Wallpapering furniture is the art of seeing the ordinary whilst imagining the extraordinary, of turning overlooked pieces into functional works of art. Over the years, we have witnessed this trend grow from a quirky niche idea into a bona fide design movement and are extremely proud to have played a small part in it. We have covered the basics of this technique in our main article “The ultimate DIY guide to wallpapering furniture: a step-by-step guide for beginners”, which we suggest checking out if you are new to the concept. In this article, we want to do something different and walk you through some of the more unorthodox and less explored options, look into unexpected surfaces, re-imagining IKEA classics and share a few ideas that will take your wallpapering projects to the next level. Let’s roll up our sleeves, it’s time to get creative!
Repurposing common furniture with wallpaper
In a world of mass-produced furniture, where every other home seems to feature the same flat-pack bookshelves and uninspired coffee tables, it’s easy to feel that your space lacks personality. However, just because your furniture came off an assembly line, it doesn’t have to look like it. Wallpapering individual pieces gives you the chance to inject your own creativity into those tired, everyday pieces, breathing life and character into the furniture you already own, all while cutting down on waste.
Dressers: a canvas for creativity
Often the workhorses of our homes, chests of drawers can be transformed into an anchor for your room design. The drawer fronts are the most obvious choice, and wallpaper can have a real impact in these areas.
Think of them as individual panels that can be treated as a cohesive whole or as separate elements for more eclectic designs. For a playful twist, consider alternating patterns on the drawers or using a gradient effect with complementary hues. Also - rarely considered but of great effect - the sides are an interesting option: if the dresser is freestanding and visible from multiple angles, adorning the sides with a stylish wallpaper improves its overall look.
Our tip: If your chosen wallpaper model features intricate designs, ensure that the patterns align across the drawers for a seamless flow. As wallpaper can add a slight thickness to the drawers, potentially affecting how they glide, sanding the edges lightly ensures a smooth operation and prevents the wallpaper from catching or tearing over time.
The insides of drawers also offer an opportunity to add some unexpected charm while protecting the surface from scratches or stains caused by everyday use. For kids’ rooms, you could choose playful designs like animals or polka dots, while more sophisticated spaces can benefit from textured or metallic wallpapers.
Our tip: When lining drawers, opt for peel-and-stick wallpaper for easy application and future removal.
Bookshelves: from functional to stylish
Bookshelves often serve as the backbone of a room’s organisation and design. The back panel of a bookshelf is prime real estate for adding visual interest: a bold, colourful print can turn a standard wall of books into a work of art, while more subtle patterns like herringbone or soft florals provide an elegant, understated backdrop for decorative items.
Our tip: Choose a wallpaper that complements your existing décor. If your room has a neutral palette, a vibrant or textured wallpaper can serve as an accent, while for a space that is already colourful, you could opt for something more subdued to maintain balance.
Another impactful idea to add dimension and interest is to wallpaper the side panels. These are often overlooked, but wallpaper draws the eye and creates a more dynamic, three-dimensional look. You can either use a complementary colour or a pattern that contrasts with the back panel for a layered effect; just make sure to cut the paper precisely and align the pattern with any adjacent panels to avoid a disjointed look. For something more unusual, consider adding wallpaper to the tops or undersides of shelves, especially in open designs where these areas are visible.
Our tip: For these smaller, detailed areas, peel-and-stick wallpaper is easier to cut, apply, and reposition, making the process much easier.
Coffee tables: elevating the everyday
Let’s talk about coffee tables, the unsung heroes of our living rooms. We use them frequently every day to hold our cups of coffee, mobile phones and remotes, yet they are too often overlooked as a design opportunity.
The surface of a coffee table is a fabulous choice for either experimenting with bold and eye-catching designs or giving it a luxurious look without the hefty price tag by using a wallpaper mimicking natural materials like marble or wood grain. Let’s not stop at the tabletop, however, as coffee tables with lower shelves, interior nooks, or side panels can also be wallpapered, creating a layered design that will make your guests wonder which exclusive boutique you sourced it from.
Our tip: The edges of coffee tables are particularly prone to peeling due to constant use and/or accidental bumps and scratches. Reinforce these areas with adhesive and an additional layer of sealant to protect them.
Renovating unexpected surfaces: thinking outside the box
In our experience, some of the most impressive transformations happen in places you might not consider at first, like chairs, bed frames, cabinets or even stair risers. These surfaces are often overlooked, but they hold great potential for adding personality and flair to your home.
Chairs: an unorthodox opportunity
Chairs often function as secondary design elements, making them an ideal place to take some design “gambles” without overpowering the room. Their backrests and seats offer manageable surfaces for beginners while still packing a visual punch.
