5 Clever Ways To Use Your Leftover Wallpaper
If you're an avid DIYer, you know that it pays off to keep spare parts or materials after you've completed a project. One man's trash is another's treasure, or so the saying goes, and when it comes to crafting and creating, spare pieces can go a long way. Wallpapering your home is a great way to make it look stylish, but once you've finished with a room you might have leftover paper with no place to put it. Instead of tossing it out, you can keep it for a variety of fun crafts or gifts that will blow friends and family members away.
Keeping leftover wallpaper in one place so it's easy to find when you need it is always a good idea, so keep a tub or box handy to place spare pieces of paper in whenever you complete a project. The Wallpaper Lady suggests keeping leftover rolls inside, to avoid water, heat, and other elemental damage. That way, when it comes time to use them, they will be in the best condition for any use. This list of DIY creations will call for a range of clippings and sizes, but finding the right option is part of the fun. While there are hundreds of ways to use excess wall coverings, the following suggestions are a great jumping-off point and will keep you busy between bigger tasks.
1. Use it as artwork
You love your wallpaper selections, because you picked them out. And while it is rewarding to see the patterns or designs in whichever room you put them, there is another way to enjoy them on a smaller scale. By finding a small piece of wallpaper that can fit into a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 frame, you can turn it into a work of art in another room, so it carries throughout the whole house and adds a little touch of color in an adjoining space.
You can also put it in the same room as the one with wallpaper, to create depth and texture with the framed piece. If you have an accent wall that doesn't feature any patterns or designs, use this as a base for your mounting. Between the covered wall itself and the framed scrap, the room will become even more tied together. This is also a freebie for accenting, since you didn't have to pay extra for the spare cutting. According to MUSE Wall Studio, using this trick easily creates a pattern scale that can be built on or left as it is.
2. Create some coasters
Not all of your projects have to be mounted or hung when it comes to using leftover wallpaper. One of the best parts of having scraps is they come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them will be ideal for small gifts and ornaments. Whether you're looking for tokens to give out to loved ones, or just want to pull some design through your living spaces, creating coasters with extra wallpaper is a great way to use it. The print you loved so much for your rooms can still be visible in other spaces with these tiny accents.
In order to properly create these coasters, you'll need self-adhesive backing (preferably for cork, but you can also use ceramic or stone bases), a sponge or nylon crafting brush, and a top coat in a clear option that will ensure the paper doesn't get ruined by moisture. According to The Thinking Closet, clear acrylic spray that's water resistant will help protect everything once they're finished. You'll want to trace the shape of your coaster base into the leftovers, ensuring that the wallpaper is facing up with the shape placed on top. Use a pen or pencil to trace, then cut around it. Stick the self-adhesive backing onto the coaster, add the paper, and smooth everything down. Apply the top coat and let dry before using.
3. Decorate an old photo album
Photo albums hold so many precious memories, and keeping them safe is important. You should always store them in a clean, dry area so the pages and photos aren't jeopardized, but time can affect the cover regardless of where they're kept. In order to revamp aging books, why not add a favorite wallpaper to the front and back? This trick not only breathes new life into older albums, but ensures the binding remains in good condition for longer.
Similarly to the coasters, you'll want to have a few supplies on hand to make this project easier. A pencil, ruler, Mod Podge, scissors, and wallpaper leftovers are the main things you'll need, though you can also use ribbon or string to create a latch or closure on the outside. A nylon or sponge brush is necessary to apply the Mod Podge, and keep a credit card close by to push out any bubbles that appear. DIY Doctor suggests wiping down any surface you plan to decoupage, to help the paper stick properly. Once the cover is prepped, use the glue or adhesive and place the wallpaper on top. Re-brush it with the liquid, then flatten out any bubbles. Thinner materials are better for these projects.
4. Upcycle vintage furniture
Vintage furniture can transform any space, but sometimes it needs a little TLC to help it along. Painting old pieces is an easy solution, but you can also get crafty with them by applying wallpaper instead. Choosing an old dresser, bookshelf, or table and adding your leftover coverings to the surfaces will give you an engaging, unique design that's almost one of a kind. You can recreate several pieces of furniture with the same paper, but each one will be an individual work of art. For dressers, you can use larger scraps on the outside of the drawers, or even inside to line them. Bookshelves will look vintage and customized with wallpaper on the back portion that sits behind the books, or on the shelves as well. Quadrostyle notes that this method will make your home more sustainable as well.
In order to accomplish these DIY designs, you will want to grab an X-Acto knife and the same supplies the other crafts require, including a clear top coat, PVC glue, and brushes. Sand wooden furniture down, then clean and prime it before adding the PVC or Mod Podge. Apply the wallpaper, then seal it with the top coat. This will give it a clean finish and add to the overall effect in a beneficial way. It will also protect the paper from moisture and dirt.
5. Decoupage a keepsake box
Recycling wallpaper scraps for keepsake boxes is another fun way to use it. If you have an old box already, you can easily decoupage thinner pieces of wallpaper and cover the outside or the inner portion. Mod Podge or PVC glue, nylon paintbrushes, and a ruler are the main supplies you'll need for this crafting session. If you'd rather cut some of the patterns or designs out of the wallpaper and leave some of the boxes' original materials showing, that can be easily achieved as well.
One of the perks of decorating keepsake containers is the multiple uses it can serve. Storing jewelry, cards, gifts, or even stationary will look more engaging and ornamental. You can also give it as a gift, either to a close friend or a family member. Not only will it feature your favorite wallpaper and brighten the space it inhabits, but it means very little of your investment in the paper will go to waste! Keepsake boxes are a fun way to recycle scraps, and according to Simple Nature Decor, you can also use tape to keep the wallpaper attached if you don't want to use adhesive.