Thinking of making some home changes? An inexpensive way to make a boring room pop is by adding some color to the walls. Painting or putting up wallpaper is fairly cheap and easy. We’ve compiled a list of all the ways you can change up your walls and the easiest way to do them all.
Paint
Going to the hardware store, looking through paint samples, and imagining all the colors on your wall can be so exciting! While painting is a cheap way to spice up any room, it can definitely be messy. Here are our favorite ways to avoid the mess.
If possible, move all the furniture out of the room you are painting. You’ll need enough room to paint and you don’t want any accidental splatters stains. If you can’t move your furniture out of the way, cover all of it with plastic drop cloths. Next, you’ll want to tape every baseboard, window, and door. Use painter’s tape to ensure the sharpest lines! After you tape, cover your floor with more drop cloths or cardboard, especially if you have carpet. Paint is very difficult to get out of any carpet.
Always have a damp rag lying around just in case there is a splatter emergency. You must pull the tape off the walls immediately after you paint or wait at least 24 hours. If you pull your tape off while the paint is drying, it will most likely peel. If you want to paint your ceilings as well, do that before you paint your walls. Painting your ceiling can cause a fine mist of paint to spread and get on walls.
Traditional Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a great way to add some dimension to any room. While a new coat of paint can make a room pop, wallpaper can be much more unique and attention-grabbing.
One of the most important things to remember with wallpaper is to line everything up, measure twice, and cut once. If you don’t ensure all your designs and lines match up, your wallpaper will look unprofessional and it may be very difficult to fix.
The first thing you’ll want to do is clean your walls. You don’t want there to be any excuse for your wallpaper to not be smooth. After you’ve hung your wallpaper, using our Wallpaper 101 guide, be sure to push all the air bubbles out toward the seams.
Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Sticky wallpaper has recently become a very popular alternative to traditional wallpaper. It’s easier to install and remove and you have just about as many style options. While sticker wallpaper has easy installation, it won’t last as long as regular wallpaper. It may unstick or peel off after a few years, especially if you live somewhere humid or have kids or pets.
Same as traditional wallpaper, you’ll want to make sure your walls are clean and dry. Remove all faceplates and cover sockets. Measure your wallpaper and then place it on the wall. Once it’s stuck and you’ve pushed all the air bubbles out using a plastic smoother, you can finally cut it to fit your wall. You don’t want short wallpaper! For more detailed instructions, read our Wallpaper 101 blog.
Adhesive Backsplash
Your kitchen will look a million times better after you install a backsplash. Adhesive backsplashes are cute, simple, and easy to install. Same as peel and stick wallpaper, peel and stick backsplashes stick directly to your wall. There are tons of colors, textures, and materials. The adhesive won’t last as long as tile, rock, or other materials, but it is much cheaper.
Shiplap
Shiplap is an easy way to make a boring wall pop! Shiplap is easy to install and cheap. All you need is some plywood, a nail gun, interior adhesive, level, and a stud finder. For in-depth instructions on how to install shiplap, read our shiplap installation guide. We love a good accent wall!
We hope you’ve been inspired! What’s your favorite way to make walls pop?