How to Use Wallpaper to Decorate Furniture

Sometimes furniture is too damaged to simply refinish, and yet you may not be quite ready to toss it away. One way to refurbish old furniture of this kind is to use wallpaper or wallpaper border to cover the areas of the piece that need to be disguished. The same technique comes in equally handy when you want to decorate existing furniture that needs a pattern or design.

Things You'll Need

• Furniture to be decorated
• Clear acrylic
• Paintbrush
• Mask
• Rubber gloves
• Safety glasses (optional)
• Wallpaper and/or wallpaper border
• Wallpaper sizing
• Wallpaper paste
• Refinishing kit or paint (if applicable)
• Sandpaper and/or steel wool
• Wallpaper tray
• Drop cloth
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Determine which piece(s) of furniture you want to decorate and where on the piece you want to place the wallpaper. For example, if the side of a table or desk is severely damaged, you might wish to cover it entirely. Another option might be to place accent pieces of the wallpaper or border on drawers or doors, simply as decoration. Just remember that in order for the wallpaper to adhere properly, it is best to restrict its use to flat surfaces.

2. Decide what type of wallpaper or border you wish to use. Wallpaper not only comes in patterns and designs, but also in textures and dimensions. Most of these types of paper will work for the purpose of decorating furniture but you should consider how the paper will look, feel, and respond once it is in place.

3. Determine if you want to paint or refinish the rest of the piece of furniture beforehand or simply use it as is. If you decide to refinish or paint the piece, make decisions with regard to the type of finish that you want and the color to be used.

4. If you don't already have the supplies on hand to do the project, now is the time to make those purchases.

5. Lay out all the supplies, place the furniture piece on a drop cloth, and don the appropriate safety equipment.

6. Prepare the furniture pieces. Remove or sand down any sharp points or edges, rippling, or bulges (if possible). If you intend to refinish or paint the piece before you add the wallpaper, now is the time to accomplish that, following the instructions provided on your refinishing kit or paint can. Let the piece dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step. If you are just going to place wallpaper over the existing finish, be sure to clean it thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

7. Brush on a coat of wallpaper sizing where the wallpaper will be placed on the furniture piece. If you are just using cutouts of wallpaper designs, sizing will probably not be necessary. However, borders and whole pieces of wallpaper will adhere better if sizing is applied first.

8. Apply the wallpaper (border or entire section) to the area sized. Be sure to apply it according to the directions laid out on the wallpaper. Smooth the piece out after application, making certain to eliminate all air bubbles. Let the piece dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

9. Cut out wallpaper designs, like a rose pattern or stripes, to scatter over the piece, covering scars and blemishes as needed. Be careful not to over dampen the paper as this could result in spreading the paste onto parts of the furniture that you do not want to be ruined. Smooth out quickly and wipe off any paste residue immediately to prevent that from happening.

10. Brush a coat of clear acrylic over the top of the wallpaper to bond it to the piece and ensure it can be easily cleaned.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose washable wallpapers and borders, especially if you do not intend to put a coating over the top.

• A strip of wallpaper over the top of a scratched desktop can add a delightful feminine appeal.

• Mix wallpaper with other trims to create an old fashioned Victorian piece.

• Use all necessary safety precautions when working with products such as wood finishes, paints and wallpaper pastes.

• Use a mask to avoid exposure to noxious fumes.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Spanish