Shelf Liner Paper for Home Decor

Learn how to update an old bookcase with just a few coats of spray paint and some pretty shelf liner paper!

We love storage – and we love cheap. When we came across this bookcase for $5 at our local Goodwill, we snatched it up without any real plan. That was until I rearranged my studio and realized I needed more room for my stuff! {FTC Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means I may make a commission on any purchase – at no additional cost to you!}

PROCESS OF MAKING OVER SHELF:

This bookcase had been well loved, so Don sprayed a few coats of Krylon on the outside of the bookcase. I used a foam brush and some acrylic craft paint to cover the edges of the bookcase and the shelves. However, DO NOT WORRY if you get paint inside the bookcase (like I did). This is because everything will be covered with shelf liner paper.

Our local home stores did not have a great selection of shelf liner, so I ordered mine from Amazon. I ordered two 2-packs and went through about three and a half rolls.

TIPS FOR MAKING OVER SHELF:

Make sure you get liner paper that is wider than the sides of your bookcase. For us, we could do the sides in one piece. However, when it came to the back ”wall” of the bookcase, we had to worry about lining up the pattern.

Make sure you line up your liner paper to the top and far back edges of your project (above) and work your way down and to the front at an angle (below). If you make a mistake, it is MUCH easier to fiddle with “filling in the gaps” along the bottom of your project – and they are more likely to be covered by “stuff” once you start filling the bookcase.

Get a squeegee. This will be a lifesaver – especially along the edges and corners.

When working on the shelves, line up your liner paper along one end of the shelf and hang it over both sides. Pulling back straight across the shelf and smooth liner with your hand as you pull. Use a craft knife to cut away the excess from the sides.

FINISHED SHELF

And voila! I love how the shelf liner added a fun pop of color to my studio!

Also, in case you are wondering, this project took us less than a day to create (painting included)! We did the painting outside, and it dried quickly.

Finally, because you know we like to keep it real…here is a typical “in action” Kingston shot. I’m wearing a hat because I hadn’t showered, the room is in chaos, and Bizzy Bee is never more than five feet from me. Ahhhh…craftiness.

Print This Pin This Rate This

Shelf Liner Paper for Home Decor

Learn how to update an old bookcase with just a few coats of spray paint and some pretty shelf liner paper!

Author: Beth Kingston

Materials

• Bookcase or other furniture item
• Krylon spray paint
• Acrylic craft paint (that matches your spray paint)
• Foam brush
• Squeegee
• Craft knife

Instructions

• Spray a few coats of Krylon spray paint on the outside of the bookcase. I used a foam brush and some acrylic craft paint to cover the edges of the bookcase and the shelves. However, DO NOT WORRY if you get paint inside the bookcase (like I did). This is because everything will be covered with shelf liner paper.
• Make sure you line up your liner paper to the top and far back edges of your project and work your way down and to the front at an angle.

  If you make a mistake, it is MUCH easier to fiddle with “filling in the gaps” along the bottom of your project – and they are more likely to be covered by “stuff” once you start filling the bookcase.
• Use a squeegee to smooth down the edges and corners.
• When working on the shelves, line up your liner paper along one end of the shelf and have it hang over both sides. Then, pull the backing straight across the shelf and smooth the liner with your hand as you pull. Use a craft knife to cut away the excess from the sides.

IF YOU LOVED THIS FURNITURE PROJECT, THEN CHECK OUT THE PROJECT BELOW!