Urban Nest

Yesterday I introduced myself via a hand-me-down dresser that has been a source of decorating inspiration for me for a long time, partly out of necessity – when it was my only piece of furniture worth decorating around – and partly out of love.

One of the things I love about it, that I didn’t mention yesterday, is that the drawers are meticulously wallpapered with a sweet flower pattern. My mom is a wallpapering guru, and she did these drawers many years ago.

For a long time, I’ve been saying that I wanted to do something punchy inside the drawers of my nightstands. I chose a contemporary black and white pattern because I’m in an insatiable white period right now, but you could have so much fun with bright colors or bold patterns. Especially if you’re more prone to neutrals elsewhere in your decorating. A pop of sunshine yellow or turquoise blue could brighten your day every time you open that drawer, without dominating your space.

You can do the same thing to a bookshelf, a desk drawer or a medicine cabinet.

Here’s how I did it:

1. Remove any surface hardware.

2. Lightly sand interior panels with medium grade (100 grit) sandpaper.

3. Wipe with wet rag and allow a few minutes to dry.

4. Paint one coat of primer – this is an important step if you’re working with treated woods because the finish will otherwise seep through and you’ll end up with brown streaks that you didn’t plan for.

5. Cut paper to size. NOTE: I haven’t tried it, but you could just as easily use fabric or leftover wallpaper for this step.

6. Using a paint brush, paint an even coat of Mod Podge Gloss Lustre (available at any craft store) on all interior surfaces that will be covered with paper.

7. Lay paper into place, being careful to align the edges and smooth out any bubbles. I used a plastic putty knife to do this. If you’re using craft paper, be careful not to rub too hard as it’s possible to wear the print thin. You may prefer to use a “hydrated” sponge – not dry, not dripping wet.

8. Once your paper is in place, paint another even coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper. Allow to dry. Your drawer surfaces will appear milky white, but the Mod Podge will dry clear.

9. I opted for a second coat of Mod Podge to really make it more durable. In fact, you can paint as many coats as you desire, sanding lightly with very fine sandpaper (400 grit) between coats.

10. Once your drawer is completely dry, replace hardware. You may need to use a sharp prong or tiny drill bit to open the hole, from the front, since you’ll have covered the interior access.

This was a fun and easy project that makes a drawer I open every evening so much more pleasing! Depending on the size of your drawer and materials on hand, it can also be a very inexpensive project. Mine cost about $10 to do four small drawers. Give it a try!