Hey friends! Have an old dresser or cabinet that needs a little something extra? Wallpaper might be the answer! This dresser upcycle combines a soft color wash with paintable textured wallpaper to turn an outdated piece of furniture into something totally unique.
I love finding unexpected ways to update old furniture, and this makeover is proof that you don’t always have to reach for paint alone. Adding wallpaper to the recessed door panels gave this piece texture, pattern, and a custom look without covering up all that beautiful wood.
If you’re searching for DIY dresser painting ideas or refurbished dresser ideas that are a little different from the usual painted makeover, wait until you see what a little wallpaper can do.
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Why Add Wallpaper to a Dresser?
Wallpaper is a fun way to add personality to an old piece of furniture. Instead of creating a complicated painted dresser design, the wallpaper does most of the work for you.
And you’re certainly not limited to the textured pattern I used here. A geometric print can create a modern look, while a floral pattern dresser design would be beautiful for a cottage, vintage, or colorful furniture makeover.
Wallpaper can also be a lifesaver when you’re working with damaged furniture. If the recessed panels aren’t pretty enough to refinish, covering them gives you another option before giving up on the piece altogether. That’s the beauty of a good dresser upcycle—sometimes the imperfections lead to the best ideas.
How To Update Furniture With Wallpaper – Easy Dresser Makeover
As usual, the cabinet/dresser I found for this makeover was… let’s just say, was lacking in the beauty department. Again, you know I like ugly furniture, so there’s that. It just makes the victory so much sweeter.
If you’re planning to refinish a dresser DIY-style, you don’t have to choose between refinishing the wood and painting the whole piece. This makeover uses both techniques—the wood was brought back to life with a color wash while the wallpaper panels were painted for contrast.
Supplies You’ll Need for This Dresser Upcycle
- Wood Furniture
- Paintable Textured Wallpaper
- Wallpaper Adhesive or Mod Podge
- Hobby Knife (craft knife or scissors) to cut wallpaper
- Surfprep Sanding System
- Cotton
- Sand Bar
- Chip Paintbrush
- Disposable bowl (for color wash mixture)
- Paper towels or soft cotton cloth
- Best Dang Wax (clear)
- Dixie Dirt Earth (for shading and aging)
- Gold Modern Hardware
Choosing Wallpaper for Your Furniture Makeover
With so many paintable texture wallpaper patterns available, you may have a hard time choosing. My best advice to you is to choose a pattern that works in your home. For example, my home is heavy on the farmhouse design with a modern twist. Choosing this curvy geometric design with my raw wood furniture added modern elegance without being over the top for this painted dresser design.
Think of wallpaper as dresser art. The pattern you choose can completely change the furniture’s personality. Florals can make a piece feel romantic or cottage-inspired, geometric wallpaper can lean modern, and subtle textured paper, as I used here, works beautifully with farmhouse furniture.
How to Cut Wallpaper to Fit Furniture
Firstly, I don’t recommend using it on the tops of dressers or tabletops due to the textured wallpaper’s thickness. However, it works beautifully in recessed areas, such as cabinet doors, that don’t get much traffic.
If the wallpaper you chose has a repeatable pattern like this one, you’ll need to match the design on both sides when updating cabinet doors.
Cutting the wallpaper is very easy because the paper is thick. You lay it inside the area (line up your pattern) you want to apply it to, then run your finger across the paper where the cabinet corners meet to crease it. You can then flip it over and cut the creased area with scissors, or use a craft knife for a more precise cut. If you’re using a craft knife, cut it in place, using the corners as your guide.
TIP: Before cutting your wallpaper, tape a larger sample to the furniture and stand back. It’s much easier to change your mind before the glue comes out. 😉
How to Glue Wallpaper to Wood Furniture
Let’s talk glue for a minute. It’s just a small piece of wallpaper, and you don’t have to buy wallpaper adhesive. You can use any craft glue (water-based) that you have on hand as long as it’s made for paper and wood. For this project, I used wallpaper adhesive I had on hand, leftover from another project. But no reason not to use good old-fashioned Mod Podge if you have it on hand.
Tips for Applying Wallpaper to Furniture
#1 To get a good bond with the wood and wallpaper, be sure that the wood is clean and intact. I sanded this cabinet down to the raw wood first, but you most certainly do not have to. Light scuff sanding with 220-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface will work just fine, especially if you’re going to be painting it anyway.
#2 Apply the glue to the wood AND the back of the wallpaper. Don’t skimp. Again, the wallpaper is thick and will absorb some of the glue and the wood surface. Try to keep the glue off the surrounding surface if you plan to paint it. Painting over the glue will give you a crackle in the paint once it dries. It’s a pretty look, but not if it’s a surprise.
