// White side table // A more affordable option //
I’ve never met a design challenge I didn’t like.
ever.
When I was first married, we lived in student housing with brick walls that we weren’t allowed to put anything in. Walls and walls and brick walls without a single place to hang a picture. Some people may have shrugged at those walls. Some would have thrown up their hands and rolled their eyes, resigning themselves to being pictureless.
me?
I stood up, squared my shoulders, and reached for a pencil. It turns out that the space between the bricks was the perfect size to hold a pencil. I stuck pencils in the space and then nailed the pencils and hung the pictures.
Necessity is the mother of design invention.
Same as this table.
It looks beautiful from this angle, but when you get closer, you’ll notice that the top has nicks and scratches.
So I gave it a makeover (not what you think).
The easiest solution ever.
Here’s a close-up of the table edges.
This table has seen a lot of parties and a lot of fun, and somewhere along the way, it got a little extra character.
No worries.
It was just a quick fix needed.
I could have painted it, but I had another idea instead.
are you ready
// Blue and white grasscloth wallpaper //Patterned wallpaper //
I used this.
Bark-and-wood wallpaper.
It’s like 2026 contact paper, except better because it’s thicker, cheaper (under $7) and comes in great patterns.
I bought two for this project to test, and I ended up loving the grasscloth wallpaper.
It comes in many other colors (incl The prettiest neutral khaki), and it measures: 15.7″ x 118.1″ so it was perfect for this project (Tons left for a few picture frames I want to make.)
So I cover the top and then?
Literally a roll of peel-and-stick wallpaper and 10 minutes later?
Hello, beautiful.
Such a simple solution to a boring white table with chips on top.
Now there’s kind of a learning curve (and I’ve taught myself some tips along the way), but it’s the easiest solution for a table (and easier than painting).
Here’s the how-to for my DIY table top makeover.
DIY table top makeover
Supplies:
table
Blue and white grasscloth wallpaper
1. Measure the wallpaper
In surprising news? Similar to contact paper, wallpaper has a few lines on the back of the paper, making it easy to measure.
I think the project was easier on this table because it didn’t have a beveled edge, just a plain edge that was easy to wrap the paper around.
Measure your table top and cut a piece of contact paper into a circle with an extra 3″ around the edge of the circle.
2. Apply wallpaper and score
Peel off one side of the wallpaper and press it onto the table.
Take your time.
Do not rush this process.
If you peel it off too quickly, the paper will have a few bubbles (you may hear a pop when you press it).
Gently peel off the paper and then score with a sharp edge. I used my library card, and it worked perfectly.
If you see bubbles after you press down on the paper, use a card (Or whatever sharp edges you have) to push it off the side of the paper.
3. Cut the edges of the wallpaper into strips
After you’ve pressed the wallpaper in place, flip the table over so you’re working on the underside.
If you just press the edges down, they’ll be all mushy and uneven.
So I found a solution.
Cut the edges of the paper into small strips.
You want to cut them all the way to the edge of the tabletop as shown.
4. Wrap around the edge of the table top
Now, start from the center strip and wrap it.
Then, take the next strip and place it slightly over the strip you pressed down. There will be a slight slant on the strip that allows the edge of the table to be smooth.
Keep pressing until you have all the strips wrapped around the edge of the table top.
Score the edges with your library card (Or whatever sharp edges you have) to make sure everything is stuck.
5. Cut the pieces to fit the edges
I was left with a small sliver of a section of the table because the wallpaper wasn’t wide enough.
I just matched the pattern (like you would when wallpapering a wall) and repeated step 4.
You can’t really tell anymore where one part stops and another begins.
That’s it.
And here’s another look at the finished table.
Here are some quick tips if you want to tackle this project:
- Make sure the table is clean before you start ((Captain obvious, but worth mentioning)
- Remember to peel back only a few inches of the backing at a time as you work
- Work from the center outwards for the smoothest finish
- If the pattern becomes crooked, reposition immediately (don’t let the paper set too long).
- Smooth edges after you turn the table back
- Seal the tabletop with a clear protective topcoat if the surface will be used heavily
- Allow the wallpaper to fully adhere for 24 hours before you use it
- Save leftover scraps for future touch-ups or repairs
So thank you for those brick walls from long ago. They taught me a lot about design challenges.
They taught me to think outside the box.
They taught me to recognize that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it look good.
They taught me to shop curbside and break for yard sales and always make time for ice cream (How ice cream came into this conversation).
Okay – maybe the ice cream part was just me.
But they “schooled” me in the rest. 🙂
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