You can choose to wallpaper only the backs for a minimalist twist that’s visible when chairs are tucked under the table, or highlight both the backs and seats for a cohesive statement piece.
Our tip: Don’t be afraid to mix and match if your chairs are already mismatched. Since chairs are used every day and often take a beating, seal your wallpaper with water-resistant polyurethane or an acrylic spray for long-lasting protection. Pay special attention to edges and corners as they’re most vulnerable to peeling. For more information on this topic read our article “How to protect and troubleshoot wallpapered furniture”.
Bed headboard and frames: redefining your bedroom
Your bed isn’t just a place to sleep; it’s the visual and functional centrepiece that sets the tone for the entire bedroom. The headboard is ideal for bold design moves: since it’s the first thing people notice when they walk into the room, why not go all out? Whether you go for eye-catching prints, abstract designs or models that mimic natural materials, wallpapering it is a budget-friendly way to upgrade the bedhead to reflect your personality. We wrote an in-depth article about applying wallpaper to the headboard, which you should check if you are interested in this topic.
While the headboard is the obvious choice, the bed frame itself offers hidden opportunities for creativity: a soft pattern on the slats can give a whimsical touch when the bedding is pulled back. For platform beds, a daring yet effective idea is to wallpaper the space beneath the mattress. This detail is particularly impactful in rooms with minimalistic or raised bed designs.
Our tip: use colours from your wallpaper to match your bedding, curtains, or throw-pillows to create a cohesive palette. Also, if your walls are painted a soft neutral, a bold headboard pattern can stand out beautifully. Conversely, if your room already features vibrant hues, consider a more understated wallpaper design for balance.
Cabinets and wardrobes: turning doors into design pieces
Cabinet and wardrobe doors often dominate the visual landscape of a room, whether they’re standing tall in a bedroom or stretching along a kitchen wall. Yet despite their sheer size and presence, these pieces can feel more utilitarian than stylish.
Being essentially blank canvases, wallpaper can play multiple roles, adding a touch of flair, covering scratches, dents, or outdated finishes and giving doors a second life without the need for costly replacements. Bold, large-scale prints work well on expansive wardrobe doors, while for smaller spaces, it’s better to opt for wallpapers that mimic materials like linen, wood grain, or plaster. Let’s not stop here, however, as the inside of wardrobe or cabinet doors can also provide unexpected design opportunities.
Our tip: use vinyl wallpaper to line the insides of kitchen cupboards, adding colour while protecting the surfaces from dust and scratches. This material is easy to clean, moisture-resistant, and durable enough for high-use areas like kitchens.
Stair risers: elevating your steps
While not furniture in the proper sense, wallpapered stair risers can be a dynamic, transitional design element that bridges form and function. Guiding movement through your home, wallpapered risers create a sense of cohesion, visually linking the areas they connect.
Think of them as small, individual canvases, allowing you to explore creative design options. You can use a single, flowing design across all risers to create a unified look for modern or minimalist spaces, or alternate complementary patterns or colours to create movement. For a more detailed look on how to wallpaper stair risers, read our instructions.
Our tip: match the wallpaper with the wall colour or flooring to tie the staircase in with the overall aesthetic, and go for durable wallpaper, designed to sustain constant foot traffic.
Going one step further: IKEA hacks, upcycling and holiday magic
So far, we’ve explored a variety of opportunities for personalising your existing furniture, yet there are more overlooked opportunities we would suggest you could consider. In the next section we will dive into specific cases, from revitalising iconic IKEA designs to crafting seasonal furniture makeovers that change with the calendar.
IKEA furniture hacks: transforming basics into high-end looks
It’s a fact of live: most of us have at least one piece of IKEA furniture in our homes. Affordable, functional, and available everywhere, the Swedish furniture giant is a staple from first apartments to family homes.
While its plain, minimalist look might have felt like a breath of fresh air when it was first introduced, today it often feels a bit bland and generic. On the flip side this also means that IKEA furniture is the ultimate blank canvas for wallpaper creativity, as the clean lines and simple designs make it incredibly easy to customise. The following focuses on a few classic IKEA pieces, but you can apply the same principles on many more.
BILLY bookcase: a classic piece ready for a makeover
A quintessential IKEA staple due to its affordability and versatility, its plain white or basic wood finish doesn’t exactly scream “designer furniture”. Wallpapering it is an easy way to transform it into a standout, more personalised piece. The simplest way (yet probably the most effective) is to apply wallpaper to the back panels, adding visual depth and emphasising any items on the shelves. To add a layer of sophistication, consider going beyond the classic patterns by choosing textured wallpapers like grasscloth or wallpaper that mimics materials like wood, marble, or even leather. Pair it with gold or brass hardware accents on nearby furniture for an even more luxurious effect.
Our tip: install LED strip lights along the shelves to highlight the wallpapered panels and the items displayed.
