Leftover Wallpaper Scraps? Turn Them Into This Beautiful Decorative Bo
If you have ever wallpapered a room, you know the drill. You measure carefully, you hang beautifully, and then you end up with a pile of leftover wallpaper scraps. Well, I’m here to tell you that those wallpaper remnants are not clutter. They are creative potential just waiting to happen. Here’s what to do with leftover wallpaper!
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Table of Contents
- How to make a beautiful decorative bowl from leftover wallpaper scraps for under $5.
- Framed wallpaper wall art
- Lampshade makeover with wallpaper
- Three beautiful decorative trays
- DIY wallpaper book covers
- Ikea bar cart wallpaper hack
It is Handcrafted Society Challenge Day, one of my favorite days of the month!
This month, our talented group tackled one of my all-time favorite topics in home decor, wallpaper, and I could not be more excited to share what everyone created.
Wallpaper people, this one is for us!
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for links to all of the projects. You are going to love them!
I love wallpaper!
If you have followed me for very long, this is not exactly a newsflash.
Wallpaper…like red lipstick, aspen trees, and dark roast coffee…has my heart!
Wallpaper is one of my favorite elements in interior design.
The beautiful patterns, the intricate design, the colorful wow factor it can bring to any room.
If painting a room is the quickest way to change the look of a room, then wallpaper is the easiest way to create a dramatic impact in a room!
Come Take a Wallpaper Tour!
If you have followed along here for a while, you already know that wallpaper is my absolute favorite way to make a dramatic statement in any room. Here are a few of my favorites!
How to hang a wallpaper mural
A Grandmillennial Spring Home Tour
How to Hang Peel-and-stick wallpaper
Today, I am sharing one of my favorite easy DIY projects ever.
And then sticking around to give you even more creative ways to repurpose wallpaper scraps throughout your home.
But let’s start with the star of the show…
Let’s Get Scrappy…Wallpaper Scrappy!
Cute DIY decor projects that are inexpensive (ok, cheap!) are so satisfying!
I’m talking under five dollars, a simple project from start to finish, and the result looks like something you would find in a boutique home decor shop.
The secret? A plain plastic bowl from Dollar Tree and your leftover wallpaper scraps.
That’s it! No special skills required.
Just a little patience and a little creativity!
Allow me to turn your attention to my sister’s gorgeous bathroom vanity area.
I have to admit to being a little jealous.
Great space, great mirrors, and a GREAT wallpaper pattern!
My sister knows I like to create something out of nothing. So, in true sisterly generosity, she gave me the wallpaper scraps.
I had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I was thrilled!
Got $5?
Then you are good to go with this project!
This is a great example of how wallpaper scraps, or even wallpaper samples, can be put to work in the most unexpected place.
Nobody looks at a plastic bowl and thinks “statement piece.”
But with a beautiful wallpaper pattern layered on, that is exactly what it becomes!
Supply List:
- Wallpaper scraps (traditional, peel and stick, or wallpaper samples all work great!)
- A small plastic bowl from Dollar Tree or any dollar store
- Wallpaper paste, Mod Podge, or water if using pre-pasted paper
- Scissors
- A ruler or straight edge
Gosh, I’m not sure that I even spent $5! Let’s get going…
Step Cut your strips.
Using your ruler or straight edge as a guide, cut 1-inch wide strips of wallpaper. Make them 1 inch longer than the height of your bowl.
My bowl is 6 inches tall. So, I cut my strips 1-inch wide and 7 inches long.
Step Activate the paste.
Brush wallpaper paste onto the back of each strip, then “book” the strip by folding the pasted sides together. Let it sit for 30 to 60 seconds before unfolding.
If you are using peel-and-stick wallpaper, skip this step entirely!
Step Apply the strips.
Press each strip onto the side of the bowl, folding about a half inch over the top and bottom edges.
Continue overlapping the strips in the same direction as you go.
Vary the wallpaper pattern and colors for a fun, abstract look.
Or, keep it intentional if you prefer a more defined wallpaper pattern.
