You Won’t Believe What This Homeowner Created With Wallpaper Scraps (It’s So Clever!)

You know those storage cupboards that are usually above a closet and require a ladder to access? While they’re wonderful for storing items that you don’t often use, like holiday decorations or suitcases, the cabinets themselves can be a bit of an eyesore. But then again, they’re so high up that I often wonder what could even be done to help them blend in. 

But what if I was thinking about it all wrong? Instead of making them blend in, Rachel Thompson, who owns an eclectic New Orleans house, decided they should actually stand out. In her dining room, she has two cupboards above wooden closet doors. The cabinets were originally painted white, which likely looked a little stark compared to the room’s moody, earthy atmosphere. 

Initially, Rachel had Urban Outfitters’ peel-and-stick wallpaper behind her bed as a sort of pseudo-headboard (unfortunately, the pattern is no longer available). However, she grew tired of the look but didn’t want to waste the paper. 

“The wallpaper was still sticky and in good shape, so I was like, ‘I don’t want to waste this. What could I do with it?’ And then I thought ‘How about slap it on to these cabinets and add a little zest,’” Rachel remembers. 

Rachel didn’t have enough of the peel-and-stick wallpaper to cover the size of both cabinets, so she thought outside the box. By using copper tape and cutting the wallpaper into a new design, she created a fresh, original pattern that fit both cabinets. 

All in all, Rachel estimates that the original wallpaper was around $50 for a roll, and then the tape cost her around $10. For just $60, these once all-white cabinets turned into art pieces that seemingly blend in with the rest of the room while also remaining eye-catching. 

If you’re looking for a similarly patterned wallpaper to try out this project yourself, consider Spoonflower’s “Wallpaper in Cranes.” It comes in 10 colors and seven types, including peel-and-stick, grasscloth, and pre-pasted. Spoonflower boasts that the peel-and-stick version is easily removable if you grow tired of the pattern (but I don’t think you will!). 

This DIY proves how versatile wallpaper can be. And while I’ve seen contact paper used on kitchen cupboards before, I’ve never seen a cabinet transformed to look like a piece of art. To see more of Rachel’s wonderful home, visit the full House Tour.