MALM dresser: a chic makeover for a minimalist evergreen
With its clean and simple lines, the Malm dresser has been a favourite for what feels like forever. Let’s think how we can transform this minimalist piece of furniture into a bespoke piece that looks like it belongs in a high-end boutique: the wide, flat drawer fronts of the Malm dresser are ideal for wallpapering, so you can apply a bold or textured wallpaper here to create a striking, custom look. For a more contemporary feel, consider geometric patterns or sleek monochrome designs, paired with black or metallic handles for extra flair. As the Malm dresser is often found in bedrooms and dressing areas - spaces where a touch of luxury is always welcome - you could go all out and upgrade it with metallic wallpapers in gold, silver, or copper tones to create a chic, glamorous look. Our tip: for Malm dressers in kids’ rooms, why not consider a chalkboard wallpaper to let little ones personalise their space?
LACK table: upgrading everybody’s favourite budget table The IKEA Lack table is a furniture maverick: incredibly affordable, lightweight, and endlessly adaptable. It provides a great canvas to experiment with wallpaper, whether you turn it into a standout piece or seamlessly blend it into your existing décor.
If you want to make it fit in an industrial or minimalist setting, you could choose concrete-inspired wallpaper, while for an elegant touch, a wallpaper with a marble effect works beautifully in formal living rooms or on bedside tables in master bedrooms. For playrooms or casual spaces, you could go wild and try fun prints like polka dots, stripes, or even tropical motifs. Our tip: for a layered, artistic effect, try using two types of wallpaper, for example a bold print for the tabletop and a subtler texture for the legs.
How to prep the surface of IKEA furniture
Most IKEA pieces are made of laminate or veneer, both of which are notorious for their slick, non-porous finishes. Unless you restrict yourself to peel-and-stick varieties, this means you might need some preparation work to make sure your wallpaper will adhere properly. While some DIYers advocate sanding the surface with fine-grit sandpaper to create texture for better adhesion, this is a risky, laborious task. An easier option for traditional wallpaper models that require wallpaper paste is to add a coat of primer, creating a porous surface that allows the adhesive to bond more effectively. Look for a water-based primer designed for laminate or non-porous surfaces. These primers dry quickly and won’t add unnecessary weight or texture.
Using peel-and-stick wallpaper for temporary seasonal décor
The arrival of peel-and-stick wallpaper has revolutionised how we decorate, making temporary furniture transformations a reality available even to those of us with no DIY experience. Peel-and-stick designs are as simple to remove as they are to apply, they leave no residue behind and can be reused multiple times for future projects. Whether it’s adorning a table for a Christmas gathering, jazzing up a child’s dresser for Halloween, or welcoming spring with floral accents, they open up a plethora of opportunities to change your décor as often as the seasons do. Here are a few ideas:
Shelves with a holiday spirit
Line the back panels of open shelves with themed wallpaper, like red-and-green patterns for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or icy blues and silvers for a winter wonderland vibe. They can be the perfect backdrop to highlight your holiday displays, from figurines to seasonal books and candles.
Elevate shoe racks or benches
Entryway furniture like benches or shoe racks serve a practical purpose but can be decorated with a velvety red peel-and-stick wallpaper for a festive winter look or vibrant floral patterns for spring.
Turn door panels into a stylish seasonal display
An often-overlooked area for holiday decorations, doors’ insets are ideal for a splash of seasonal décor. Celebrate the arrival of summer with an explosion of colour or consider a metallic model for a luxe holiday look.
Add holiday themes to picture frames or mirrors
Another unusual yet effective way to add a seasonal touch is to adorn plain picture frames or the borders of mirrors with peel-and-stick wallpaper. You could use metallics, snowy whites, or rich reds and greens for the Christmas season, or vibrant sunflowers for a summery feel.
Multi-season décor
If you want to keep things versatile, choose wallpapers with dual-season appeal, like a gold design for both Christmas and New Year’s or soft autumnal leaves to transition from early autumn to Halloween.
Our tip: Label your peel-and-stick wallpaper according to the theme after removal to make it easier to reuse them in the future. Remember to keep the wallpaper backing, as you will need it in order to re-use the wallpaper again.
Conclusions
While we hope this article has provided you with a number of ideas for your next DIY project, what you have learned here is just the beginning. The magic lies in experimenting, making mistakes, and discovering what works best for your style and requirements. Now it’s your turn to take the tools, tips, and inspiration you’ve gathered and create something uniquely yours. Just don’t forget to share your journey with us; send us a picture and we will be delighted to showcase it to our community of wallpapering enthusiasts!
This article is part of an in-depth series where we cover all aspects about wallpapering furniture. If you want to know more, do not hesitate to click on the following links - you will be happy you did:
