Grab a few rolls of gift wrap and some tape, and let’s create a one-of-a-kind feature wall using my gift wrap wallpaper technique.
Use painters tape and double-sided tape to hang wrapping paper on your walls for a fun DIY wallpaper project.
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If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to update a wall in your home, look no further.
Gift wrap, or wrapping paper, comes in a variety of fun colors and patterns. So, find a roll of gift wrap that you like, and let’s get decorating!
What types of walls can you wallpaper with gift wrap?
This really is a fantastic option for any small wall. I’ve done this in small areas – like a section of a wall to create a focal point behind my bed and above a mantel. See here:
I would not recommend doing this on a large 20-foot wall. It would be very labor – and material- intensive, and I just don’t think the paper would hold up as well.
Can I do this on textured walls?
Yes! Within reason. In fact, one of the reasons I used gift wrap instead of regular wallpaper on this project is because the wall has just a bit of texture.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a fantastic, easy-to-apply, damage-free option… but only if you have smooth walls. If there are seams, light texture, bumps, etc. those will all “show thorough” the wallpaper. No, peel-and-stick wallpaper is not see-through, but any texture under the wallpaper will also be visible on its surface.
Transforming a Small Reading Nook with Dollar Store Gift Wrap Wallpaper
This is my daughter’s closet in our upstairs hallway that she wants to turn into a reading nook. I wanted a temporary and budget-friendly solution for a wall-covering, so we settled on some colorful gift wrap from the dollar store.
Supplies Needed:
- Gift wrap in design of your choice. I used this art paper that I found with the gift wrap at Dollar Tree. Any type of gift wrap roll will work, and you could even use larger rolls of bulletin board paper, often found with the kids art/teacher supplies at the craft store.
- Painters Tape – I used regular Scotch blue tape. BUT – if you are using a lighter-colored gift wrap, consider using a white tape, so that the blue tape lines don’t show through!
- Double-Sided Tape – I used permanent double-sided tape, instead of temporary, for a better hold.
- Scissors
- Ruler or Measuring Tape
- PenBlade – or other razor blade, for trimming edges.
Video Tutorial – How to Make a Feature Wall with Gift Wrap Wallpaper:
Here’s a quick video my daughter and I filmed together as I updated her reading nook. The video is a bit shaky (she was my camera person!), but I still think it’s helpful to watch the video before reading the step-by-step tutorial.
- Watch the video above before you begin, and let that be your visual guide for this project.
- Start by taping off your wall with painters tape. Tape all the way around the wall perimeter. Then add horizontal stripes.
- Measure the width of the gift wrap to determine the spacing for the vertical tape lines.
- NOTE: I was working in this really awkward space – it’s a closet in a dormer upstairs living space. The ceiling is slanted, and there was also an access panel to work around. This added to the amount of tape lines that I needed to use.
- Then, for added hold, place small pieces of painters tape at various intervals on the wall.
- Now it’s time to add double-sided tape on TOP of the painter’s tape. This way, you’re less likely to damage the paint on the walls.
- It’s more important to place lots of tape around the wall perimeter, so the edges of the paper don’t peel back or fall down over time.
- Finally, add the paper. Start at the top of your wall. Double and triple-check to make sure the roll of paper is aligned, and begin to smooth the paper down. It can take a few tries to get going here, so don’t be afraid to life the paper up off the wall and try again. Eventually it will all sort of click, and your can smooth the paper all the day down.
- Here, since my walls were not totally square, I went back with a PenBlade and trimmed away a bit of excess paper at the top. You’ll want to do the same thing at the bottom of your wall along the baseboard line.
- When you add the next strip of paper, make sure to align the gift wrap pattern to give it a more polished final look.
Here’s the finished look in our reading nook. When you account for waste involved in getting the seams to line up (we only did that on the skinny center panel of paper, but not with the final sheet we hung), we used about 2 and a half rolls of gift wrap paper, a roll of painters tape, and a full roll of double-sided tape. That means you could easily make your own accent wall for under $15.
My daughter is really happy with her new reading space and the bright colors that accent the wall mural in her bedroom, and I’m happy that I was able to satisfy the ever-changing design whims of my daughter without breaking the bank.
I hope you enjoyed watching our quick DIY accent wall transformation!
Don’t Forget to PIN this Wallpaper Hack for Later:
DIY Gift Wrap Wallpaper
Grab a few rolls of gift wrap and some tape, and let’s create a one-of-a-kind feature wall using my gift wrap wallpaper technique.
Materials
- Gift wrap in design of your choice. I used this art paper that I found with the gift wrap at Dollar Tree. Any type of gift wrap roll will work, and you could even use larger rolls of bulletin board paper, often found with the kids art/teacher supplies at the craft store.
- Painters Tape – I used regular Scotch blue tape. BUT – if you are using a lighter-colored gift wrap, consider using a white tape, so that the blue tape lines don’t show through!
- Double-Sided Tape – I used permanent double-sided tape, instead of temporary, for a better hold.
- Scissors
- Ruler or Measuring Tape
- PenBlade – or other razor blade, for trimming edges
Instructions
- Watch the video tutorial before you begin, and let that be your visual guide for this project.
- Start by taping off your wall with painters tape. Tape all the way around the wall perimeter. Then add horizontal stripes.
- Measure the width of the gift wrap to determine the spacing for the vertical tape lines.
- NOTE: I was working in this really awkward space – it’s a closet in a dormer upstairs living space. The ceiling is slanted, and there was also an access panel to work around. This added to the amount of tape lines that I needed to use.
- Then, for added hold, place small pieces of painters tape at various intervals on the wall.
- Now it’s time to add double-sided tape on TOP of the painter’s tape. This way, you’re less likely to damage the paint on the walls.
- It’s more important to place lots of tape around the wall perimeter, so the edges of the paper don’t peel back or fall down over time.
- Finally, add the paper. Start at the top of your wall. Double and triple-check to make sure the roll of paper is aligned, and begin to smooth the paper down. It can take a few tries to get going here, so don’t be afraid to life the paper up off the wall and try again. Eventually it will all sort of click, and your can smooth the paper all the day down.
- Here, since my walls were not totally square, I went back with a PenBlade and trimmed away a bit of excess paper at the top. You’ll want to do the same thing at the bottom of your wall along the baseboard line.
More Rental-Friendly Decor Ideas:
- 8 Removable Products for your Rental – Cute Apartment Decor
- A Rental-Friendly Solution for Plank Walls
- Three Solutions for Rental-Friendly Gallery Walls
- The BEST Peel-and-Stick Vinyl Floor Tile & Decals
- How to Hang a Poster – Damage-Free Hot Glue Hack
- White Subway Tile Temporary Backsplash – The Full Tutorial
- How to Install Tile Stickers: A Quick Fireplace Update
- DIY Wall Decals: Rental-Friendly Decor + A Feature Wall
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