How to Easily and Beatifully Cover Electronic Wire Holes in Furniture

6 Materials
$10
2 Hours
Easy

So many pieces of great furniture have holes for electronic cords these days. These holes can completely ruin a piece of furniture but there is an easy solution to fix them. Grab some paint and paper and I'll show you how to transform your piece!

Finding the Bookcase


I have been wanting a small bookcase for the reading corner of my master bedroom (see the creation of the statement wall behind the bed here…) and I recently found the perfect piece. The only problem with my find was that it had huge holes in the back for electronic wires. i wasn't deterred though and came up with a way to cover the unsightly holes.

Covering the Holes


To transform a bookcase like this, it is always easiest to remove the back first. The great thing about most IKEA furniture is that the thin back pieces are removable. They usually either slide in and out or are held in place with a few small nails that can be popped out.A piece of vintage-inspired paper was the perfect solution to cover the unsightly holes. I had found this particular paper on a trip to Pennsylvania a few years ago and had never used it and I am so glad I hadn’t! I knew there must be a reason I was saving it 🙂Unfortunately, the paper was a little short but luckily wider than I needed. I was able to trim down the width and use the extra paper for the top and bottom.To hold the paper in place, a layer of spray adhesive was applied before laying the paper over it. I added the small, extra pieces to each end first and then worked with the large piece. In order to make sure there were no bubbles, I used the palm of my hand to smooth the paper out as I laid it down. Working an inch or two at a time helps to keep it smooth and straight.

Painting the Bookcase


I gave the bookshelf two coats of Annie Sloan chalk paint in Paris Grey. Annie Sloan works great on IKEA furniture and sticks like a charm so it was the perfect choice for this piece. Once both coats were dry, the entire bookcase got a coat of clear wax. I also lightly distressed the edges to give them an aged look to match the paper I used.

The Transformation


The vintage-inspired paper covered the holes completely and you can’t even tell they were there to begin with. The transformation is incredible and it doesn’t even look like the same piece of furniture. The next time you need to cover wire holes, try using paper or wallpaper. You will not only save the piece from the trash but save some money buying something new as well.To see the original post with additional pictures, please pop over to the Recreated Designs blog at the link below. You can also find all of the details about my new book Recreated Designs - Cottage Projects With a Vintage Flair here...

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  2 questions
  • Shirley Shirley on Aug 15, 2020

    Just to clarify, for a person that has never owned or shopped for Ikea furniture, I know you took the back off of the bookcase. Did you attach the paper to the inside of the back piece and then nail it back on? I love the look, and have done a lot of similar things to salvaged items that I love. Great idea!

  • Linda Linda on Aug 15, 2022

    Looks great! I was wondering where you got the covers for your tub chair?

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