How To Make Custom Wallpaper Using Old Book Pages
Wallpapering your home allows you to show off your sense of style; however, we understand the desire to make your room unique and 100% original. If that's you, consider using old book pages to decorate your walls: This is a cost-effective way to add some personality to any room. Wallpaper Boulevard says that traditional wallpaper runs anywhere between $15 and $50 per roll, whereas book pages will cost you next to nothing. If you already have old books lying around, you just found yourself some free wallpaper, but if you don't have any in your home, or you need a specific genre, hit up a local thrift store for some inexpensive options.
The greatest part about making your own custom wallpaper with book pages is there are no limits to what you can do. Choose illustrations from your favorite children's books for your nursery, or decorate your kitchen walls with vintage cookbook pages. Whichever room you decide to decorate with your custom wallpaper, it's key you pick a theme. Not only does it look more cohesive, but it makes your book search a lot easier. You can even choose vintage newspapers if that appeals to you more. Another cool part of using old book pages is that they are extremely easy to remove, The Poor Sophisticate states, but before we dive into how to remove these, let's first talk about how to apply them to your walls.
Application
Once you've chosen your theme and collected the necessary books you want to use for your custom wallpaper, it's time to apply them to your walls. For this step, you'll need your book pages (obviously), Mod Podge, a paintbrush, and a credit card (but any card will do). Mod Podge is your best option to glue down your pages because it's water-based, which makes it easy to remove without destroying your walls, says Mod Podge Rocks. The only downside of using this glue is that it dries within 15 to 20 minutes, and the pages won't stick once it does.
To avoid this fiasco, have your pages ready to go before the Mod Podge completely dries. This means knowing where and how to place the pages on your wall. After you've glued down the sheets, take your credit card and run it over to get rid of any air bubbles. The last thing you want is to take a look at your hard work just to find it's riddled with tiny pockets of air. Next, add a layer of glue directly on top of the pages to prevent them from falling off of the wall. Finally, allow 24 hours for the wallpaper to completely dry.
Removal
If you're concerned about your wallpaper falling apart after a certain amount of time, fear not. According to Condo Blues, the book pages will still be completely intact after more than 10 years of applying them with Mod Podge. On the flip side, if you're worried the glue will ruin your walls when it comes time to remove it for one reason or another, you don't need to be. As we previously mentioned, Mod Podge is a water-based sealant, meaning all you need to get rid of the old book pages is soap and water, HomeSteady explains.
To prepare for removal, wet the wallpaper by applying soap to a damp washcloth. Next, working section by section, hold the washcloth to the wallpaper to loosen the Mod Podge. Once you've completed the entire wall, use a plastic scraper to gently remove the book pages. Be as gentle as you can during this step to avoid chipping the paint underneath.