How to Makeover a China Cabinet Using Wallpaper

Wallpapering a China Cabinet

For over twenty years I have had the china cabinet I have now. During that whole time I displayed the china I had received as wedding gifts. Over time I realized that the china wasn’t getting used, plus I started feeling like it was time for a change. So for this china cabinet makeover, I decided to pack all of it away. To update the look and add a little flare, I also wanted to add some wallpaper to the back of it.

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The Before:

After searching, I decided on a black and white patterned peel and stick wallpaper from the Nesting with Grace collection from Tempaper.

For this project, the surface I wanted to wallpaper was approximately 42×60 inches. One roll was the perfect amount, even with some extra to work with.

This was my first time wallpapering anything! Overall it was fairly easy, but it did require some patience. I’ll share what I learned along the way and from researching a bit beforehand.

How do I wallpaper a cabinet?

Materials

1. peel and stick wallpaper
2. squeegee
3. razor blade
4. scissors

Instructions

1. With this cabinet, we were able to remove the shelves.
2. Wipe down the area.

3. You are going to start at the top and peel as you go. When you begin, overlap at the top and even the sides a bit to make sure you have full coverage. You will easily trim it off with a razor blade later. Make sure the pattern is straight.

Tip: When you’re working up close with the wallpaper, don’t get tempted to make it perfect. Expect imperfections. Then step back and see how you don’t notice them at all!

4. Peel off the back as you go and apply the wallpaper. Use the squeegee to smooth it out. It seems to work best to work from the center out with the squeegee.

5. There will be bubbles and creases as you go. What’s great about peel and stick is that you can constantly pull it up and put it back and resmooth it until it’s to your liking. And you will!

6. With this cabinet, there were little ledges where the shelves would rest on. I just worked around these spots using the razorblade and squeegee.

Tip: When using the razorblade against straight edges, use it along with the squeegee. Have the squeegee move along the straight edge, guiding you with the razor blade.

7. When you get to the bottom, again leave an overlap. Trim off the excess with the scissors.

8. Use the squeegee to make sure it is tight in the crease. Then trim the excess with the razorblade. Use the squeegee to help guide the razorblade across. Then peel off the excess. Do the same on the sides and top where needed. (Somehow on this edge it didn’t end up overlapping much on the side, I just went in tight. It just felt right, but it’s recommended to overlap. You may have to do what feels right as you go.)

9. This repeated across the cabinet two more times. The hardest part was lining up the pattern from one to the next. Overall once it was done, again standing back you couldn’t see if something didn’t line up perfectly. Spots that do bother you can actually be easily patched with a piece of wallpaper cut to size. You can’t even tell where it’s done!

Tip: Remember that this wallpaper is very forgiving. You can even patch up mistakes and won’t be able to tell!

The After:

I’m thrilled with the results! This china cabinet makeover was a success. It really breathed new life into it. Such an easy fix and such a large transformation!

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