A Week's Worth: Wallpaper

October 13-19

Y’all, I’m back! It’s amazing how my mental health improved when I unpacked the office boxes of my art supplies. I now have the brain-space to get back to projects (although my sewing machines aren’t set up yet) and it feels SO MUCH BETTER THIS WAY. I’m happier! You’re happier! We’re all happier!

Today I learned how to wallpaper. I grew up in a house wallpapered by my mother, so I just assumed 1. it was easy, and 2. it was a requirement to have wallpaper and quilts in a home. I adore my house but every single wall in this home is covered in bumps. So when we reno-ed the bedrooms, I explicitly asked for some walls to be smoothed out for small accents of wallpaper.

First, my friend (very sweetly) suggested that in this day and age, we hire someone to wallpaper our homes. I LAUGHED in her face! We don’t hire people! What are you talking about! Wallpaper (something I’ve never done) is so easy!

Next, I discussed my wallpapering purchases with my mother (the master wallpaperer) and she very much said “Don’t buy peel and stick.” And I ROLLED MY EYES and bought some peel and stick, cause what the *uck does SHE know!

Lastly, I took my peel and stick wallpaper and tried to wallpaper Fran’s wall all by myself.

Friends….

…. it was so freaking hard and I think it turned out *just okay.*

I immediately texted my friend to give her the satisfaction in my struggle.

So a couple things, for those that are like, “I wanna wallpaper! Tell me more! I know nothing!”

1. Listen to your mother even if she annoys you.

2. She told me: if you pick a busy print, it hides imperfections. SOOO, that’s good advice. This print hid absolutely nothing.

3. Because it’s peel and stick, when I would unpeel it to get air bubbles out, it would crease and… because peel and stick is thinner paper than pasted wallpaper, that crease would royally screw up and show on the paper.

4. Listen to your mother and don’t buy peel and stick. It’s more expensive than pasted paper and it’s harder to work with! It’s so dumb.

also, you overlap the paper to make it match which creates two seams. SO, LIKE, COOL, I GUESS

The second area I planned to wallpaper was the hallway connecting the rooms but I was now properly humbled and daunted because the sun wallpaper experience went so dismally. The wallpaper I had bought for this area was paper that needed paste, so I asked my mom if she would come over and actually teach me to wallpaper.

I prepared myself for having a hard time with both the paper and maybe my mother, who knows! And I ended up having a great time! My mom is so skilled with wallpaper (she sincerely wallpapered an entire house all by herself) and she’s such a fabulous quilter and all of the arts and decor I gravitate to is very much influenced by my house growing up. Plus, we listened to Motown the whole time.

Here’s the space:

This space was already easier because there were no closet doors impeding the space, it was a short height, and it was freshly smooth from the renovation. It took 4.5 sheets of wallpaper. AND the wallpaper was busy 😏

My mom showed me how to apply the paste, “book it”, then make sure everything gets lined up nicely. There’s a lot more goop/glue/water/gunk to work with and make sure everything ends up clean, but the paper is thicker and easier to work with and absolutely worth the clean up.

This took us two hours and restored my absolute SMUGness around wallpapering.

one seaaaaaam

I’m so pleased with this wall and I love it so much! I joked to my mom as she left, “Now we’ll never forget you!” and it’s true. There so much art when it comes to making a home; art that weaves its way into memories and preferences. Maybe Fran will grow up wanting a house without any wallpaper… or maybe she won’t feel quite at home until there’s just a splash of it somewhere.

Have you ever wallpapered? Is there a home art project you tried once that surprised you in its simplicity or its complexity? What art have you done this week?

Much love,

Bríg