upcycled brain

How to Wallpaper

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 03:37:00 GMT

How to foolproof wallpaper - A beginner's DIY guide

Wallpaper makes for a great DIY project. It can sound and feel intimidating but with some patience and attention to detail, you can tackle this DIY like a pro!

Wallpaper is a great way to add texture and character to your space without much effort. Which is why it is widely used to refresh homes under a budget. Unlike big renovations, wallpaper does not take months, its relatively faster, easy and mess free and it can transform the look and feel of a space for just a couple hundred dollars.

If you are completely new to this DIY project, try attempting a small space like the back of a closet, a bedroom wall or inside areas of a trim.

Here are some of the wallpapers I have used in my house - Link to Wallpapers and Tools

Also check out the stories bubble to see videos on application process behind the scenes, click on the link - Videos on how I did my wallpaper .

List of tools and materials:

Amazon storefront - All items under one roof

Stepladder
Table or other flat surface (for cutting paper)
Sandpaper (various gauges)
Wallpaper primer (such as Roman Pro 977 ; optional)
Scraper
Wallpaper
Wallpaper paste (such as Roman Pro 38 )
Smoothing tool
Seam roller
Paint tray with liners
Paint roller with covers
Paintbrush
Breakaway knife
Taping knife
Wallpaper scissors
Straight edge

1. Prep the walls

2. How to Apply

Make sure you keep smoothing the paper out as you apply to get rid of any air bubbles or wrinkles. I used the Roman’s wallpaper smoothening tool working from the center out to the edge of the paper. I have linked the tool in my amazon storefront.

Use natural sponges to clean off paste residue after each sheet is hung. It’s a lot easier to clean up the paste while it’s still moist instead of waiting until it cures. Roll every seam (overlappin edges between 2 wallpapers) with the seam roller and cut the edges using the taping knife. My Instagram stories bubble has videos of steps on how to do this part here Videos on how I did my wallpaper.

3. How to work around outlets and light fixtures

Below are some wallpaper projects done by me

Boho Haven - Sunroom

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:44:58 GMT

Simple DIY Board and Batten

This room takes a lot of beating! From the fur baby to toddlers and adults, we all crash here at some point of the day.

At times, this room has been upside down too! Pillows thrown on the floor, jumping jacks on the day bed, pots shattered and even stolen sugar jar gets devoured here!

Things you need with $$ details :

Common Board - 1 in. x 3 in. x 8 ft. Common Board - 10 common boards $ 5.60 each approximately $60
Book Shelves : 1 X 6 boa r ds - 2 boards $6.48 each - approx $15
Book Shelf Brackets : 3" Brackets - $25.79
Decorative Trim - 11/16 in trim - $6.56 each , Lowes Carved Ornamental Mouldin g - $15 each - $42
Corner Moulding Bloc k - $1.38 x 2 = $2.76
Circular saw or Miter saw or Miter bo x - I had it
Brad nail gun & Sander (18 Gauge) - I had it
Primer paint - I had it
Sherwin Williams Garden Spot 25% Strength - I had some samples that I self diluted 3 samples $12
Wood Filler - $17
Paintable Caulk - $12

Total budget : Under $200

Below are some BEFORE images of the Sunroom :

Let's first get started with measuring the walls and deciding the distance of the boards from each other.

I first measured the wall and decided what height I wanted the board and batten to be. My ceiling height is 9 feet so I kept the board height to be : 5 feet board + 4" trim + 3" baseboard. I then marked it all out and mapped the space from 2 extreme edges and decided what distance I wanted the boards to be from each other.

I then ordered common board on home depot : 1 in. x 3 in. x 8 ft. Premium Kiln-Dried Square Edge Whitewood Common Board

Tip : When you order common board, make sure you go ins tore and pick the straight ones personally. I ordered them online and got really wonky ones.

I cut the common board using my miter saw to the required height. Started nailing them to the wall with a brad nail gun. For the distance between 2 boards, I cut a scrap wood for the space and used it for the rest of the boards instead of re-measuring everytime.