Step Cover the inside.
Apply the strips to the inside of the bowl the same way, continuing to overlap as you go.
Step Cover the bottom.
Cut circles from your wallpaper scraps (A biscuit cutter makes a perfect template!) and apply them to the inside and outside bottom of the bowl, overlapping as needed.
About five circles on each side does the trick.
Step Let it dry.
Give it a few hours, and you are done!
Just remember, this is not a food-safe bowl. So keep it as a beautiful design element rather than a snack bowl!
How to Style Your New Bowl
This no longer looks like a plastic bowl from the dollar store!
One of the reasons I love this project so much is how versatile the finished bowl is.
Fill it with decorative balls, yarn, pinecones, or even cloth napkins as a kitchen accent.
It works in a living room vignette, on a dining room sideboard, or as original decor on a bookcase shelf.
Wherever you need a unique touch and an added splash of color, this bowl delivers.
It is a perfect wallpaper project for every season and every style!
Still have extra scraps of wallpaper lying around? (Of course you do. We all do!)
The good news is that there are so many fantastic ways to give those wallpaper pieces new life around your home. Here are some of my favorites!
Framed Wallpaper as Wall Art
This is hands down one of the easiest ways to create perfect wall art in your home for almost no money.
A smaller piece of leftover wallpaper, a great frame, and a little painter’s tape is honestly all it takes.
I used leftover black and white wallpaper scraps tucked into gold frames to fill an awkward empty wall space in my living room.
The result? The look of high-end gallery art! See the full tutorial HERE.
Wallpaper Lampshade Makeover
Have a plain lampshade that has seen better days? A piece of wallpaper is a fantastic way to give it a completely new look!
Wendy at WM Design House lined the inside of a lampshade with this charming floral wallpaper.
Beautiful. Unique. So creative!
Three Gorgeous Tray Ideas
Great minds really do think alike!
Three of our Handcrafted Society bloggers independently landed on the most beautiful wallpaper tray projects this month, and honestly, I am not even a little surprised.
A gorgeous wallpaper pattern and a pretty tray? It is a match made in home decor heaven!
Donna at An Organized Season works her magic with a piece of scalloped wood trim from Hobby Lobby and a wallpaper sample to create the most charming and practical little tray.
Michelle at Thistle Key Lane shows us just how stunning a simple tray becomes with a little leftover wallpaper and a lot of creativity.
And Diane at South House Designs solves a problem we have all had with woven basket trays, and does it for just two dollars. Brilliant!
Dramatic Bookcase Makeover
If you have a full extra roll of wallpaper or larger leftover sheets of wallpaper, lining the back of a bookcase is an effective way to give a room an entirely new look.
The beautiful wallpaper pattern transforms the back panels of a bookcase into something truly special! It adds a colorful wow factor look that people will absolutely notice the moment they walk in. See the full before and after HERE.
Wallpaper is one of the most versatile elements in home decor.
And that versatility doesn’t stop when the room is finished.
Small pile of wallpaper remnants? A stack of wallpaper samples? Or even an extra full roll?
There is a perfect wallpaper project waiting to happen!
So the next time you finish a wallpaper project, resist the urge to toss those scraps!
Tuck them away. And when inspiration hits…you are ready to create the most charming home decor in your house!
Cheers!
A Little About Me“Decorate with Joy! Live with Happiness”
I truly believe that your home should be a reflection of your personality, a space where you feel free to express yourself and create a sanctuary that feels uniquely yours.
I love creating mood boards, hunting down unique home décor treasures, tackling easy DIY projects, and gathering with family and friends. Homes are meant to be enjoyed, filled with laughter, and shared with the people you love!
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Comments
Join the conversation
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Just found your site and will be following you, I loved everything and will be creating them. Don't have wallpaper so I will be using scrapbook paper, fabrics and anything else I can think of and will be creating oodles of beautiful things so thank you.
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Hi Miss Daisy! I'm thrilled that you like this project. You are so creative to think outside the box and use other scrap paper and fabrics. I would love to see what you create! Have a great day!
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