Adding Black Removable Wallpaper to Bookcase

If you are looking to do a black accent wall in your living room bookcase/bookshelf, but don’t want to commit to painting it, try self-adhesive wallpaper. It’s a great way to see if you like the color first, you can remove it when your color palette changes, and it’s perfect for renters. Plus, it’s budget-friendly at only ~$25. So, who’s ready to see our DIY bookshelf makeover? Adding Black Removable Wallpaper to Bookcase.

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Adding Black Removable Wallpaper to Bookcase

Supplies:

2 rolls black adhesive wallpaper
wallpaper kit – here
scissors/tape measure/pencil/pen

Other removable wallpaper options: Black Wood Grain, Dark Gray Grasscloth,

Here is what the wallpaper kit looks like.

Ok, let’s get to it! Adding Black Removable Wallpaper to Bookcase.

Adding Black Removable Wallpaper to Bookcase

STEP #1: Measure Bookcase/Adhesive Wallpaper Dimensions

STEP #2: Remove All Items & Clean Bookcase

STEP #3: Measure & Cut Adhesive Wallpaper

STEP #4: Apply Adhesive Wallpaper

STEP #5: Crease & Trim Adhesive Wallpaper

+ Bonus Section: PROBLEM SOLVING

Here are the 5 Steps for your DIY Bookcase Makeover!

5 Steps

STEP #1: Measure Bookcase/Adhesive Wallpaper Dimensions

The first thing you’ll want to do is measure your bookcase (bookshelf, built in, china cabinet, etc) so you know how much adhesive (peel-n-stick) wallpaper you’ll need.

Bookcase Dimensions:

My bookcase dimensions are ~ 5 ft x 4.5 ft = 22.5 square feet

x 10% (for adhesive wallpaper recommendations or mess ups) = ~25 square feet

Next you will check your adhesive wallpaper dimensions and get the total square feet.

Adhesive Wallpaper Dimensions:

My roll was 15.7″W x 118″L = converted to feet = (1.3 ft x 9.8 ft)

= 12.9 sq.ft/1 roll

x 2 rolls = 25.8 square feet

Ordering Tip:

***TIP: I would go ahead and order and extra roll – it’s just safer.

I wish that I would have had an extra roll on hand, because I would have used it (due to mess ups).

The last thing you want to do is begin your project, only to find out that you ran out of wallpaper or you could have had a back up roll handy.

STEP #2: Remove All Items & Clean Bookcase

Before you begin the actual project, you’ll need to remove all items and clean it to remove any dust.

***TIP: I recommend labeling your shelves when you take them out.

I know that the right side side of our bookcase is wider than the left side.
And…. the middle to bottom part is wider.

STEP #3: Measure & Cut Adhesive Wallpaper

Now it’s time to measure and cut you’re adhesive wallpaper.

I added about 3 inches extra to my length, but feel free to do what works best for you.

I repeated this 4 times for our bookcase.

STEP #4: Apply Adhesive Wallpaper

Ok, here is where things get FUN 😉

Before you begin this step, take a deep breath, and just remember that YOU.ARE.LOVED!!!
Getting the first one done TAKES SOME TIME to figure out.
Then the next ones are much better, not easier, but better.

This is what I recommend.

Line your cut piece onto the wall and just let it hang down to get an idea of how it will go up.
Then pull off the very TOP part only of the adhesive piece, and gently place the wallpaper on the back wall.
Next, you will use you’re blue tool (soft, felt part) to smooth out bubbles as you go down.
Keep pulling off the adhesive piece as you continue down the wall.
Repeat with next wallpaper strips.

Keep pulling back a little of the adhesive backing strip at a time, as you move down the wall.

One done, now repeat.

FYI – Mine will look a little different from your wall because I’m covering shiplap.

STEP #5: Crease & Trim Adhesive Wallpaper

Once you have all of your pieces in, it’s time to smooth out and crease sides and corners.

Then you’ll trim/cut with your craft knife.

Crease:

I creased the sides and corners with the soft, felt part of the blue tool first, and then went back and did it again with the hard, plastic side.

This step just helps to tighten those side and corners – to make cutting easier.

Trim/Cut:

The trimming/cutting is very tricky, and I messed up – so I’ll show you how to fix it in the next section.

***TIP: I recommend using a metal ruler or something hard to help keep the lines straight (which you can see that I did NOT). 🙂

I started in the left bottom portion.

And this is how the first one went – NO!

Don’t panic though – WE can FIX it!

***KEEP THE EXTRA TRIM PIECES***

Here is the second side. Much better.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Crooked Lines From Cutting:

You will simply use your leftover trim pieces (that you cut) or leftover wallpaper and apply to your crooked lines.

I just cut pieces and attached them right on top of the other wallpaper.

Crooked Lines From Uneven Wall Dimensions:

Our bookcases were wider in the middle to lower sections – so the sides were not covered in a straight line.

Do the same process (as above) with the leftover trim pieces – to correct the sides.

Crease In Roll from Manufacturer:

Check the reviews on your adhesive wallpaper. I already knew that some people had complained that there might be a crease in this wallpaper when they unrolled it.

Simply hang your adhesive wallpaper on the wall – and gently use the soft, felt part of the blue tool to work it out.