For the horizontal trim I decided to choose a carved trim to bring in the boho indian vibes. I try to incorporate a little bit of India in my house in any way I can. Trim SIze : 2-1/4-in : Lowes Ornamental Mouldin g . I wanted a wider 4" horizontal trim section so I added another trim of 11/16-in to add to the height : Lowes 11/16 in trim .

I had to add scrap wood as backing to this as the common board depth and the trim depth was not the same. trim was 1/2 inch in depth and the common board was 1 ' so I added a backing of scrap wood to make the trim depth 1 inch. Finished with adding Corner Moulding Block to give it a nice and finished look. See picture below :

How do we cut the outer and the inner corners to join ?

You can use a Miter Saw or a Miter box and you need to cut 45 degree angles to join the wood inwards or outwards. This picture is from - Home Made Furniture website They have explained miter joints very well.

Next Phase is caulking, filling holes, priming and painting. Make sure you use a paintable caulk so that you don't have issues while painting. I have listed some below :

Primer paint
Sherwin Williams Garden Spot 25% Strength
Wood Filler
Paintable Caulk

If you dont know how to caulk, go ahead and check out my stories bubble "Sunroom" on Instagram. That has all the details : Upcycled Brain

I also added shelves to keep pots and decorative items. I used 1 X 6 boards , did miter cuts of 45 degree angle and joined them. Used these 3" brackets from Amazon on the base to hold the shelf : Book Shelves . I did not want to paint the shelves so I added teh walnut finish varnish to it and Voila!!! My Boho Sunroom is ready!

Check out the video on Youtube. Like, subscribe and share. Enjoy building!!

Check out the video on Youtube. Like, subscribe and share.

Enjoy building!!

Owner's Suite

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:15:56 GMT

Simple Wall Trim

I could no more handle the Beigepalooza around me in my new builder grade home. Hence I decide to take matters in my own hands and there started my DIY journey.

Watch this space on details on how I transformed my space from builder grade to custom home!

Things you need and Budget calculation :

Wall Trim : Lowes Ornamental Moulding : $9.99 X 8 = $80
Measure tape - I had it
Leveler - Craftsman Leveler - $`12 - I had it
1" nails and hammer (or you can use brad nail gun if you have one) - $1 - $5 - I already had it
Sherwin Williams Paint - Stamped Concrete SW 7655 Eggshell - $50
Pain supplies ( brush, roller, floor protector etc) - $30
Wood Filler - $17
Paintable Caulk - $12

Total Budget : Under $200

Below are some BEFORE images of the Sunroom.

Let's get started with mapping the wall. I changed my bed to a low frame bed and mapped teh bed to be the center of the wall. I decided I will have 3 squares - 1 big in the center to hold teh painting, 2 on the sides. I created a mood board and went from there.

Pssst... also my mood board eventually changed with my mood.

So, now that mood board and mapping is done, lets get started with trim cutting. We are making rectangles so the trim has to be cut at 45 degree and angles. Given that this was my first project I did not have a miter saw ($100+) so I decide to use a Miter box for $10 and it worked fantastic.

How do we cut the outer and the inner corners to join ?

Then we nail them all to the wall one by one. Just make sure you use the leveler all along to get straight squares. All walls built in the untied states are not perfectly straight. They are going to be janky and uneven. So do your best to get a straight line. DONT STRESS!!

Next Phase is caulking, filling holes, priming and painting. Make sure you use a paintable caulk so that you don't have issues while painting. I have listed some below :

Primer paint for trim if you purchased non primed trim.
Sherwin Williams Stamped Concrete paint
Wood Filler
Paintable Caulk

If you don't know how to caulk, go ahead and check out my stories bubble on Instagram.

That has all the details : Upcycled Brain

So that wasn't a lot was it ?

I have more details on items and links to products on my Instagram page. Feel free to go look at it under the "Master Bedroom Makeover" bubble

And this is what it looks like now.

P.s: I plan on painting the rest of the walls in white Benjamin Moore "Chantily lace". We will tackle that on a different weekend ;)

Right now, I am working on my media room. Have you checked that project out yet ?