Creative Ideas on What to Do with Leftover Wallpaper

If you’re puzzling over what to do with leftover wallpaper, the answer may surprise you. It’s not just scrap—it’s a design opportunity! This guide shows you how to transform your excess wallpaper into practical and stylish items for your home, from unique wall art to chic home accessories.

Key Takeaways

• Wallpaper remnants can creatively transform home décor by lining bookshelves, framing as art, or crafting into coasters.
• Repurposing wallpaper can refresh old furniture, with projects ranging from dressing up drawers and tables to creating chic chair rails.
• Functional crafts with wallpaper include making organizational bins, handmade envelopes, and jazzing up books or binders for a stylish office.

Transforming Decor with Leftover Wallpaper

Leftover wallpaper isn’t just for lining drawers or enhancing clothes hangers (though, those are great uses too). It’s time to think bigger and bolder. Imagine creating a stunning triptych with three consecutive panels of wallpaper, or turning those beautiful patterns into affordable wall art to make a statement in any room. The possibilities are endless when you start exploring creative ways to incorporate wallpaper scraps into your home decor.

Here are some specific project ideas that will effortlessly transform your space.

Revitalize Your Bookcase

One of the simplest yet most striking transformations you can achieve with leftover wallpaper is by revitalizing your bookcase. By lining the back of your bookshelves with bold patterns, you create an eye-catching backdrop that instantly elevates your furniture. This approach allows you to experiment with daring designs without the commitment of wallpapering an entire wall.

To accomplish this, follow these steps:

1. Measure the back of your shelves and cut the wallpaper accordingly.
2. Use craft glue for a strong adhesion and longevity.
3. Apply the wallpaper to the back of the shelves.
4. Smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles.
5. Let the glue dry completely.
6. Enjoy your vibrant and personalized bookcase that brightens up any room and adds a touch of sophistication to your home decor.

Frame It Up

Framing wallpaper samples is a fantastic way to create affordable and unique wall art. This simple project can turn any room into a cohesive and elegant space. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose wallpaper patterns that complement the colors and themes of your room.
2. Once you have your samples, cut them to fit various picture frames.
3. Hang the framed wallpaper samples on painted walls or stand them on tables and shelves.

Textured wallpapers bring a unique touch to a gallery wall and can be easily replaced with new patterns over time. This method is also perfect for decorating a child’s room, as you can frame pieces that match the room’s theme and colors. It’s an affordable, stylish, and highly customizable way to add a pop of art to your home.

Customized Coasters

Crafting customized coasters from wallpaper scraps is not only a fun project but also a practical one. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by selecting your favorite wallpaper designs.
2. Cut the wallpaper into shapes like circles or squares.
3. Attach these cutouts to pieces of cardboard using hot glue to ensure they are sturdy and maintain their shape.

Once the wallpaper is securely attached, follow these steps to seal the coasters with decoupage glue:

1. Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue to the surface of each coaster.
2. Allow the glue to dry completely.
3. Apply a second coat of decoupage glue to the surface of each coaster.
4. Allow the glue to dry completely.

These personalized coasters add a touch of elegance to your home decor and make excellent gifts for friends and family. Plus, they’re a great conversation starter at your next gathering.

Furniture Flair with Wallpaper Accents

Old furniture pieces often hold sentimental value but may look outdated. Transforming these pieces with creative wallpaper applications can give them a new lease on life. From dresser drawers to tabletops and even chair rails, wallpaper can add intricate designs and fresh looks to your furniture.

Here are some captivating project ideas that will rejuvenate your cherished furniture pieces.

Dresser Drawer Delight

Lining dresser drawers with wallpaper is a delightful way to add a hidden surprise element to your furniture. Each time you open a drawer, you’ll be greeted with pops of color and intricate patterns that brighten your day. This method not only adds aesthetic appeal but also merges organization with style, providing a sophisticated touch to your interiors.

For those seeking a more visible transformation, consider covering the fronts or sides of the dresser drawers with wallpaper. This approach gives the entire piece of furniture a fresh, new look. Beyond its visual benefits, wallpaper also serves as a protective lining, prolonging the durability of your drawers.

