Decoupage an accent wall?

Charlene
by Charlene
Has anyone tried mod podge with wrapping paper- to cover a small wall? Just wondering how that might look in my bathroom - the wall behind the mirror and opposite wall behind the toilet- my thought was instead of tile, to save money. Any advice?
  19 answers
  • Shari Shari on Apr 11, 2014
    Personally, I think stenciling would be a much better option. Stenciling is coming back in a big way and there are lots of really nice, modern patterns available for creating an accent wall. The biggest advantage to stenciling is when you (or the next homeowner) are ready for a change, you simply paint over it. Decoupage... I would think it would be a b*tch to remove...probably way worse than wallpaper. I say "don't."
    • Charlene Charlene on Apr 14, 2014
      @Shari I like this option if I could find self adhesive stencils- I haven't had much luck with the other kind...
  • Denna Watson-Little Denna Watson-Little on Apr 11, 2014
    I used pretty paper napkins to cover the side of a dresser in my bathroom. I use regular watered down white glue.
  • Yvette Gerace Yvette Gerace on Apr 11, 2014
    Only thing that would concern me is moisture and glue eventually becoming tacky or sticky. With Mod Podge, I've seen it yellow over time.
  • Diane Arnold Diane Arnold on Apr 12, 2014
    Last week at my eye doctor they had the most beautiful wall. It was hand painted paper and torn in random shapes after it has dried, then glued on the wall. The paper itself was black and it was painted gold and bronze colors. It almost looked like black roofing paper. When it was torn the black edges showed. The young man working there told me how it was done. I plan on doing a small accent wall this way It really was very different and of course one could use any color palette.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Apr 12, 2014
    As difficult as just wallpaper is to deal with years later, I would b very careful about what I put up on my walls! I will NEVER allow another piece of wallpaper in my house...I don't even want it to line dresser drawers with! Just be careful. You can accomplish great accents with stencils. For such a closed in area, I would think a pretty paint would work very well since there is not much wall to work with.
  • Mary Anne Bouton Mary Anne Bouton on Apr 12, 2014
    My sister did a large wall in her living room using paper bags torn randomly and used mod pog to adhere them to the wall. Then coated it with the mod pod for final coat. It looks beautiful! Good luck!
  • My Wonderful Walls My Wonderful Walls on Apr 12, 2014
    I don't know if the moisture in the bathroom would destroy that too quickly. We would recommend stenciling our wall stickers. We have some really fun self-adhesive pattern wall stencils you could check out that are perfect for an accent wall.
  • Andrea Jacqueline Andrea Jacqueline on Apr 12, 2014
    I tore up pieces of contractors paper (comes in a roll from Lowes/Home Depot) and put it up in my stairwell over 10 years ago. I used wall paper paste instead of Mod podge...which I think would work great as well...My wall(s) have held up great...bit of curling at wall/ceiling that I had to glue down again...guess I have been lucky with wallpaper removal...I score the wall paper, then wet it down with liquid starch/water solution...let it sit a bit and it practically falls off...you are working on such a small area, I really don't think it would be such a hassle to take down anyways...be happy in your space...life is too short : ) *Since you are working in a bathroom, I would make sure to leave the fan on longer than usual, to prevent any moisture issues...
  • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Apr 12, 2014
    This is very fun and messy project. I had glue from head to toe. But loved the results.I have used tissue paper on a bath wall with wonderful results. I used glaze instead of mod podge. I painted the wall a dark green, let it dry. I then rolled on a small portion of wall with heavy glaze. I then started to "mush" into the wet glaze tissue paper making it wrinkly. When the entire room was done I sponge painted "wet-on-wet" with four different greens. When this coat was dry I added a copper stencil of an oak leaf. When this was dry, I sealed it with a satin coat of poly. One thing you might note, is how committed you are to this texture. You can always repaint, but the texture would take a huge effort to get off.
    • See 1 previous
    • SK on Elderberry SK on Elderberry on Apr 22, 2014
      @Cheryl Thanks Cheryl. I actually painted the walls before the plumbing and cabinet went in so it was pretty quick. It took me about four hours to put up the paper. The next day when the paper was dry I started to paint. The little green cabinet was leftover from another project, and I just had to cut the hole for the sink. The curled copper took me about an hour and then and hour to hook-up and test. Thanks for the visit. sk
  • Charlene Charlene on Apr 12, 2014
    Wow- certainly a very Yale
  • Charlene Charlene on Apr 12, 2014
    Oops- hit done by mistake! Thank you all for your wonderful ideas and advice! I'm so impressed with the talented people here and how nice and willing you all are!! When I decide what to do, I'll have to post a picture! Thanks again!
  • Charlene Charlene on Apr 12, 2014
    @my wonderful walls- since I'm still getting the hang on this site, can you direct me to your site?
    • Charlene Charlene on Apr 14, 2014
      @Dee Thank's Dee- That's a great idea! That's really what I wanted to do anyway. I found this wrapping paper that would be perfect!
  • Kim Fiebig Kim Fiebig on Apr 13, 2014
    I did this years ago with brown paper bags also, I loved it & it was very inexpensive. A few years after I needed a change I removed it & it peeled off the walls very easily. I would do it again.
  • Charlene Charlene on Apr 14, 2014
    Thank you Kim, I've seen this methods done on floors with stain and poly on top- it's beautiful.
  • Dee Dee on Apr 14, 2014
    Your Welcome, let me know how it turns out. Just be careful to seal well because it is in a bathroom.
  • Sandi Gavlak Plotner Sandi Gavlak Plotner on Apr 17, 2014
    Suggestion: Make a 'frame' out of ply-wood or some other non-flexible backing. Do your work on that. If it disintegrates over time, you can remove it without damaging the wall.
  • Evy Evy on Sep 12, 2014
    It may turn out nice but the heat (of the water) and humidity may damage it too soon after all the work you put into the project.
  • Charlene Charlene on Sep 12, 2014
    Thank you Evy. I actually repainted the whole room - still trying to decided what to do next!