Using Wallpaper To Update Furniture

My new charging end table cabinet functioned really well, but I could see the mess hiding inside, behind its open front door.

Here's how I used wallpaper to hide that mess and add a bit of elegance to the design in the process.


While the whole world seems to be immersed in red, white and blue today, at least here in the US, I can't stop thinking about brown.

Silly, right?

I mean even on a normal day, I'm usually talking about red.

Stands to reason that on a patriotic holiday I should be knee deep in that hue.

However.

Yesterday, I solved a design dilemma and totally transformed an end table with, you guessed it, brown.

And I couldn't be happier.

I don't know why, but I've been dragging my feet when it comes to the details in my family room.

A few weeks ago, I finally got the windows right with the addition of blinds.

That one change seems to have kicked my decorating tail into high gear and since then, the haze that clouded my design direction has lifted.

The lightbulb went on, my vision became clear.

And I've been making changes left and right.

Today, I want to share the first one.


Before the new sofa even arrived, I'd picked out this end table cabinet that I thought would function well in our tiny room.

It was a warm wood tone, it had plenty of storage and it came equipped with electrical outlets and chargers built in for all our devices.

Perfect. 

The only thing I didn't love, was the open screen on the front door. I could see everything I was trying to hide inside. 

Not pretty.

Originally, I thought I'd just use my cabinet door fabric trick to solve this problem.

I mean, I've used fabric to add some cottage style charm and conceal the messes hiding behind:

• Glass Kitchen Cabinet Doors
• Tv Console Doors
• My New Bathroom Vanity
• My Electric Fireplace in Summer
• Shuttered Storage Doors

It was a no brainer.

Until I really thought about it. 

The room was already covered in a wall of flowers and fabric. The addition of another was challenging, even for this pattern mixing pro.

Plus, the screen in the door didn't come out and the lip to add fabric was narrow. I could've done it, but it wouldn't have been easy.

So I had to come up with a plan b. One I found walking down the hallway.

That's when I passed my painted corner cabinet, and right away I knew what I was going to do. I was going to use the same embossed wallpaper I'd used on that cabinet and on my wooden tray makeover to make a small faux panel for the cabinet.

It would be brown to match the furniture, add a little texture, but not another overwhelming pattern and it would be hot glued on and fit in that narrow space. 

Fabulous.

And by the way, since I had everything on hand, it was free.

Creative Way To Use Wallpaper On Furniture

I started by cutting a template out of scrap paper.


Then I transferred it on to the back of the embossed, paintable wallpaper. (Similar To This One)


Next up, I grabbed my brown Umber mineral paint, from Dixie Belle, the same paint I used on my round metal mirror, to make it look like wood.

I used a large bristle brush to paint it onto the wallpaper, making sure to get it into all the crevices.

Then I used a terry cloth stain pad to remove some of the paint. 

I just dragged the pad over the wallpaper, and the pad removed the excess paint from the raised surfaces of the wallpaper.


Then I let it dry on a flat surface for a few hours.

I needed it to be completely dry before I cut it out to the proper size.

I also cut it after I painted it, leaving it oversized, because I wanted to make sure that if the edges curled, I could just cut them off.

Luckily, curling wasn't an issue.

Once the paper was properly sized, I added a bit of hot glue to the metal frame of the screen and popped the wallpaper into place.


When I was done, that peek a boo screen had been covered up and my cabinet had a whole new, high end, wood carved front panel.

Made in one day and from wallpaper.


I think it elevates the entire piece.

It doesn't compete with the other surrounding elements.

And it looks so good in the room.

Even if it isn't red...white or blue.

😉

Are you a fan of brown?


Happy Creating Friends!