I wanted a shoe cabinet for my narrow hallway, but there weren’t many options to choose from in Adelaide. So, I ended up going with a white Ikea slim shoe cabinet. As an interior designer, the blandness of it didn’t sit well with me, prompting me to give it a makeover. Watch the video at the end.
Inspired by the indoor plant movements happening around the country, I decided to go with a plant theme. I stumbled upon this cool jungle-themed stick-and-peel wallpaper – it’s pretty and a breeze to work with. It took me half a day to install the wallpaper by myself. Here’s the list of things I used: a wallpaper spatula, electric drill, angled brush (drying, couldn’t make it to the picture), measuring tape, varnish (water-based), craft knife, and cabinet knobs.
Step 1: Measure those cabinet doors before you go shopping for wallpaper. I grabbed a 3.2m roll – just right, with some extra for future touch-ups.
Step 2: Plan your cuts. I wanted to ditch the handle holes, so I cut more than I needed. Folded the paper in, and there you go – marble knobs for a touch of class.
Step 3: Peel, stick, smooth – repeat. Use the spatula to get rid of any pesky bubbles. It might take a few tries to get it just right.
Step 4: Trim off the excess with a craft knife. Slow and steady is the name of the game.
Step 5: New knobs time! Mark your spots with a pencil, drill those holes with the electric drill, and pop those knobs in. Easy.
Step 6: Varnish. Brush on 2-3 coats, waiting 24 hours between each.
Bonus Step: Covering those handle holes is a breeze. I used a foam cut to shape and taped it up. Now, my shoe cabinet is looking all stylish and cute. I’ve received a lot of compliments on it. Give it a try and have fun.