Not Typical Collage Walls: DIYers Turn A Blank Space Into A Beautiful Feature On A Budget

With all the design ideas floating around social media, it's hard to feel like any idea is truly unique. Personalizing a space with patterns — especially mixing and matching them to suit your aesthetic — can create results that are uniquely yours. But take that a step further by customizing a space with sheet music tailored to your taste and sentiments.

The YouTube duo The Pines Estate Boys decorated their music room with sheet music to create a space that inspires creativity and collaboration. They chose songs that held special personal connections, soaked them in coffee for an aged look, and then used Mod Podge to adhere and seal the paper to the walls. To finish off the project, they put up thin shiplap that matched the wood framing elsewhere in their home around the edges of the wallpapered walls, giving it a more finished and professional look.

Even if you don't have a music room or aren't a musician, you can still adopt this DIY wallpaper project. If you're a movie buff, select instrumental scores or soundtracks from your favorite films (and even complement your work with vintage posters, perfect for collage walls). Or poll your family for their songs that spark nostalgia or an emotional connection. If you want to be a bit cryptic, choose songs for their words. String titles or lyrics together to create a hidden message for guests to discover. 

If you're not particular about songs, find songbooks at a thrift shop. You can also print sheet music found online. However, pages printed from inkjet printers are prone to smearing, so using a laser printer is best for this project. For an aged look, fill a shallow pan with coffee and dip both sides of the sheet music in it. Hang the pages to dry completely, or lay them on a cooling rack so air can reach both sides. 

Before putting up the music, wipe down the walls with a dry rag to remove dust and dirt, and then do a final cleaning with a damp rag. Mod Podge, which functions as a glue, sealant, and finishing layer, can be used for multiple purposes for this project. It comes in a variety of finishes, so choose the product that matches the look you're going for. Apply enough Mod Podge so that a white layer is visible on the paper. When in doubt, err on the side of using too much, as using too little can cause wrinkles. Use a brayer to smooth out the pages, if needed. 

Cover each sheet with two or three more coats, allowing the paper to dry in between layers. For an even smoother look, use double-sided tape instead of Mod Podge to affix the pages to the wall, and then finish them off with several layers of Mod Podge. Feeling noncommittal? Build a collage wall using framed sheet music instead and decorate your house with musical instruments.