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nutmegxo_gw

Using wallpaper to line drawers/shelves..Has anyone done that???

12 years ago

I would like to use leftover wallpaper from my bedroom to line the shelves and drawers of the brand new vanity cabinets for the master bath. I do not want to adhere the wallpaper to the bottoms of the drawers/shelves but I am afraid the wallpaper will curl up and not lay flat. I have this idea: to use regular contact shelf liner (the kind that does NOT use adhesive) and then attach the wallpaper to the top of the contact liner in hopes that it will make the wallpaper lie flat. Does that make sense? And if I do this idea, I am unsure as to what to use to adhere the wallpaper to the contact liner...do I use double-sided tape? Help!!! :)

Comments (9)

  • 12 years ago

    I've lined drawers in the bathroom with the leftover wallpaper that we used in that room. I simply cut it to fit and laid it inside. Perhaps it didn't curl because it was a vinyl. However if you ever use a prepasted wallpaper in a bathroom drawer the humidity might cause it to stick.

    Try cutting a piece and see if it curls. If it does perhaps it would be easier to use regular contact paper - either clear or white or some other solid that goes with your wallpaper and just stick the contact paper on the back of the wallpaper. That might help.

  • 12 years ago

    If wallpaper is not pre-pasted humidity shouldn't be a problem. Unroll the wall paper then roll it in reverse, should take out any curl. then cut to a tight fit.

  • 12 years ago

    I, too, would just lay it onto the sticky side of contact paper, then cut the whole piece to fit.

  • 12 years ago

    I have used wrapping paper and it lies flat, especially once you put your clothes on top.

  • 12 years ago

    The shelves in my linen room are .lined with wallpaper for the items that are in regular rotation and getting washed pretty frequently.

    For my antique linens and my long term back stock (of cotton percale and linen sheets and table textiles), I wouldn't want those sitting for years on colored wallpaper. Those shelves are lined with specially-buffered pH paper I get from archival storage material supply companies.

    The wall paper is just cut to size, perhaps a smidge oversized and then laid down. I use a point of a brayer tool along the side edges and back of the shelf to force the paper tightly into the angle as the horizontal meets the vertical. It has never curled for me. I doubt any of the paper I have used is either vinyl coated, or prepasted, both of these miht create other issues. Contact paper isn't something I would want near my fabrics as the coating on it smells bad to me.

    HTH

    L.

  • 12 years ago

    I've been using leftover wallpaper for shelf and drawer lining for years, plain and prepasted. If it sticks when you want to remove it, pull off as much as possible, then lay a damp cloth over what's left, until it softens. Use a plastic spatula, credit card, etc. to scrape off the residue.

    Also, if latex paint on shelves is not quite cured when you want to load them, cut small scraps of wallpaper to fit the bottom of items. Place under items, pasted side down. After the paint is thoroughly cured, you can use the above method to remove the scraps.

  • 12 years ago

    Thanks everyone.

    I am going with anitamo's suggestion of using precut cardboard. Actually I could not find large sheets of cardboard to purchase and did not want to use random cardboard boxes laying around the garage (I have 15 drawers to line so want everything to be uniform using identical materials)...so I bought 4 large sturdy white posterboards from the local office supply store. I am going to cut them to fit the bottom of the drawers and simply wrap the wallpaper around the cardboard pieces and tape on the underside.

    My wallpaper IS pre-pasted. I definitely don't want any residue or paste to rub off on these brand new bathroom cabinets :)

    There will not be any clothing or linens going in these cabinets...it will be toiletries most likely stored in clear plastic/acrylic containers within the drawers. I just thought the wallpaper pattern would look pretty on the bottom of the drawers as well as protect them from spills, dust, etc.

    This post was edited by nutmegxo on Mon, Mar 11, 13 at 16:59

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    I've done this for years. I use remnants that I pick up at the hardware store (non adhesive type). It adds a great color splash, is very durable and makes me smile every time I open my drawers.