Tabletop Transformation

Revamp old tabletops with wallpaper for a unique and fresh look. This straightforward DIY project involves:

1. Cleaning the table surface
2. Measuring and cutting the wallpaper to fit
3. Carefully applying the wallpaper
4. Aligning the patterns properly to achieve a seamless appearance.

After applying the wallpaper, secure it with double-sided tape and finish with a protective clear coat to ensure durability. This method not only updates the look of your table but also makes it a focal point in your room. It’s an easy and cost-effective way to breathe new life into your furniture.

Functional Crafts from Wallpaper Scraps

Wallpaper remnants, also known as leftover scraps, are perfect for crafting decorative and practical items. From organizational bins to handmade envelopes and creative clipboard makeovers, these small projects can add a personal touch to your home while making use of leftover materials.

Here are some practical craft ideas that are not only fun but also useful.

Organizational Bins

Repurpose leftover wallpaper to:

• Wrap storage boxes and bins, giving them an attractive and cohesive look
• Add a personalized touch to your organizational elements while keeping your home neat and tidy
• Fold sturdy gift boxes of various sizes, creating unique and functional storage solutions.

These creatively wrapped boxes can also function as drawer organizers, adding a visual surprise upon opening. Utilizing wallpaper in this way not only enhances the aesthetic of your home but also promotes recycling and reusing materials.

Handmade Wallpaper Envelopes

Crafting handmade envelopes from leftover wallpaper adds a personal touch to your correspondence. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose wallpaper with smaller patterns to make the most of the design on a small envelope.
2. Cut the wallpaper into a square shape.
3. Fold the square into an envelope, ensuring clean, sharp creases.
4. Use a bone folder for a polished look.

Secure the edges with a dab of glue, taking care not to use too much. You can embellish the envelopes with stickers, ribbon, or a fancy edge punch for extra flair. These handmade envelopes are perfect for special occasions or just to add a bit of charm to everyday mail.

Wallpaper Hacks for Everyday Items

Enhance everyday items like lampshades, binders, and shelf liners with wallpaper to add unique touches to your home. These simple hacks can transform mundane objects into stylish accessories that elevate your overall home decor.

Here are some simple yet significant project ideas that require little effort.

Lined Lampshades

Transform plain lampshades with wallpaper scraps to give a room a coordinated look or introduce new patterns into different spaces. This simple project involves measuring the lampshade’s circumference and height, cutting the wallpaper to size, and attaching it with double-sided sticky tape. For a seamless look, use wallpaper with smaller patterns and ensure the pattern’s direction complements the shape of the lampshade.

To apply the wallpaper, follow these steps:

1. Wrap the wallpaper over the top and bottom wire rings of the lampshade.
2. Secure the wallpaper with tape or glue if necessary.
3. This method works well for both drum and cone-shaped lampshades, though cone shades may require a paper template to ensure a perfect fit.
4. The result is a bespoke lampshade that ties your room’s decor together beautifully.

Chic Shelf Liners

Line shelves with wallpaper to add character and style to functional storage areas. This project is particularly effective in pantries and kitchen cupboards, where temporary wallpapers are ideal because they are easy to apply and remove by re-wetting. Wallpaper’s robust and flexible material qualities make it a practical choice for enhancing interior spaces.

To line your shelves, follow these steps:

1. Measure and cut the wallpaper to fit.
2. Apply water or adhesive, depending on the wallpaper type.
3. Apply the wallpaper to the shelves. This simple update not only personalizes your storage areas but also inspires overall organization through its design.

Summary

Throughout this blog post, we’ve explored a multitude of creative ways to use leftover wallpaper. From revitalizing furniture and creating unique home decor items to crafting festive decorations and enhancing everyday objects, the possibilities are truly endless. These projects not only breathe new life into your home but also promote sustainability by reusing materials that might otherwise go to waste.

Work With a JC Licht Consultant to Find Your Pattern Today!

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