In the ever – evolving canvas of home decor, there comes a time when the familiar starts to fade, replaced by a longing for something new and exciting. For me, that moment arrived in our dining room. I had adored the soft pink hue that once graced its walls, but as the days turned into weeks and months, I felt the itch to transform the space, to infuse it with more pattern and personality.
The allure of wallpaper is undeniable, with its ability to instantly transform a room. However, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of hand – painted wallpaper. It offers a unique opportunity to create something truly one – of – a – kind, tailored precisely to my vision, all while saving a significant amount of money. And let’s not forget the added bonus: no more wrestling with the dreaded task of wallpaper removal when the next decorating whim strikes.
The journey to creating our painted dining room wallpaper was a labor of love, filled with creativity and a touch of trial and error. It began with hours spent sketching, exploring countless patterns and shapes. I was torn between the idea of a hand – inspired design and the clean lines of geometric shapes. In a burst of inspiration, I decided to blend the two, crafting a shape that resembled a simplified hand, minus the thumb.
Once the design was finalized, I printed the shapes at full size using a large – format printer. This allowed me to tape them up on the wall, experimenting with different placements to find the perfect layout for tracing. For those without access to such a printer, fear not! You can easily have your templates printed at a copy shop like Kinko’s. To make the tracing process even smoother, I used an X – Acto knife to cut out the middle sections of the shape, creating a stencil – like effect.
With the room cleared out, it was time to lay the groundwork. Using painter’s tape, I divided the back wall into seven equal sections, each slightly wider than my chosen shape. The side walls were treated to the same treatment, ensuring a cohesive look. I then used multiple printed templates to determine the exact placement of the shapes, taking into account the wall height and the direction in which they would face. To maintain a consistent pattern, I used painter’s tape to mark the position of the “palm” on every other column, serving as a guide for template placement.
Of course, no project is without its challenges. In some areas, near the top of the wall and along the baseboard, I had to get creative. I folded and cut the templates in half to make them fit, crafting custom – cropped versions for those tricky spots. To avoid any visible pencil lines, I used a colored pencil in a shade similar to the paint I planned to use, a lesson learned the hard way from a previous wallpaper project in my daughter’s nursery.
With the templates in place and the shapes traced, it was time to pick up the paintbrush. I started by using a 1.5″ flat brush to outline each shape, creating the basic form. Then, a large round – tipped brush came into play, rounding out the tips of the straight lines for a more polished look. I chose Valspar’s Young At Heart paint in a golden camel color and thinned it slightly with water to ensure a smooth flow. While some areas of the shapes ended up with a slightly streaky appearance, I decided to embrace it. The imperfections added a touch of authenticity, making the pattern look as if it had been painted by hand, which, of course, it was.
The final touch was adding painter’s tape along the top, bottom, and sides of the walls. This created a clean, sharp edge, mimicking the look of traditional wallpaper once the tape was removed. And just like that, the transformation was complete.
Stepping into the newly adorned dining room was a surreal experience. The shift from a solid – colored wall to a vibrant, patterned masterpiece was initially a bit jarring, but it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the new look. Paired with our stunning new chandelier and ceiling medallion from Lucent Lightshop, and complemented by an oversized pink letter board and a beautiful rainbow print, the room has become a true reflection of my style and creativity.
This DIY geometric painted wallpaper project was more than just a home decor update; it was a journey of self – expression. It taught me that with a little patience, creativity, and a willingness to take risks, you can transform any space into something truly extraordinary. So, if you’re looking to add a touch of uniqueness to your home, I encourage you to pick up a paintbrush and let your imagination run wild. Who knows, you might just discover a new passion for DIY decor along the way.
