Home improvement and remodeling projects require a lot of thought and planning, especially when it comes to making sure you have enough supplies. Contractors and interior designers recommend ordering 10-15% more materials—such as wallpaper, tiles, and more—in case something goes wrong. "In fact, 20 percent is better," says Mary Patton of Mary Patton Designs in Houston. "Human error is very real, and although it costs a little money, it saves time," he notes. In other words, don't worry if you get the paper wrong. At least you have spare parts to replace the mess.
But what to do with the rest of the additional materials? Some suppliers allow returns, others do not. And no one will take back an opened roll of wallpaper. Instead of hiding the mess, get the most out of your renovation by turning leftovers into creative DIY projects. From whimsical apron wallpaper to wooden dining tables, there are plenty of fun ways to turn trash into treasure. Read on to discover five DIY ideas that will put a sustainable spin on DIY.
1. A mural made of scraps of wood
Not sure what to do with random pieces of wood? Be creative. "All of my products are usually 90 percent reclaimed wood," says Indianapolis carpenter Ross Tuggles of Tuggles Timber, who once found the lumber "too small for a construction site." Tuggle gathers scraps, removes nails and staples, and smoothes wood. Then he cuts the wood to different depths and lengths and arranges them into unique patterns before applying carpenter's glue to the plywood. Construction sites aren't the only places he finds wood to turn into beautiful framed artwork, "A bookstore recently donated all of its old pine bookcases, and now those items are being turned into new projects," he says.
2. A recycled backyard studio
This may not be a DIY project for beginners, but with plenty of materials on hand, you can build an impressive structure with a little knowledge. She Shade Living found author and co-founder Erica Kotit in an office and studio in the backyard below her aunt's house. "I had to build my own barn while I worked on the books," says Cotet, who has written two books about his barn and helped others build his barn. For his own design, he bought used bricks on Craigslist and the door cost about $35, "I then cut it in half to make a Dutch door," he says. Then the entire structure was painted with chalk paint. This backyard was frugal in every way and had plenty of building materials left over. “We also had some old windows that were completed with purchased recycled windows. The dome is made from old shutters we have in our garage,” Cotette adds.
3. Square creative wallpaper
The remaining wallpaper can easily be used as an apron. Elizabeth Reese, Milwaukee-based creator of Chasing Paper, uses scraps of removable wallpaper to create new projects at home. Choose bright patterns to accentuate the color of your kitchen cabinets. Create a collage layout on a flat surface before affixing it to the wall.
To make an apron of wallpaper, you will need:
Step 1
Ensure that the surface under the kitchen cabinets is smooth and free of dirt. "Wallpaper that's free of texture or blemishes is easy to clean," says Reese. Wipe the surface with warm water at least 2 days in advance and allow the surface to dry completely before applying wallpaper. Before gluing the wallpaper, be sure to remove all fasteners and sockets.
Step 2
Stick the wallpaper along the edge of the wall where you want it to scatter. Carefully and slowly remove the protective film. “Patter-and-stick wallpaper in general is very acceptable,” says Reese. If your wallpaper has wrinkles when you paste the wallpaper, you can simply peel the wallpaper off the wall and stick it again. “Cut out tricky areas like photovoltaic panels. Use a ruler and X-Acto knife to cut holes or corners as you go,” she says.
Step 3
Smooth the wallpaper with your hands or with something straight, like a ruler. "If there's an air bubble, poke it with a small needle to get the air out," Reese says of the neat technique. Repeat until your wall is complete.
4. Firewood for the table
Bring a farmhouse feel to nature with found wood that can be turned into a handmade table. Ashley Kane of The Sassy Barn in Jackson Hole, Wyoming found trash on her farm. “I sanded the wood to clean it and got a little shop to twist my legs,” she says. “From here I was able to build a table on our patio.” He screwed the pieces together with a drill and finished the project with a clean stain. The entire design of the table was based on others I found online. "I was able to create a similar schedule, but on a budget," he adds.
5. Redesign the gallery wall
Refined and outdated paper artwork (or even weird old wallpaper) can be repurposed into richly designed gallery walls instead of clutter. Rather than throw away worn and yellowed record sleeves, Patton included concert posters for customers who "really love music" and built-in graphics alongside his extensive record collection. He had so much that a significant part of this work was processed into an art installation. It was a simple DIY process: Posters and albums have been carefully scratched out and framed to their exact dimensions. A gallery wall looks like professional art worthy of display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Originally published in Architectural Digest
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