Apr 2, 2009

How To Wallpaper with Newspaper

wallpaper with player piano sheet music
photo Stacy Reynaud

Ace Hotel Portalnd drew attention to boring walls using a material not usually associated with wall coverings - player piano music. 

Achieve this look by using ordinary paper such as comics, sheet music, maps, blueprints, magazine cuttings, newspaper, paper doilies, or heavy foil — the more creative, the better.

wallpaper with newspaper
image © 1974 General Publishing

How to wallpaper with newspapers and other stuff.


Materials:
Polyurethane can be omitted. However, it gives a glossy protective coating.

**If you decide to use polyurethane, make sure it's water-based, or it will smear and run the print, and the picture from the other side will show through.

The polymer medium can be used as an undercoat and a final coat.

collage with magazine wallpaper
image © 1974 General Publishing
Steps:
  1. Cut the paper strips and turn them face down on a work surface.
  2. Apply polymer medium with a sponge brush. It dries quickly.
  3. Place the strips of paper on the wet surface and press down.
  4. Coat it lightly with the medium; if foam forms on the paper, it won't dry clear.
  5. Continue to cover the surface; overlap edges and corners to make a collage.
  6. Rinse the sponge brush thoroughly so you can reuse it.
use vintage maps as wallpaper
image © 1974 General Publishing


7. Once both sides have a coating of the polymer medium, they're sealed, and regular water-based polyurethane varnish can be applied on top. 

The polymer medium is used as a gluing agent and a sealer for the paper.

8. (optional) Use a paintbrush to coat all surfaces with glossy water-based polyurethane. This gives the paper a hard, protective finish. 

It takes 24 hours to dry and must be painted evenly in one direction.

try wallpapering with tinfoil
image © 1974 General Publishing

9. If you decide to omit the polyurethane finish, the surface will require several polymer medium coats to give it a final finish. 

This dries within fifteen to twenty minutes. 

The finish won't be as smooth as the polyurethane and will turn white if anything wet touches it for a prolonged period. Other than that, the finish is highly durable.

Here's a dresser I papered:

wallpaper with vintage comics and graphic novels

Tilley, my cat, makes sure the table is sturdy.
(RIP 2000 - 2019)

I grabbed this trashed side table, raided the complimentary newspapers, picked up some sponge brushes at the dollar store and invested in some polymer medium at my favourite art store.