, but they lacked personality. Oh, what a difference a little wallpaper makes.
Tools and Materials
Wallpaper scraps
Stool or side table
Pencil
Scissors
Mod Podge craft glue
Foam pad brush
X-Acto knife
Wallpaper brush or burnishing tool
Measuring tape (optional)
How To
1. Place the wallpaper pattern-side down on your work surface.
2. Set the stool upside down on the paper.
3. Trace around the top of the stool with a pencil.
4. Cut out the circle with scissors.
5. With the stool right-side up, brush the seat with a layer of Mod Podge.
6. Carefully place the paper onto the seat, and use your X-Acto knife to cut off any excess paper from around the edges.
7. Use a wallpaper brush or burnishing tool to smooth the paper and remove any air bubbles.
8. Cover the surface with a layer of Mod Podge, and set the stool aside to dry.
9. Seal and protect your paper with two to three additional coats of Mod Podge; allow drying time between coats.
10. To cover the insides of the legs, use a measuring tape to get the dimensions, then cut out the appropriate-size strips of paper. Adhere them to the legs just as you did for the top surface (steps 6 through 9 above).
Reprinted with permission from Wallpaper Projects: More Than 50 Craft and Design Ideas for Your Home, From Accents to Art by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith, chroniclebooks.com.
Off the Wall
Who says wallpaper is just for walls? Try these ideas with a remnant or two left over from a wallpapering project. Or, look for vintage patterns at flea markets and garage sales.
• Cover the interiors of cabinet doors and your cupboards will never look bare.
• Wallpaper the back panel of a bookshelf to liven up your library.
• Create pretty homemade cards.
• Frame a large-scale print for an instant, inexpensive piece of art.
• Paper an empty soup can and create a pencil holder with panache.
• Line the bottoms of drawers–dresser, desk, you name it–for an unexpected dose of design.
• Brighten up a basic paper lampshade.
• Transform old cookie and coffee tins into stylish storage.
• Have a bold pattern you love but don’t necessarily want to display prominently? Wallpaper your closet!
• Dress up a drab roller shade.
• Take your staircase to the next level with wallpapered risers.
• Inject a pretty pattern into your medicine cabinet.
• Wrap presents with wallpaper (and include this list of décor ideas!) for a gift that keeps on giving.