Upgrade Your Window Ledges With This Simple Contact Paper Hack

Windows let in natural light and automatically draw the eye when someone enters your home, but they're generally mundane in terms of design. Apart from curtains and blinds, it's tough to inject any real personality into this part of the house. One way to bring a little life to an otherwise boring pane is by focusing on the sills. By adding peel-and-stick contact paper, you can DIY a farmhouse window trim to give your home a chic instant upgrade, or tie in colors and patterns found in surrounding decor.

One of the great things about this project is that you can use a removable product for a renter-friendly finish, or go with a more permanent solution if you want it to be long-lasting. There are many contact paper decorating hacks that will liven up your space, but this one is especially wonderful if you want a subtle change with a big impact. And there's no big mess of paint or paste to clean up afterward. The process is also quick and straightforward, so even if you want to do multiple ledges, it isn't a particularly time-consuming undertaking. Breathe new life into tired windows in a flash by trying this hack for yourself.

To start this project, all you need is your choice of adhesive decor, a ruler, and some scissors. Add a pop of color with shelf wrap like Yasinet blue floral peel-and-stick paper, or go for a natural vibe with a product like the Heroad wood grain contact paper. You can also use wallpaper, which may save you money if you have extra from a previous project. Whether you want to create a beautiful DIY wooden windowsill to highlight the view or tie the room together with a pattern that matches the sofa, this is a non-permanent way to add interest to a room. With supplies prepped, it's time to get wrapping.

Step one is washing the sill so that everything adheres properly. Soap and water are a good way to go because no cleaner residue gets left behind. Next, measure the ledge and cut the contact paper to fit it. Carefully smooth the paper out so there are no bubbles. You can use a scraper tool like the one found in BoltHub's wallpaper installation kit, but even a plastic spatula from your kitchen drawer will work as long as the edge is clean. 

If you're feeling creative, further personalize this concept by stenciling on a mural or adding removable floral decals. Repeat the process on any other ledges you want to cover, and voila — a beautiful, one-of-a-kind accent that's affordable, is renter-friendly, and adds a visual update without going overboard.