Wallpaper has been making a definite comeback, with gorgeous new patterns, textures and prints for every mood, but these vibrant veneers aren't just for your walls. Unleash your inner decorator with five crafty ideas to gussy up your furniture the wallpaper way.
Snazzy Shelves
To get a brilliant backdrop for your books and knickknacks, slap some wallpaper on the back wall of your shelves. If you can get the back off your shelf, do it. This will allow you to paper the whole thing at once. Apply wallpaper paste according to manufacturer instructions on the front-facing side of the shelf backer and smooth on your measured piece of wallpaper. Since this might be mostly obscured by your stuff, a big, bold print or a solid color will keep it from looking too cluttered. Nail the backer piece back on, and voilá! You've got a lovely lining to highlight your treasured books.
If you're feeling more ambitious, or if your shelves don't come apart, measure the back area of individual shelves and cut your wallpaper to match. You can experiment with coordinating colors and patterns—the possibilities are endless!
Dolled-up Dresser
Dress up a drab old dresser with a punch of color by papering just the drawers. A dresser with flat drawers will be easiest! Remove the drawers and unscrew the drawer handles. You can measure the surface of the drawer or lay it face down on the back side of your wallpaper and mark around it to get your pieces—whatever works. Choose a pattern that's small enough to show up well on drawer fronts.
An easy-to-use decoupage glue like Mod Podge will stick the wallpaper to your dresser drawer with minimal mess. Try to apply the glue as evenly as you can using a foam roller or sponge brush. Smooth it all out and prevent bubbles with a hand roller from the craft store. Dry overnight and you've got one beautiful bureau.
Fancy Flowerpots
Plants and flowers are stunning all on their own, but if you're tired of the same old terra cotta pots, here's where you can have fun setting off your blossoms with a complementary or analogous color. Green plants like ferns or herbs might even go with a splashy floral print! Flowerpots are round and angled, so getting the right piece of wallpaper to cover them could involve some geometry and a big headache.
Working with smaller pieces in a patchwork fashion is easier and just as cute. Mod Podge your pieces on, and then seal them with another coat of glue. Depending on the shape of the pot, one strip of a brightly-patterned wallpaper might do the trick around the middle or near the top.
Tasteful Tabletop
If you've got a little side table or even a coffee table that could use a little zip, wallpaper is just the thing. This is a great place to use a big design in earthy or muted colors—you don't want to end up with the ‘70s upholstery look! Cut your wallpaper to size, glue it on with some decoupage glue, roll the whole thing flat with your hand roller, and refine the edges with a craft knife. Another couple of coats of decoupage glue (let each coat dry before you move on) and some spray sealant, and your table will be both functional and fabulous.
Fetching Frames
Add some color to a bare wall with the simple trick of framed wallpaper. A big frame will look like a dramatic window into a more decorative dimension, while a set of two or three frames holding the same print adds a little more visual interest. Try a grid of square frames holding similar or complementary colors or patterns for a creative look. These wallpaper panels can set off end tables, provide a backdrop to your desk, or just dress up a wall with a formal and fanciful effect.
Some wallpaper patterns are so beautiful and elaborate, they really lend themselves to this kind of focus. You can go as big and colorful as you like, or as small and abstract, depending on the size and number of frames.
Feel inspired?
If you don't have leftover wallpaper on hand, there are local decorating businesses that can help you out. They might be willing to part with old sample books for next to nothing.
Buss Paint & Wallpaper | 327 Main St., Emmaus | 610.965.5466
Designer Walls | 1710 MacArthur Rd., Ste 310, Whitehall | 484.809.9411
Miller's Paint and Wallpaper | 4041 William Penn Hwy, Easton | 610.252.7575
Wright Wallpaper Co. | 1104 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.867.3769