#3 Once you have applied the wallpaper to the surface, gently rub in a circular motion with your hands from the center of the paper, working your way outward to the sides. This will help to remove any air pockets under the wallpaper. If you have ever wallpapered before… you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t… you’ll soon find out why. 🙂 If you get a bubble that you can’t get out of, you can poke a tiny hole through the wallpaper to release the air. You’re going to be painting it anyway, so it’s fine.
#4 Remember, the wallpaper is paintable, so if you don’t get the corners perfect, no worries. The paint will cover those areas.
How to Paint Textured Wallpaper
Time to paint! Yep, this wallpaper is paintable, and what I use is a water-based chalk mineral paint.
Paint 1-2 coats over the paper (allowing dry time between coats) and into the corners, filling in any gaps where you may not have gotten the perfect (SHOCKER!) trim on the wallpaper. Trust me; mine wasn’t.
How to Make a Color Wash for Raw Wood Furniture
Next, I used a color wash on the raw wood, but you can certainly paint all the surfaces if that’s your plan. Here’s my recipe just in case you like this look.
Quick & Easy Color Wash For Raw Wood Furniture
- Mix 3 Tbsp of chalk mineral paint (any color) into 1/2-1 cup of water.
Mix well until all the paint is diluted. The paint-to-water ratio depends on how much color you want on the wood.
- Brush the color wash (diluted paint) over the raw wood and let it sit a minute or so. Do not allow it to dry.
- Wipe away excess color wash with a soft cloth, leaving just enough in the wood to create a soft hue of the paint color. The wood should still be visible.
Repeat this step if you want more color to the wood.
- Allow it to dry overnight.
Seal the wood with a water-based topcoat for durability. I recommend Gator Hide by Dixie Belle Paint Co.
Cotton was used for the wash, Cotton and Sand Bar were blended on the wallpaper, and Dixie Dirt was used only in the corners for depth and shading.
How to Blend the Wallpaper Into the Furniture
Here’s a fix for the imperfections in the wallpaper in the corners. Add clear wax in the corners around all the edges. You can do this with a chip brush.
Next, while the wax is still wet, use Dixie Belle Dirt to blend those edges and create a dirty, aged look to the cabinet doors. It works beautifully. You can also use colored wax, but I like the dirt as it gives that authentically aged finish I like.
More Ways to Customize Your Dresser Makeover
Don’t be afraid to make this idea your own. You could use wallpaper only on the doors, add wallpaper to the drawer fronts, paint the body and leave the drawers natural, or create a dresser with different color drawers for a more playful look.
More Furniture Makeover Ideas You’ll Love
The Finished Wallpaper Dresser Makeover
THIS is what I’m talking about! How fun is this?! And with a few simple products, you can update your furniture with amazing, textured, paintable wallpaper, too. I think it’s so much better than before, and it works well with my modern farmhouse decor.
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today while I gave this old cabinet dresser a much-needed second chance! It’s amazing what a little paint, wallpaper, and imagination can do for a tired piece of furniture.
I hope this makeover inspires you to look at that old dresser or cabinet you’ve been hanging onto and think, “Okay… maybe you’re not ugly. Maybe you just need wallpaper.” 😂
If you have questions about this dresser upcycle or have tried wallpaper on furniture yourself, leave me a comment below. And as always, you can just stop by and say HEY! I love hearing from you. 😘
Happy DIYing!
Until the next project, xo, Do
Love it! Very inspirational.
Thank you, April! So glad you enjoyed it. Happy New Year! xo, Do
Thanks for sharing this idea Donna! I am definitely going to try this!
Hi, Joan! Thanks for joining me today. I think you’ll have fun with this DIY. Happy New Year! xo 🙂
That looks awesome!!!
Thank you, Wendy!
Hi! Absolutely love this piece! Did you use a wash of both cotton and sand bar over this piece or just one? Similar, did you use the dirt all over or just in corners? Thanks!!
Hi Taylor, I used Cotton for the wash on the wood and then blended cotton and sandbar on the wallpaper. The dirt was used only in the corners. Glad you like it. 🙂
This is GORGEOUS Do! I love the wallpaper you picked for the inserts and your detailed instructions! XOXO
Thank you, Denise. I love having so many options with designs. 🙂
That paper is amazing Do! The piece looks fresh and modern with a touch of age! Pinned 🥰
Thank you, Cindy!
\The paper is a good way to cover up areas that have damage too. Have a great rest of your week.:) xo