This Alternative to Wallpaper is Our New Favorite Thing

by BrightNest

Wallpapering your home: We can’t think of a worse way to spend a Saturday. While today’s modern prints are much trendier than Grandma’s paisley, rolls of paper and jars of paste still make a serious mess. Not to mention that removing wallpaper is what nightmares are made of.
Luckily, we have an awesome alternative: NotWallpaper paint rollers. Not only will these rollers save you from a serious redecorating woes, it can save you some serious cash, too! One roller is about $30 – a lot less than the average cost of wallpaper, which is $400-$1,000 for one room.

wallpaper alternative roller dresser drawer, painted furniture

You can use these rollers on just about anything, from upholstery to ceilings, furniture and even floors. We decided to turn a regular drawer from drab to fab with the Aspen Frost pattern roller.

For this project, you’ll need:

NotWallpaper roller

paint

paintbrush

X-acto knife or scissors

drawer liner or matte cardstock paper

1. Cut Your Paper to Size

To create a perfectly square piece of drawer liner or paper to line the inside of your drawer, line up the edges by placing your drawer directly on top of the paper and carefully trace the edges. Then cut the other two sides with your X-acto knife. We used an X-acto knife, but scissors would work, too.

2. Add Paint to Your Roller with the Paintbrush

We originally tried a standard paint tray, but putting paint directly on the roller was a lot easier (and cleaner) for this small of a project. This way, you can make sure the paint is evenly spread across the roller. Note: For larger projects, the paint roller comes with an attachable paint applicator to help you get the most even coating of paint from your paint tray.

3. Paint Your Paper

To make sure you don’t accidentally paint your floor or work table, place some newspaper or scrap paper underneath the paper you’re painting. Then, roll your paint-covered roller over the sheet in long, even strokes until it is covered with your design. Tip: Only use matte paper liner! Glossy liner will stick to the roller, which makes the pattern uneven.

4. Let It Dry for 1 Full Hour

The paper takes about an hour to dry completely, so step away and relax.

5. Place the Paper in the Drawer

Drop the dry paper in the drawer. If it’s cut to size, it should stay in place, but if you’d like it to be more secure, you can use double-sided tape or spray adhesive to secure the paper to the drawer. Note: We don’t recommend doing this to a drawer you’re using to store clothes, just in case the paint rubs off onto your sweaters!

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2 comments

Hannah V on Jul 16, 2014
Omg SO doing this!

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Valerie on Jul 28, 2014
I have never heard of a notwallpaper roller. Where can I find it? I assume they have different designs, right? This looks like it could be a lot of fun and not a huge investment in time for such a cute idea!

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