18 ideas on how to use leftover wallpaper

After a home remodel, there inevitably will be wallpaper leftovers. The question is – what to do with the scraps? In this blog post, you will find fun and interesting ideas on how to use wallpaper leftovers till nothing is left over.

Wallpaper drawer liners

If you are left over with a sufficient amount of wallpaper, try using it as a drawer liner! It is especially practical if you have peel and stick wallpaper. Lining drawers is a great way how to freshen them up and give them a facelift. You might be wondering what is the point of lining the insides of drawers if nobody is going to see them, but you will be surprised how much joy and freshness simple drawer liner can bring into your daily life.

Wallpaper backing of shelves

Similarly to drawer liners, a great way how to use some extra wallpaper is to use it as shelf backing. It can look especially nice and thoughtful if you use it in the same room you have used the wallpaper for walls.

Wallpapering the back of shelves is best done with peel and stick wallpaper. First, take out the shelves, then apply the wallpaper and after that add the shelves back in! We guarantee it is going to look fantastic.

Wallpaper the cupboard door panels

To give your kitchen a fresh look, consider wallpapering the cupboard door panels. Depending on your kitchen aesthetics and cupboard style it can be a cute thing to do with the leftover wallpaper. To make it look nice follow these tips:

• Use peel and stick wallpaper (you can easily remove it later).
• Coordinate colors – make sure the color of your wallpaper goes well with the color of the cupboards.
• If you are left over with a small amount of wallpaper, consider using wallpaper on the edges of the cupboards or other smaller areas.

Wallpaper stair risers

You should wallpaper the stair risers even if you don’t have leftover wallpaper. It's a great idea how to liven up a staircase and give it some character. However, if you have some leftover wallpaper from another room, wallpapering the stair risers will bring the house together as one. Only mind that for this project you will need at least one leftover wallpaper roll (depending on your stair size and length).

Wallpaper the headboard

Does the headboard of your bed need some extra love? If you have enough leftover wallpaper, why not give it a makeover? So, here are a few options: Option 1 – wallpaper the headboard that comes with your bed if that’s possible. If you have just wallpapered the back wall of your bed, matching the headboard could give it an interesting twist. But even if the wallpaper is from a different room, it still can be an interesting design choice. Option 2 – create a “fake” headboard with the extra wallpaper. A very cute shape to use is a semicircle but a regular rectangle can look good too.

Wallpaper nooks and crannies

Maybe you live in an old house and have a few boring niches that could use a glow-up? Go around the house and find cute little spots that you could wallpaper! Maybe it is a partial wall or a nook behind some doors. You know your house best and you can find some good spots for wallpaper action!

Use wallpaper as gift wrap

On to a little bit smaller pieces of leftover wallpaper. Wallpaper is colorful and usually has some great prints on it – it is a perfect fit for a second life as a gift wrap! One thing to keep in mind – wallpaper is usually not as flexible as the actual wrapping paper. but you can use it to wrap your gifts creatively. For example, use it as a partial wrapping paper for some soap or wrap it around a wine bottle leaving just the neck out.

Create gift boxes and decorative boxes

Combine leftover wallpaper with delivery or packaging boxes and you got yourself a very cute gift box! Leftover peel and stick wallpaper is a perfect option for this craft – you don’t even need to add extra glue. You can use the boxes for gifting or use them yourself as organizers.

Make wall art from leftover wallpaper

Sometimes wallpaper looks just like wall art, don’t you think? The prints are vibrant, aesthetically pleasing, and have beautiful images on them. If you find your leftover wallpaper to be stunning, create wall art from it! Frame some pieces of the wallpaper as you would with regular art.

If you have more than one wallpaper pattern left over, another option is to combine them all and create an artsy collage.

Use wallpaper as a background for framed photos

If the leftover wallpaper has a repetitive or subtle pattern, it can look very nice as a backdrop for framed photos. If you are going to hang the photos on the wall you have wallpapered, it can look especially interesting and give the wall an eye-catching floating art effect.

Book and notebook covers from leftover wallpaper

One of the best ways how to use leftover wallpaper is to make book and notebook covers. For notebooks, it gives some extra protection for the cover and you get a very original-looking notebook. You will definitely enjoy it if you love custom items. It is also a perfect homemade gift for someone who loves stationery and all things paper.

Creating book covers is a very similar process. It is a great idea if the book’s original covers are very worn out. That way you can replace them with a new, cute set. Another option is to create your own special edition for your favorite book or books by making custom book covers.

You can also go to the thrift store and buy some random books, create cute covers for them, and use them as decorations around the house. If you get really crafty, you can make one of them into a secret compartment!

Bookmarks from wallpaper scraps

Keeping up the book-related topic, small wallpaper scraps can be used to create very nice bookmarks. If you are not into crafts, just cut your wallpaper into small strips and put them in books. If you want a little bit more polished product – glue the wallpaper onto some paper from both sides and voila! You have yourself a very good-looking bookmark.

Party decors from wallpaper

Wallpaper is colorful and vibrant, and perfect for a party mood. You can create party flags, cut out letters to spell out celebratory texts or make colorful, decorative paper flowers. You can also use wallpaper as backdrops for photoshoots or use them as table covers.

Create greeting cards using wallpaper

Speaking of celebrations, leftover wallpaper can also turn into amazing greeting cards. Take some paper, fold it in half, and glue your leftover wallpaper on the upper half of it. You can also cut out different shapes, for example, circles, and use them to make balloons for your greeting card. If you have more than one wallpaper pattern you can create collages and play with different arrangements.

Wallpaper for scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a fun and creative way how to document your life. Cute wallpaper patterns can come in handy when telling stories of your life. You can use them as backdrops, cut out small pieces to decorate the pages or use the wallpaper for scrapbook covers. Options are truly limited only by your imagination.

Dollhouse glow-up with leftover wallpaper

Leftover wallpaper is perfect for decorating dollhouses! Imagine – if it is good enough for your house, why not for a doll house? You can redecorate an already existing dollhouse or make a new one from cardboard boxes. Wallpaper the inside walls to make it nice and “livable”.

Decorate kid’s playhouse

Kids love using all the items their parents use, and it can extend to wallpaper as well. If your kids have a playhouse outdoors or inside and it could benefit from a little remodel, use the leftover wallpaper! You will have a crafty project and your kids will love a house of their own which is just like their parents’ home.

Tabletop refurbish with wallpaper

Some extra wallpaper can be turned into amazing tabletops. You can use it for your desk, coffee table, or nightstand – wherever the wallpaper pattern will have the most impact. After applying the wallpaper, it is best to seal it with an acrylic top or cover it with a glass table top. In Conclusion There are lots of options for what to do with leftover wallpaper. From big to small projects, there is always a place for a fun pattern or pop of color – reusing leftover wallpaper is a fantastic way how to add personal touches to your home. These creative projects not only breathe new life into old wallpaper but also offer an opportunity to express your style in innovative ways. So, the next time you find yourself with leftover wallpaper, draw inspiration from these ideas and start creating!